Dutch
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 6, 2010
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- 3,951
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Well guys and girls, I am even more excited about this outstanding pipe now, than I was when Jesse had her on the workbench and sending me the pics!
I decided to dedicate this little brandy to a 14 year old tin of McCranie's Red Flake from the 1983 season, which I had been keeping in my cellar. After cracking the tin, I let it rest for an entire month, periodically opening the tin and letting some fresh air get to the tobacco.
After the 30 days was up, I pulled a few flakes out, and used the cube cut method. I gave the tobacco a couple hours to dry, and eagerly filled her up. Once I got the charring lights accomplished, I settled in and began to enjoy. After I was about halfway thru the bowl, it dawned on me that this awesome little pipe had yet to gurgle. In fact, it seemed that there was no condensation forming in the stem whatsoever. In most of my pipes, I will experience some condensation buildup, and I will deal with this either by passing a pipe cleaner thru the stem, or simply tapping the stem out on a paper towel and allowing the moisture to be soaked up. I managed to carefully smoke the entire bowl to the bottom, without doing any internal damage to the briar. I let her cool off, passed a pipe cleaner thru the stem, and gave the pipe an entire week to rest before I loaded up bowl number 2.
I smoked the entire second bowl non stop, and it was a repeat performance, only this time, the pipe smoked noticeably cooler, and was easier to handle temp wise, than I remembered when smoking bowl number 1. I definitely took note that I again smoked the entire bowl, and not once did I experience any condensation in the stem. I again allowed the pipe to cool, ran another pipe cleaner thru the stem, and allowed the pipe to rest for another 7 days.
For the third bowl, I loaded the pipe to full capacity, and was very careful to get my tobacco lit dead center, so as not to scorch the rim of this gorgeous little pipe. With the bowl filled to maximum capacity, this pipe delivered a 2 hour and 15 minute smoke. Again, I was thrilled with the same repeat performance of experiencing zero gurgles or stem condensation. I was just amazed that this pipe smokes better than some of my high grade pipes, which I paid between $300 and $500. Again I noticed that the pipe stayed cool to the touch, even when I got into the last third of the bowl.
At this point, I became really curious about the internal drilling of the pipe, and checked it's bore as well as the drilling of the stem. I noticed that the briar was drilled to around 5/32, which is usually the middle of the road dimensions that most of my pipes have. I thought to myself, that if the briar has not been over drilled to say 11/32, then the secret of this pipes dry smoking ability undoubtedly lies in the stem dimensions. After I inspected the stem from both ends with a small penlight, it was obvious that Jesse spent quite a bit of attention to detail in finishing out the green cumberland stem. The stem itself is not overbored, but it is finished so well internally, that there most likely very little turbulance going on as the smoke passes thru the pipe.
I am not sure how many pipes Jesse has built in total, but I can tell you that my impression is that he definitely knows a lot about what he is doing as a carver, and pays as much attention to detail on the inside of his pipes, as he does the outside cosmetics.
Judging from some of the prices he is charging for his pipes, he is offering an outstanding bang for the buck for anyone who decides to purchase a pipe from him.
I am certainly impressed with his work, and I hope to be able to afford to purchase a few of his pipes before the demand for them inevitably increases. As most of you know, I was fortunate to win this pipe in a contest that Jesse held a few months back on his website. However, I can honestly say that if I had paid $350 for this pipe, I would be extremely pleased with the purchase.
Thanks again Jesse! I really hope you decide to continue with your pipe carving pursuits, because I certainly plan on purchasing a few of these classic English shapes, which you obviously excel in creating!
Here are the pics again, of this outstanding little flake pipe that has certainly become one of the top 3 pipes in my collection.....
I decided to dedicate this little brandy to a 14 year old tin of McCranie's Red Flake from the 1983 season, which I had been keeping in my cellar. After cracking the tin, I let it rest for an entire month, periodically opening the tin and letting some fresh air get to the tobacco.
After the 30 days was up, I pulled a few flakes out, and used the cube cut method. I gave the tobacco a couple hours to dry, and eagerly filled her up. Once I got the charring lights accomplished, I settled in and began to enjoy. After I was about halfway thru the bowl, it dawned on me that this awesome little pipe had yet to gurgle. In fact, it seemed that there was no condensation forming in the stem whatsoever. In most of my pipes, I will experience some condensation buildup, and I will deal with this either by passing a pipe cleaner thru the stem, or simply tapping the stem out on a paper towel and allowing the moisture to be soaked up. I managed to carefully smoke the entire bowl to the bottom, without doing any internal damage to the briar. I let her cool off, passed a pipe cleaner thru the stem, and gave the pipe an entire week to rest before I loaded up bowl number 2.
I smoked the entire second bowl non stop, and it was a repeat performance, only this time, the pipe smoked noticeably cooler, and was easier to handle temp wise, than I remembered when smoking bowl number 1. I definitely took note that I again smoked the entire bowl, and not once did I experience any condensation in the stem. I again allowed the pipe to cool, ran another pipe cleaner thru the stem, and allowed the pipe to rest for another 7 days.
For the third bowl, I loaded the pipe to full capacity, and was very careful to get my tobacco lit dead center, so as not to scorch the rim of this gorgeous little pipe. With the bowl filled to maximum capacity, this pipe delivered a 2 hour and 15 minute smoke. Again, I was thrilled with the same repeat performance of experiencing zero gurgles or stem condensation. I was just amazed that this pipe smokes better than some of my high grade pipes, which I paid between $300 and $500. Again I noticed that the pipe stayed cool to the touch, even when I got into the last third of the bowl.
At this point, I became really curious about the internal drilling of the pipe, and checked it's bore as well as the drilling of the stem. I noticed that the briar was drilled to around 5/32, which is usually the middle of the road dimensions that most of my pipes have. I thought to myself, that if the briar has not been over drilled to say 11/32, then the secret of this pipes dry smoking ability undoubtedly lies in the stem dimensions. After I inspected the stem from both ends with a small penlight, it was obvious that Jesse spent quite a bit of attention to detail in finishing out the green cumberland stem. The stem itself is not overbored, but it is finished so well internally, that there most likely very little turbulance going on as the smoke passes thru the pipe.
I am not sure how many pipes Jesse has built in total, but I can tell you that my impression is that he definitely knows a lot about what he is doing as a carver, and pays as much attention to detail on the inside of his pipes, as he does the outside cosmetics.
Judging from some of the prices he is charging for his pipes, he is offering an outstanding bang for the buck for anyone who decides to purchase a pipe from him.
I am certainly impressed with his work, and I hope to be able to afford to purchase a few of his pipes before the demand for them inevitably increases. As most of you know, I was fortunate to win this pipe in a contest that Jesse held a few months back on his website. However, I can honestly say that if I had paid $350 for this pipe, I would be extremely pleased with the purchase.
Thanks again Jesse! I really hope you decide to continue with your pipe carving pursuits, because I certainly plan on purchasing a few of these classic English shapes, which you obviously excel in creating!
Here are the pics again, of this outstanding little flake pipe that has certainly become one of the top 3 pipes in my collection.....
