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