You are developing a good sense of what you appreciate in a pipe. Continue on that path and determine what makes a good smoker for you and you will be ready to dive into PAD when you’re finished with your stint as a cash-strapped student.
The Beauty of Budget Pipes
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Beauty IS subjective
Price is NOT an arbitrator of beauty NOR (smoking) quality
I prize my cheaper pipes (costing less than $40) as much as their more expensive stablemates
There is a lot of eye candy (pipes, that is) in the pages of these Forums.
Find out what you really like before springing for that expensive purchase
I too started smoking pipes while I was a poor undergrad.
And I still have, and smoke quite a few of the pipes I bought all those long years ago.
May you continue to enjoy your pipe journey
Price is NOT an arbitrator of beauty NOR (smoking) quality
I prize my cheaper pipes (costing less than $40) as much as their more expensive stablemates
There is a lot of eye candy (pipes, that is) in the pages of these Forums.
Find out what you really like before springing for that expensive purchase
I too started smoking pipes while I was a poor undergrad.
And I still have, and smoke quite a few of the pipes I bought all those long years ago.
May you continue to enjoy your pipe journey
When I first started smoking pipes, I was a bachelor and thought I had money to burn and bought super nice ones. I quit abruptly two years into it and sold them all impetuously. I missed the habit so much and came back to it last year. Anyway, this time around I went at it from a different angle: estate pipes. I’ve learned a bit about cleaning them up too (or you can get real beauties from places like rebornpipes in “like new” condition). You can get a piece of history, a pipe that’s a bit more than budget, for a reasonable price.
I have picked up several pipes from Bishop's Pipes on Instagram, and I love them! Especially those from defunct manufacturers
Estate pipes are your friend if you don't mind a little cleaning.
Bought for $30.
Estates and patience or just a stroke of luck! I need to reset my Ebay alert filters real quick . . .
Any price pipe can be a great smoker or a bad smoker. The drilling is the foundation. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Lots of people love cobs and you can’t get any cheaper than that.
If you think about it, you get the best of both worlds with that method
F
fMf Piper
Guest
I am also new to pipe smoking - only been at it for about two months. So far I have three MM cobs, and they all smoke amazingly well, so I don't see the need at this point go more expensive. As others have said, I would rather spend money trying different tobaccos to see what I like.
I smoke Peterson exclusively. There are sub $100 pipes that are beautiful if spend time to pick the right one. And don't think that expensive pipes smoke better. They are tool for smoking tobacco. If drilled right, they will do the work.
I think many here on the forum are with you on being indifferent to grain. I would suggest picking up a corn cob and an estate meerschaum from eBay so you can try all of the different pipe materials.
I do have several cobs, and they are my go-to when I just want to enjoy a smoke without worrying about the pipe. I'll have to keep an eye out for a decently priced meerschaum, thanks for the tip
Great smoking pipes don’t need to be expensive. Humblepipe on the bay is one of us.
I’ve been smoking a pipe since last December, pre-inheriting a nice collection of Danes from my dad. As a recovered alcoholic/addict, I don’t do anything “a little bit” and found that while aesthetically pleasing and well-smoking, throwing a couple briars in my lunchbox with 4-5 baggies of tobak to try wasn’t good for them.
I’ve got a handful of cobs, and can smoke away, back to back all day some days.
Then I found estates. Being an older biker, I love tearing into things and bringing them back.
Now dad’s pipes hang out on one rack, and another is full of mid-century American briars and a couple meers (the aggregate cost about as much as a fancy pipe). I’m having a blast and learning a lot.
And I can tell you this, I’d I bought one spendy pipe a few months ago I would have short-changed myself because I didn’t even know what I’d like, just what I thought I’d like.
That said, the smattering of Irish blood I have would have me give up duplicate organs for a “made in Eire” Pete 102 Army mount!!
Have fun, the only person that’s gotta like your stuff is you.
I’ve got a handful of cobs, and can smoke away, back to back all day some days.
Then I found estates. Being an older biker, I love tearing into things and bringing them back.
Now dad’s pipes hang out on one rack, and another is full of mid-century American briars and a couple meers (the aggregate cost about as much as a fancy pipe). I’m having a blast and learning a lot.
And I can tell you this, I’d I bought one spendy pipe a few months ago I would have short-changed myself because I didn’t even know what I’d like, just what I thought I’d like.
That said, the smattering of Irish blood I have would have me give up duplicate organs for a “made in Eire” Pete 102 Army mount!!
Have fun, the only person that’s gotta like your stuff is you.
I'm starting to get the idea I should learn to clean estates. your dad's collection sounds awesome
That's a nose in the pipe rather than a pipe in the nose
I agree that Baskets should enjoy the same dignity as they often do a lot of the heavy lifting 
in my rotation. I have 3 Rossi's from the Vittoria line a Prince, a Pot, and a Lumberman. They are black and rusticated with no noticeable Logo/Markings except the stamping on the bottom/shank. They are some of my favorites, no filter , Vulcanite stems, and they remind me of Dunhill Shellbriars and of course they are great smokers. Whats not to love? They sit side by side with my Ser Jacopos on the rack and to be honest often make the Ser Jacopos jealous.
in my rotation. I have 3 Rossi's from the Vittoria line a Prince, a Pot, and a Lumberman. They are black and rusticated with no noticeable Logo/Markings except the stamping on the bottom/shank. They are some of my favorites, no filter , Vulcanite stems, and they remind me of Dunhill Shellbriars and of course they are great smokers. Whats not to love? They sit side by side with my Ser Jacopos on the rack and to be honest often make the Ser Jacopos jealous.
Price doesn’t always equate to a better smoker!
Next, the so called budget pipe, is only whatever budget you are on, not anyone else.
Be sure to read the article, ‘The Myth of Brand and Maker in Pipesmoking’, by Dr. Fred Hanna.
Here are two inexpensive pipes I own. Not to toot my own horn, but they have character, for pipes, that probably only cost $7-$10 when they were made, and smoke as nice as any $300 pipe I’ve smoked so far.
1931-1967 BBB Wyteway Billiard with a vulcanite stem. I think most will agree, an old Billiard like this, is a timeless classic.
Dr. Grabow: Commodore 65 Zulu, dated from 1967-1969, vulcanite stem, metal screw-in tenon, no stinger.
Don’t worry about costs, buy what you can afford, and whatever catches your eye!
@Briar Lee time to get in here and start promoting those Lees!
Next, the so called budget pipe, is only whatever budget you are on, not anyone else.
Be sure to read the article, ‘The Myth of Brand and Maker in Pipesmoking’, by Dr. Fred Hanna.
Here are two inexpensive pipes I own. Not to toot my own horn, but they have character, for pipes, that probably only cost $7-$10 when they were made, and smoke as nice as any $300 pipe I’ve smoked so far.
1931-1967 BBB Wyteway Billiard with a vulcanite stem. I think most will agree, an old Billiard like this, is a timeless classic.
Dr. Grabow: Commodore 65 Zulu, dated from 1967-1969, vulcanite stem, metal screw-in tenon, no stinger.
Don’t worry about costs, buy what you can afford, and whatever catches your eye!
@Briar Lee time to get in here and start promoting those Lees!