Smoking My Rarely Smoked Pipes

[solideogloria86]

I went from 20+ to 5. I bought the majority because of how they looked. I then began the process of learning from experience what I liked. Many of the pipes I owned were almost perfect. I wanted to change one or two minor things about them. As time passed those pipes collected dust. One day I received the perfect pipe. I couldn't find a single thing I'd change. Dimensions, finish, comfort in hand and clench, performance. All perfect. It made me realize that I didn't want to settle for almost perfect, when perfect actually did exist. I got rid of every pipe I didn't absolutely love. Now I know exactly what I'm looking for in a pipe, and won't buy, no matter how pretty it is, if it's off in one area or another.

 

[Mike N]

I own about 50 pipes and went thru the same “should I get rid of some of the old ones?” My answer was to buy a buffing wheel, a pipe reamer set, and other pipe rehab tools and make them look like new. It was fun and much easier to rationalize keeping them once they got a facelift.

 

[ThermionicScott]

The handful of pipes I smoke the least are also some of the first ones I ever bought. But I have fond memories of finding them on the nascent eBay while in college, and they don't take up a lot of room, so I couldn't possibly get rid of them.