AimlessWanderer
Remember to forget me!
Not if my example is anything to go by!
This is my most expensive pipe to date, and also. on first impressions at least, my worst pipe to date.
Yes at first glance, this might look like a pretty sandblast pipe, with the flaws left in for an authentic natural beauty. However, it took about half a dozen attempts to try to get this damn thing to stand up for a photograph. That's half a dozen attempts each way around, by the way.
Sitter pipes are not supposed to fall over!!!
It's not just how gnarly the base is from being shotblast, but how lopsided this thing has been built.
Look at the state of that!
On top of the asymmetrical build, the draught hole has been drilled too deep. Probably about half the drill thickness too deep, at a guess.
I've had Parker seconds and Ben Wades from the Dunhill factory, ranging from £25 to £45. I've had Dr Plumb and Peterson pipes below £50 too. This monstrosity cost £55. ALL my other pipes were made to MUCH higher standards. Even my cheapo pearwood Mr Brog pipes which cost around the same as a cob, were all made far better than this.
Now, here's the dilemma. I bought this pipe, because I couldn't get a sitter in this shape at this price range. If I send it back, I still don't have a sitter pipe in this shape at this price range, and this ... lump... is going to get sold on again to some other unsuspecting schmuck. I could keep it, but I'll have to do a fair bit of work to the bottom. Not just to flatten it, but also to coax it to lean slightly in the opposite way to which it tries to topple due to being built off balance. I'll probably need to dig out my carving tools and try to tidy up the bottom of the bowl too.
I'm torn. I'll sleep on it. I shouldn't have to rework it, but will I get the shape I want for this money, any other way? At least this might be able to be reworked to become what I want it to be.
This is the second time I've spent over £50 on a pipe, and the second time I have been disappointed. In fairness, the first time, I assumed a Sav 305 was a sitter, and it wasn't. My error. There wasn't actually anything wrong with the pipe per se. This time ... well, draw your own conclusions. Maybe some would find this build quality "quaint", or "rustic", or otherwise "endearing". Personally, I say that it all seems like a good marketing to shift poorly made product.
Apologies to the fans of these pipes, but I'm really not impressed.
This is my most expensive pipe to date, and also. on first impressions at least, my worst pipe to date.
Yes at first glance, this might look like a pretty sandblast pipe, with the flaws left in for an authentic natural beauty. However, it took about half a dozen attempts to try to get this damn thing to stand up for a photograph. That's half a dozen attempts each way around, by the way.
Sitter pipes are not supposed to fall over!!!
It's not just how gnarly the base is from being shotblast, but how lopsided this thing has been built.
Look at the state of that!
On top of the asymmetrical build, the draught hole has been drilled too deep. Probably about half the drill thickness too deep, at a guess.
I've had Parker seconds and Ben Wades from the Dunhill factory, ranging from £25 to £45. I've had Dr Plumb and Peterson pipes below £50 too. This monstrosity cost £55. ALL my other pipes were made to MUCH higher standards. Even my cheapo pearwood Mr Brog pipes which cost around the same as a cob, were all made far better than this.
Now, here's the dilemma. I bought this pipe, because I couldn't get a sitter in this shape at this price range. If I send it back, I still don't have a sitter pipe in this shape at this price range, and this ... lump... is going to get sold on again to some other unsuspecting schmuck. I could keep it, but I'll have to do a fair bit of work to the bottom. Not just to flatten it, but also to coax it to lean slightly in the opposite way to which it tries to topple due to being built off balance. I'll probably need to dig out my carving tools and try to tidy up the bottom of the bowl too.
I'm torn. I'll sleep on it. I shouldn't have to rework it, but will I get the shape I want for this money, any other way? At least this might be able to be reworked to become what I want it to be.
This is the second time I've spent over £50 on a pipe, and the second time I have been disappointed. In fairness, the first time, I assumed a Sav 305 was a sitter, and it wasn't. My error. There wasn't actually anything wrong with the pipe per se. This time ... well, draw your own conclusions. Maybe some would find this build quality "quaint", or "rustic", or otherwise "endearing". Personally, I say that it all seems like a good marketing to shift poorly made product.
Apologies to the fans of these pipes, but I'm really not impressed.
Last edited:
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