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Pipes & Tobacco
General Pipe Discussion
How does the quality of a pipe work?
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<blockquote data-quote="Dock" data-source="post: 73624" data-attributes="member: 33"><p>A wise and now retired pipes dealer once told me that anything a customer pays over $300.00 is more less payment for a pipemaker's reputation. I'm not sure I "buy into this" or not but it's food for thought.</p><p></p><p>The bottom line though is time. An uber highgrade pipe will have a handmade stem. Crafting it can be every bit as time consuming as carving the bowl itself. Figure 3-4 hours extra at the very least. Of course the high quality German ebonite rods that most makers use to make them are also quite expensive. If smooth an uber highgrade will likely have killer grain. I would bet one in every 1,000 blocks will have that jaw dropping straight grain. Well known and established makers have important and very long standing relationships with mills. They pay a premium to to be able to cherry pick the really great wood. Though unconfimed, I'd bet that a bribe is involved too. Additionally, that great block will likely cost the carver $80.00 or more. An average block falls in the $15-$20 range I've been told. All of the time and money involved here help jack the price up. Then ad the fact that as a seller a pipe carver can and will charge every bit as much as folks are willing to pay. If a certain brand is "the hot pipe of the moment" it will most certainly be priced accordingly.....</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Dock, post: 73624, member: 33"] A wise and now retired pipes dealer once told me that anything a customer pays over $300.00 is more less payment for a pipemaker's reputation. I'm not sure I "buy into this" or not but it's food for thought. The bottom line though is time. An uber highgrade pipe will have a handmade stem. Crafting it can be every bit as time consuming as carving the bowl itself. Figure 3-4 hours extra at the very least. Of course the high quality German ebonite rods that most makers use to make them are also quite expensive. If smooth an uber highgrade will likely have killer grain. I would bet one in every 1,000 blocks will have that jaw dropping straight grain. Well known and established makers have important and very long standing relationships with mills. They pay a premium to to be able to cherry pick the really great wood. Though unconfimed, I'd bet that a bribe is involved too. Additionally, that great block will likely cost the carver $80.00 or more. An average block falls in the $15-$20 range I've been told. All of the time and money involved here help jack the price up. Then ad the fact that as a seller a pipe carver can and will charge every bit as much as folks are willing to pay. If a certain brand is "the hot pipe of the moment" it will most certainly be priced accordingly..... [/QUOTE]
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General Pipe Discussion
How does the quality of a pipe work?
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