Why are estate pipes ok?

[MartyA]

Most of my pipes are estate pipes, (that means USED,) but since I smoke churchwardens almost exclusively, I replace the stems anyway with long ones.
I have a few used churchwardens, but since they don't lend themselves to clenching, they're pretty much unmarked and easy to clean. Looking at them, I don't get the impression that some guy had this in his mouth, although to some extent, that's the case.

 

[spike]

nope, but he did admit he crapped his guts out for a while.

But then again he wasnt exactly the smartest of the bunch.

Maybe a recent college graduate?

 

[spike]

I bought my first estate pipe from Barry Levin in the early 90s. I’ve bought many more since. I’m still in decent shape for a seasoned citizen (73 yrs.).

 

[Briarcutter]

Barry Levin

Oh I remember his mailings, pre digital for sure all those photographs with probably 40 pipes on each photo! I remember Barry well.

 

[dogparkpiper]

Why are grocery cart handles ok?
Why are gas station tank handles ok?
Why is sneezing near someone just a part of life?

Because you will be ok!

 

[bullet08]

Nothing that will kill you will grow on it. After a good clean, it's pretty safe to smoke. I just like new Peterson. But if a good deal can be found, I'll jump on it. Most of what I'm looking for are far beyond my reach.

 

[Wapask]

So I am just curious, who is the regular member behind this account? Based upon the username and topic someone is definitely working on their trolling and seemingly getting a rise out of a few...

*looks for his favorite estate to pack and smoke*

 

[Smokeybandit]

So I am just curious, who is the regular member behind this account? Based upon the username and topic someone is definitely working on their trolling and seemingly getting a rise out of a few...

*looks for his favorite estate to pack and smoke*

My first thought as well...and I’m new here.

 

[Peterson314]

LOL. This thread is gold.

I have seven estate pipes, and one of my favorite eBay sellers is deadmanspipes.

My second pipe was an estate pipe, and it weirded me out at first. But dammit, I needed that terracotta Peterson Sherlock Mycroft, so I bought it.

If I can taste the ghost from owners past, that's a no-go. So now, I use a cleaning regimen from GL Pease, and it's a bit extreme. I pack the bowl and stummel with salt or cotton, fill it with Everclear for a night, then scrub, file, sand, and polish the stem until it sparkles. After that, I fill the bowl with activated charcoal and set it in a warm oven (190-220 degrees F) for 6 hours. After that, any surviving little nasties have earned their right to get me sick.

I don't think about the pipe's previous life after that. It's mine.

 

[Thepipehunter]

A new car loses a large percentage of its value as soon as you drive it off the lot, and it is then considered used. Pipes are the same way. When you think about it you can never really own a new car or pipe, because as soon as you use it, you technically now own a used one. If I had deeper pockets I may buy more new pipes though.

 

[spike]

Oh I remember his mailings, pre digital for sure all those photographs with probably 40 pipes on each photo! I remember Barry well.

I kept all his mailers including photos from
his first issuance until his untimely death. I gave them to the Chicago Pipe Collectors Club for the silent auction in 2018, and they sold at a decent price. It was interesting to see the prices of his pipes.

 

[Papamique]

I kept all his mailers including photos from
his first issuance until his untimely death. I gave them to the Chicago Pipe Collectors Club for the silent auction in 2018, and they sold at a decent price. It was interesting to see the prices of his pipes.

Spike, I met you and your wife a few years ago at the Chicago pipe show. It’s people like you both that I keep going to the pipe shows. That and the food of course.

 

[TimeKiller]

How to sell pipes on ebay: A Guide for the Sophisticated Gentleman​

1. Take your pipe and run over it with a lawnmower a few times. Don’t overdo it, only a few passes are needed, restraint and subtlety are key.
2. Remove the vulcanite stem and immediate start chewing the bit. Once it’s freshly chewed, place on back patio in direct sunlight for a few days to help the oxidation process and bring out its natural, aged sulfur taste.
3. Using 300 grit sandpaper, start working the stummel to give it a great new finish that collectors love. You’ll know when to stop because the maker's stamp will be just barely legible.
4. Using a torch lighter, carefully scorch the entire rim of the stummel.
5. Now that the rim is burnt, you need top it with a belt sander.
6. If the results come out too level and squared, you can repeat steps 4 and 5 multiple times. Ideally you are aiming for a rim that is just barely canted enough to catch the eye.
7. Aggressively ream the bowl of the stummel until shreds of briar start to come out.
8. Identify random places on the stummel and gouge them out with a carving tool. Fill the gouges with bondo.
9. Now it’s time to stain the stummel. This part is easy, you simply dip it in orange or red stain.
10. Weigh the stummel and note the weight. Begin to apply carnauba wax to with a high speed buffer wheel until the weight has increased by roughly 20%, this can take 4-5 hours if done properly.
11. After reassembling the pipe, take 2 or 3 blurry pictures from artistic angles on your dirty living room floor.
12. Upload these pictures to ebay and list the pipe for $450 dollars. Make sure to use words like RARE, AUTHENTIC, VINTAGE, and NEAR MINT.

Congratulations! You are now an ebay pipe seller!

 

[tartanphantom]

How to sell pipes on ebay: A Guide for the Sophisticated Gentleman​

1. Take your pipe and run over it with a lawnmower a few times. Don’t overdo it, only a few passes are needed, restraint and subtlety are key.
2. Remove the vulcanite stem and immediate start chewing the bit. Once it’s freshly chewed, place on back patio in direct sunlight for a few days to help the oxidation process and bring out its natural, aged sulfur taste.
3. Using 300 grit sandpaper, start working the stummel to give it a great new finish that collectors love. You’ll know when to stop because the maker's stamp will be just barely legible.
4. Using a torch lighter, carefully scorch the entire rim of the stummel.
5. Now that the rim is burnt, you need top it with a belt sander.
6. If the results come out too level and squared, you can repeat steps 4 and 5 multiple times. Ideally you are aiming for a rim that is just barely canted enough to catch the eye.
7. Aggressively ream the bowl of the stummel until shreds of briar start to come out.
8. Identify random places on the stummel and gouge them out with a carving tool. Fill the gouges with bondo.
9. Now it’s time to stain the stummel. This part is easy, you simply dip it in orange or red stain.
10. Weigh the stummel and note the weight. Begin to apply carnauba wax to with a high speed buffer wheel until the weight has increased by roughly 20%, this can take 4-5 hours if done properly.
11. After reassembling the pipe, take 2 or 3 blurry pictures from artistic angles on your dirty living room floor.
12. Upload these pictures to ebay and list the pipe for $450 dollars. Make sure to use words like RARE, AUTHENTIC, VINTAGE, and NEAR MINT.

Congratulations! You are now an ebay pipe seller!

I think that covers it pretty well, except you forgot the crucial final step--

13. When shipping, you put the fully assembled pipe loose into a barely padded envelope and ship it the cheapest way possible. It's VERY important that you do NOT mark the package with any unnecessary labels, such as "FRAGILE" or "HAND CANCEL ONLY". It's also very important that you do NOT remove the stem or disassemble the pipe in any way, lest you run the risk of the buyer giving you negative feedback for "not being as described".

 

[driftedshank1]

I understand that some pipe smokers do not want to deal with pipes that have been smoked by others. I think I know how to clean up a used pipe so that the risk of unpleasant taste or even infection is mitigated so I've purchased lots of used pipes.

Just make sure as best you can that the fundamentals of good construction are present in the used pipe you are considering for purchase and that it wasn't abused or smoked very hard. I've purchased many a used pipe that was was a shitty smoker no matter what I did to improve it but on the other hand I've had many a new pipe that was awful and couldn't be made to smoke well. Those used pipes were purchased by others. I hope the old adage that one man's poison is another man's meat ( pardon the juxtaposition) holds true.

 

[SpuddsBuckley]

I prefer my gym shoes used. They don't make 'em like they used to!

 

[Alejo R.]

I prefer my gym shoes used. They don't make 'em like they used to!

It is interesting to know your preference in shoes, but the analogy is not valid at all.
First, because today’s sportswear is superior to that of any previous era, and its positive impact on performance is undeniable.
Second, because—although it may understandably cause some discomfort among certain smokers—it is well established that the use of estate pipes is a common and harmless practice within the pipe‑smoking community.
Third, because a used pipe is not the same as a dirty pipe: no one puts a pipe in their mouth without first cleaning it or making sure it is in proper condition.

Kind regards.

 

[MisterBadger]

It is interesting to know your preference in shoes, but the analogy is not valid at all.
First, because today’s sportswear is superior to that of any previous era, and its positive impact on performance is undeniable.
Second, because—although it may understandably cause some discomfort among certain smokers—it is well established that the use of estate pipes is a common and harmless practice within the pipe‑smoking community.
Third, because a used pipe is not the same as a dirty pipe: no one puts a pipe in their mouth without first cleaning it or making sure it is in proper condition.

Kind regards.

@Alejo R. - Hey! Don't disparage those who equate second-hand pipes with second-hand footwear. They don't deserve to know what they are missing - and the more there is out there, for the likes of us.

 

[tartanphantom]

Third, because a used pipe is not the same as a dirty pipe: no one puts a pipe in their mouth without first cleaning it or making sure it is in proper condition.

Kind regards.

Hold my beer...

 

[FLDRD]

Hold my beer...

I was wondering who would take the challenge...