Pipe, Tobacco, and E-Bay Acquisitions

[DubintheDam]

Please forgive for breaching possible regulations here, but this just had to be done....

[smurph]

Originally Posted by DubintheDam

Please forgive for breaching possible regulations here, but this just had to be done....

Good one Dub. This may sound corny - but I feel humbled to be in your 'presence'. I just love watching your videos and seeing/hearing all you have to say. I think you should have your own late night talk show - where you're smoking a pipe and interviewing folks. 'Reflections with Dub'.

I only wish you were still in Ireland. Going over next April to see family for a wedding (wife's cousin in County Leitrum, Manor Hamilton - i think) Plus I have family - very distant - on the Isle of Mull - Maclean/McLean castle.

Anyway... should get back to my watched items on ebay. haha. Bring on a Peterson Standard System...

[commonsenseman]

I just bought a new Dr. Grabow Grand Duke at a drug store for $22, and I started breaking it in tonight with a 1/2 bowl of Mac Baren Navy Flake. This might be slightly off-topic but I have a few observations as a very new pipe smoker.

1) As a cigar smoker I usually puff pretty heavy every minute or so.....this doesn't seem to work so well with pipes. Tonight I tried taking very short quick puffs every few seconds. I noticed that it smoked much cooler, lasted longer (about 20 minutes, for a 1/2 bowl), and only went out on me once. Definately my best so far.

2) I'm pretty sure this is a pre-carbonized pipe, I didn't notice any foul smell & it seemed to burn quite well.

3) It's quite a bit larger than my original Grabow, which might play in to it smoking so much better.

4) I smoked it without a filter, because the draw seems too tight with it in. Didn't notice any problems with that.

5) Why buy a more expensive pipe, when these seem to smoke very well & are so cheap? (Besides cosmetic reasons obviously)

Here are some picture I (quite poorly) took of the new Grabow compared to the old one.

[DubintheDam]

Originally Posted by smurph

Good one Dub. This may sound corny - but I feel humbled to be in your 'presence'. I just love watching your videos and seeing/hearing all you have to say. I think you should have your own late night talk show - where you're smoking a pipe and interviewing folks. 'Reflections with Dub'.

I only wish you were still in Ireland. Going over next April to see family for a wedding (wife's cousin in County Leitrum, Manor Hamilton - i think) Plus I have family - very distant - on the Isle of Mull - Maclean/McLean castle.

Anyway... should get back to my watched items on ebay. haha. Bring on a Peterson Standard System...

Many thanks smurph, fine praise indeed. My second name is Gaffney which is a Scots Irish name...so I have very, very, very distant relatives that come from Dundee. To bring it back on topic....the best thing about buying or selling a pipe on Ebay is Peterson's, there are always loads and if you are selling you'll always get a fair price for them.

[brianwalden]

Originally Posted by commonsenseman

1) As a cigar smoker I usually puff pretty heavy every minute or so.....this doesn't seem to work so well with pipes. Tonight I tried taking very short quick puffs every few seconds. I noticed that it smoked much cooler, lasted longer (about 20 minutes, for a 1/2 bowl), and only went out on me once. Definately my best so far.

Another method is to take long, constant, very gentle sips. Like everything with pipes the best method depends on the tobacco, the pipe and the person.

Originally Posted by commonsenseman

4) I smoked it without a filter, because the draw seems too tight with it in. Didn't notice any problems with that.

I have the same problem with paper or charcoal filters. If you like filters but have trouble with them restricting airflow or clogging up, maybe give the Savinelli Balsa filters a shot.

Originally Posted by commonsenseman

5) Why buy a more expensive pipe, when these seem to smoke very well & are so cheap? (Besides cosmetic reasons obviously)

I have two doctor grabows which I smoke as often as I do any of my other pipes. A few reasons besides just aesthetics: they tend to have thinner walls and they tend to have a varnish or something which makes it harder for the wood to breathe - both of these can both make the bowl heat up. My Riviera has both thin walls and that varnish on it, sometimes it gets so hot that the varnish starts to bubble up and flake off. Also it seems like the stems are a little cheaper than other pipes. I'm pretty sure they're vulcanite and not plastic, but they don't seem to be quite the same grade as other stems.

Anyway those are just a couple of reasons, I don't mean to hate on the Grabows; I like mine and they're the only briar pipe brand that I own more than one of. They're a good value and I always feel more comfortable with my less expensive pipes - I don't worry if I clench a little too hard or smoke a little too hot or let too much gunk build up on the rim of the bowl or any of that stuff.

One question for you experts. Is Grabow prounced with a short 'a' or a long 'a'? I always though it was how it looks with a short 'a', but at one tobacco shop they all pronounce it Gray-bow.

[postoak]

The thing is, you can get a higher quality (but used) pipe off of ebay, for a LOT less than a Dr. Grabow. A used pipe doesn't bother me at all if it is in good condition.

[brianwalden]

Originally Posted by postoak

The thing is, you can get a higher quality (but used) pipe off of ebay, for a LOT less than a Dr. Grabow. A used pipe doesn't bother me at all if it is in good condition.

True (although there aren't as many quality pipes on eBay for less than $25 including S/H these days), but you prove too much. That claim is true about any new pipe except pipes for which no higher quality pipe exists. If we're to accept your argument then it would logically follow that only in rare circumstances should anyone ever purchase a new pipe.

I'm not saying Grabows are spectacular pipes, but they're good pipes for the niche that they fill in the pipe world. If you know how to spot a quality pipe from a clunker and have a seller you can trust and have experience in refurbishing estate pipes, I agree you're better off buying an estate. But most new pipe smokers, who are the ones considering Grabows in the first place, don't have that experience. Buying a Dr. Grabow at their local drug store gives them a reliable briar and a reasonable price.

[Mad Hatter]

Originally Posted by brianwalden

One question for you experts. Is Grabow prounced with a short 'a' or a long 'a'? I always though it was how it looks with a short 'a', but at one tobacco shop they all pronounce it Gray-bow.

I'm not an expert but I think its pronounced Gray-bo rather than Grab-ow

[postoak]

That's true about the experience. I forget I know more than a new smoker. MY first pipe was a drugstore Dr. Grabow.

The pipes I've bought off the internet for, usually about $15.00 including postage, are not big name pipes, but solid smokers of reasonable quality such as Smokemaster, Sportsman, Mastercraft, E. Wilke, Kaywoodie, Yello-bole, and Bradford. For that same price, you can also gets lots of good pipes that just say "imported briar". For $30.00 you can pick up Savinellis and GBDs.

But the best bargains are when you bid on a lot of pipes. Some may be clunkers, but most will be good smokers. I've bought 7 pipes for $30 and $35, including postage and one of those sets included 2 piperacks with humidors!

Oh, and as for buying new. Well, some people just have to have new! Others can't stand the idea of smoking a pipe someone else has had in their mouths. Some people have so much money that it isn't a consideration on something like a pipe.

[commonsenseman]

Originally Posted by brianwalden

Another method is to take long, constant, very gentle sips. Like everything with pipes the best method depends on the tobacco, the pipe and the person.

I have the same problem with paper or charcoal filters. If you like filters but have trouble with them restricting airflow or clogging up, maybe give the Savinelli Balsa filters a shot.

I have two doctor grabows which I smoke as often as I do any of my other pipes. A few reasons besides just aesthetics: they tend to have thinner walls and they tend to have a varnish or something which makes it harder for the wood to breathe - both of these can both make the bowl heat up. My Riviera has both thin walls and that varnish on it, sometimes it gets so hot that the varnish starts to bubble up and flake off. Also it seems like the stems are a little cheaper than other pipes. I'm pretty sure they're vulcanite and not plastic, but they don't seem to be quite the same grade as other stems.

Anyway those are just a couple of reasons, I don't mean to hate on the Grabows; I like mine and they're the only briar pipe brand that I own more than one of. They're a good value and I always feel more comfortable with my less expensive pipes - I don't worry if I clench a little too hard or smoke a little too hot or let too much gunk build up on the rim of the bowl or any of that stuff.

One question for you experts. Is Grabow prounced with a short 'a' or a long 'a'? I always though it was how it looks with a short 'a', but at one tobacco shop they all pronounce it Gray-bow.

A few very good points. I'll definately give the Sav filters a try.

Now that you mention it, thicker walls may be one of the reasons this Dr. Grabow smokes so much better than my other one. The "original" had maybe 4mm thick walls, while the one I just purchase has at least 6mm walls. Doesn't seem like very much, but I guess 50% thicker is a big deal.

[WWhermit]

[QUOTE=commonsenseman;2618346]5) Why buy a more expensive pipe, when these seem to smoke very well & are so cheap? (Besides cosmetic reasons obviously)QUOTE]

This goes along the same lines as "Why buy a more expensive car, like a Lexus, when a Yugo does the same thing?"

When you decide to step up and get an upper end pipe, you'll realize the differences. It's the way it smokes, the feel in your mouth, etc.

There are even noticeable differences in the types of vulcanite used. Peterson uses regular vulcanite. That's why it turns brown/green quickly. I got a pipe from Jan Zeman. I've huffed and puffed like crazy on that pipe, and it has yet to discolor at all.

Over time, you'll notice how much all the subtle differences add up to a more pleasant experience.

WWhermit

[sepia5]

Anyone else notice there were some serious deals to be had on eBay this weekend with the vultures in Chicago? I scored these two for less than I thought I'd land them:



Cavicchi 2C





Becker & Musico. Don't know too much about them, but the price was right and I've read good things. Tonight I FINALLY almost scored the ever-elusive Pete Mark Twain I've been looking for for so long, but alas, I was sniped with literally 10 seconds left.

[postoak]

I really like the look of that last pipe.

My last eBay purchase was one of the same design, but used, and for $15.00, delivered. I ran some Captain Black (White) thru it last night.

[plexiprs]

Looks like a couple of real nice grabs. And yes, there was some interesting auctions on heels of Chicago . . . . as the wise one in this house is known to say, "Boy and their Toys." ;-p

[Hendu3270]

Originally Posted by WWhermit

When you decide to step up and get an upper end pipe, you'll realize the differences. It's the way it smokes, the feel in your mouth, etc.

Is there a general recognized price range that one needs to be in to have an "upper end" pipe?

I have one that's in the $120 range and a couple in the $50-$60 range and then a few in the $30-$40 range and they all smoke great. I did have to modify the air hole by drilling on one of the 30-40 pipes but it smokes very well. Are you referring to pipes in the $200 and up range?