What to do with Pipes that Just Don't Click?

[starrynight]

Title says it all. I've been an a virginia/vaper run for a few months know and decided to try some of my favorite English Westminster. It, just, sucked. So much so, that I filled my dunhill with a bowl and did back to backs, before realizing it was the pipe. In the dunhill it was amazing. In this Peterson, I couldn't get the intricacies--at all.

I've tried a few different blends in this pipe, and, they all come off incredibly muted and one dimensional. It's a very large bowl, which I thought were supposed to do well with English's. I'm bummed by this, and dropped a good amount on it.

Any suggestions? Keep it and come back to it over the years and see if it jives better? What do you do when a pipe just doesn't work for you?

 

[Chasing Embers]

What do you do when a pipe just doesn't work for you?

 

[Chasing Embers]

It's a very large bowl, which I thought were supposed to do well with English's.

Chamber dimensions and pipe brands are mostly myth. Your technique is going to affect the smoking more than anything.

 

[wyfbane]

It might smoke other blends ok for someone else. Wait til you have 2 or 3 pipes you don't want and send em off to SP for credit.

 

[blackpowderpiper]

Sometimes you just need to find the right blend for a pipe. I've had pipes that were lackluster with certain blends but fantastic with others. I know this is subjective but this is how it has worked for me. If for some reason a pipe just doesn't smoke well period, it gets buried in a drawer somewhere.

 

[NomadOrb]

I try to sell them or turn them into SP for credit.

 

[LeafErikson]

Trash em if it’s there’s something objectively wrong (bad drilling for example). If it’s something subjective (chamber size isn’t my preference, bit doesn’t clench comfortably) I’ll try to trade or sell it on the forum. If that doesn’t work I trade it in to SP for store credit.

 

[ThermionicScott]

I tend to leave them in a drawer since I'm too lazy to do much else.

 

[Hillcrest]

you could sell it here on the selling thread and get another Dunhill pipe ...

 

[brian64]

What do you do when a pipe just doesn't work for you?

View attachment 212103

Don't they all get an autopsy first?

 

[pantsBoots]

Only one I have that fits that bill is a Rattray's seasonal as my first briar pipe purchase. I smoked a bowl in it and when I went to clean it, noticed the drilling had apparently been done by Helen Keller. I read the return policy, which told me it's my pipe forever now since I used it, so there it sits. It smokes ok, but getting a pipe cleaner through is like a Rubik's puzzle, so I rarely use it.

 

[warren]

I've a trashcan near my desk. If a pipe doesn't measure up, I'm not too lazy to toss it.

 

[starrynight]

Chamber dimensions and pipe brands are mostly myth. Your technique is going to affect the smoking more than anything.

By technique I'm assuming you mean a technique tailored to the particularly pipe? If so, I guess I never really thought of that. With these two pipes I used the same "technique" but they tasted light years apart. Myth or not, I cannot tell, but anecdotally, they sang differently.

 

[Servant King]

After a little of this, the pipe always seems to straighten up and fly right.

 

[kcghost]

Some pipes just don't work for you. I call Steve Fallon in these cases.

 

[Chasing Embers]

By technique I'm assuming you mean a technique tailored to the particularly pipe?

No, just overall smoking technique. Other than openness of the draw, I find no pipe smokes any differently than another excluding duration. My biggest deal breaker for a pipe is whether or not it can pass a pipe cleaner.

Don't they all get an autopsy first?

I've only ever cut open one pipe.

 

[Chasing Embers]

With these two pipes I used the same "technique" but they tasted light years apart. Myth or not, I cannot tell, but anecdotally, they sang differently.

With neither being virgin briar, difference in residual ghosting can significantly affect flavor. Even minute difference in packing pressure and smoking cadence can make the difference between night and day. A pipe is just a straw, once broken in its adopted many flavors that have been through it, and if new, it'll mute flavors until broken in.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Donate to a thrift store. Give to a friend. If higher end, sell it here.

 

[Coreios]

Maybe I have low standards. Every pipe I had a problem, with I just kept with it until it caked up and smoked right. The only pipes I don't tolerate are one's that burn hot and won't no matter what stop. But thats only been cheapo pipes, and only 2 . Both were under 20 bucks.

 

[burleybreath]

I like to snap the shank. (You asked.)