Here is a question I have? Anyone else find straight grained pipes boring looking? And feel that any other grain type is far more interesting and appealing to look at? Or is it just me?
Since Everyone is Asking Questions Today.
- Thread starter anotherbob
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I'm a fan of "flame grain." I own not a one though. as I've never found one bent, so as to catch my eye. But, straight grained pipes are still striking on the the right bowl.
flame and birdseye are my favs. My second Peterson is like the sample grain. It's got some flame, some cross, some birdseye.
I do find some straight grained pipes mostly by Asian carvers (most be a cultural design philosophy that works better with it) to be striking (perfect term for what they are). The carving has to gain from having those lines helping to define the shape.
I don't have any favorite type of grain.
If I like a pipe, that's good enough for me.
Feel and familiarity are the most important attributes for me.
If I like a pipe, that's good enough for me.
Feel and familiarity are the most important attributes for me.
I think a good birdseye is everyone's favorite. I think the shape of a pipe, and the stain used can make any grain 'pop'.
I find all smooth pipes pretty boring honestly. Interplay between types of grain and also other textures is cool for me, but the grain on briar is something that as a smoker, I don't care about a ton.
Since I can't see the grain on briar as I'm smoking, except when I take the pipe out of my mouth and hold it before me, I think I react more to texture, whether it is rustication, blast, carving, shaping, bead lines, or even just smoothness, I don't think I crave grain of any particular type. I appreciate it when I admire it, but it is not something to relate to directly so much as I smoke. I guess if, like the Japanese in a tea ceremony, I made a point of visually examining the pipe the way the Japanese study the tea serving pot and cups, I might think more about grain.
When it comes to smooth pipes I'm all about the cross grain/birdseye. That's often a deciding factor for me when buying.
Straight grains are often best served as sandblasts.
... I mean unless it's like... 360° flawless.
Straight grains are often best served as sandblasts.
... I mean unless it's like... 360° flawless.
Nope.
But I prefer straight grains sandblasted. It makes perfect ring grain.
Only if it's sandblasted or is the plateau edge.
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I’ve seen beautiful examples of all sorts of pipes. I’m not going to berate any of them. Some smooths when they interplay with shape and form… sometimes makes me tingle. But, sometimes a blast… sometimes a texture…. Depends.
1. I like a 360 degree straight grain with Birdseye at the bottom
2. I like cross-grain with Birdseye on the sides … in this case Birdseye is the lead while the cross grain is a supporting player
3. I like random cross grains and random Birdseye
4. I like pipes occasionally with no grain
5. Smooth pipes with a natural finish are favorites
6. Like beautifully done sandblasts
7. Like carving on a meerschaum
8. Generally don’t like rusticated unless very unique / skillful
2. I like cross-grain with Birdseye on the sides … in this case Birdseye is the lead while the cross grain is a supporting player
3. I like random cross grains and random Birdseye
4. I like pipes occasionally with no grain
5. Smooth pipes with a natural finish are favorites
6. Like beautifully done sandblasts
7. Like carving on a meerschaum
8. Generally don’t like rusticated unless very unique / skillful
I just discovered today that I really like morta. Doesn't even get warm to the touch.
I went through a stage of chasing grain and after smoking them for a while I realized I like a nice ring grain blast better and they are also much less expensive. As I was told, you cannot smoke grain.
Here is a pic of a Former I used to own over 20 years ago. Sorry for the lousy pic. This pipe had incredible grain and today would sell for 2500-3000.00. Back then it had a retail of 960.00. Off the back f a truck and some Cuban cigars, I stole that pipe.
Here is a pic of a Former I used to own over 20 years ago. Sorry for the lousy pic. This pipe had incredible grain and today would sell for 2500-3000.00. Back then it had a retail of 960.00. Off the back f a truck and some Cuban cigars, I stole that pipe.
This ladies and gentlemen, is as close as we will see Cosmic saying he likes a cob.
I think straight grain makes more sense on an axehandle than on a pipe.
I much prefer briar in a sandblast. But that's just me.
I was just talking about real pipes.
I like the flame on this old factory, Stanwell second.
Uniform on both sides.
I don’t know why this pipe didn’t earn it’s S and Crown. Standards were far higher once.
Uniform on both sides.
I don’t know why this pipe didn’t earn it’s S and Crown. Standards were far higher once.
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Beautiful straight grain does nothing to make a pipe smoke better. It's kind of like a flawless diamond compared to one with flaws. The straight grain is worth more simply because of the law of supply and demand.
