Everything about pipes and tobacco


How to Buy a Pipe

When you buy a pipe, choose the finish youtop-of-the-line pipe will be a sandblasted
like. Do you like the feel of the smoothstraight  grain  and be absolutely beautiful.
waxed straight grain or the pebble-like
rusticated? As I have said, pick the pipe YOURusticating is done by hand and is really an
like, the pipe that feels right and it willart that is very time consuming. Rusticating
be with you for a long time. If you considercan be much deeper than blasting and also is
how long a pipe lasts, even if you do spend ausually more even or consistent. After
great deal (that is subjective), when youblasting or rusticating, the pipe is stained
divide it by many years of enjoyment itand  polished  to  give it that "final look".
really is a bargain. Make sure the pipe you
buy is a comfortable and convenient size. IfAbout the burl: The soil is very rough and
too large, it can be heavy in the mouth andsandy and many times a grain of sand or tiny
uncomfortable. Also where and when do youpebble will be next to the burl. As it grows,
smoke? If you smoke a short time, then ait will grow around it. When the block is
small to medium pipe is best. If you relax,sawed  there  may  be  a  defect.
read or talk with friends, then a larger pipe
is fine. As I say, a beautiful pipe is a workWith inexpensive pipes these flaws may be
of art, not unlike a sculpture. Pick yourfilled with putty or etched (carved to hide
pipe  to  suit  your  lifestyle.them.) Unless the spot is large, it affects
only the appearance, not the smoking of the
Let us now talk about the finish on the pipe.pipe. I do not agree with the idea that
There are several types of finishes: highblasting or rusticating is used only for
gloss smooth, glossy smooth, matte smoothflaws. If a pipe does not have a perfect
(some call this natural), sandblast,straight grain, it may look beautiful in a
rusticated and several combinations of therough  finish.
above. With the very high gloss, be sure you
are getting a top quality pipe and not oneMedium-range pipes may have an etching
with varnish or lacquer; it seals the woodcovering a sand spot or may be partially
and it cannot breath. The veryblasted to cover a flaw. I have never found a
top-of-the-line pipes are the straightproblem with this. Low-end pipes may have
grains. And the very best of these is with aflaws that have been filled. Unless these
very tight even grain all the way around.fills are very large or unsightly, they
This usually shows bird's-eye on the bottomusually do not affect the smoking. If the
or top, unless it is a plateau finishfill has been done with care and stained to
(natural rough outside the burl). Bird's eyematch the rest of the pipe, it can be very
comes from the grain getting sideways and canhard  to
be very beautiful. Rough finish includes
sandblast and rusticating. Sandblasting isHere are some of the finest pipe makers:
just what the name implies; a high pressureDunhill, Ashton, Ferndown, Castello,
burst of sand directed at the pipe, whichCaminetto,  Poul  Winslow  or  Davidoff.
removes some of the wood, producing an uneven
rough texture. In a sandblasted pipe you canTake your time and enjoy.
very often see the grain. Sometimes a



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