Need an inexpensive pipe rack sollution!

[Dutch]

and I stick by that today. Yes, I was pissed that I had spent that kind of money on a shoddily made, horrendously finished pine rack that was falling apart in the shipping box because it was put together in the fastest, cheapest possible way. It is the worst possible pipe rack. I understand you wanting to defend that thing because you're mad you paid that kind of money for a pine rack that someone put together with a nail gun. Get back to me when you're able to compare that thing to one made by Francis Brogan and we'll see if you're still so willing to defend it.

My description is right on the money, whether you choose the monkey with a nail gun or seventh grade shop class project metaphor.

here's the Brogan rack I own that I should have bought in the first place. I have some pipes out getting restored, sorry about the empty spaces.

sisyphus, I stated in my initial post that I have purchased 4 of these racks, and I am just about ready to buy another, so there is nothing to defend. I am obviously very happy with my purchase, and the racks construction. Just as the other 653 customers of fac55 were, who left 100% positive feedback.

Some of my older vintage pipe racks, which are ideal for smaller flake pipes and nosewarmers, cost me around $30 each. Considering that, as well as the price of custom pipe racks nowdays, I consider fac55's $39.95 price tag, plus $15 shipping a real bargain. Bent bulldog started the thread asking for opinions on an inexpensive pipe rack, and I believe that the ones I have purchased certainly fit into that category.

The only complaint I have about the rack, is that it has been stained everywhere except the bottom. Since I like to hang my racks on the wall, the unstained portion is visible, especially when sitting in the room where the rack is hung. It is an easy fix, but it would only take the builder a few extra seconds to stain the entire rack. Other than that, I am extremely happy with the overall construction of the rack, and I tend to be picky and hard to please with most of my purchases. I am a fabricator/tig welder with 30 years experience, and while I have little experience working with wood, I certainly have an eye for quality and good craftsmanship. I purchased my first rack from fac55 two years ago, and I have had no problems with any of the 4 racks I have purchased.

 

[Anonymous]

Dutch, interesting trade you have. You can do things with materials that were considered impossible by an old welding shop which was more in the tradition of my great-grandfather -- the blacksmith. He might fail to see the value of your work which wouldn't be a sign of a disparity and lack of full understanding.

Pipe smokers are similar. Some demand only pre-whatever and are willing to pay for that. The next enjoys his common cobs and thinks of more utilitarian rolls.

As a skilled specialist, you share a common heritage with the guy pounding away at a trip hammer or with tongs and anvil. I am sure you enjoy each others stories and successes. There is a lack of elitism and mutual respect in the trades. That's a good thing everywhere.

P.S. Ever watch Tommy Mac on PBS? He does some fancy woodworking but I've also seen him use a nail gun a lot.

 

[Dutch]

Dutch, interesting trade you have. You can do things with materials that were considered impossible by an old welding shop which was more in the tradition of my great-grandfather -- the blacksmith. He might fail to see the value of your work which wouldn't be a sign of a disparity and lack of full understanding.

Pipe smokers are similar. Some demand only pre-whatever and are willing to pay for that. The next enjoys his common cobs and thinks of more utilitarian rolls.

As a skilled specialist, you share a common heritage with the guy pounding away at a trip hammer or with tongs and anvil. I am sure you enjoy each others stories and successes. There is a lack of elitism and mutual respect in the trades. That's a good thing everywhere.

Ken, thanks for the comments. I have a high level of respect for blacksmiths and their ability to forge weld. In reality, a similar craft, but one which requires much more hand eye coordination than the modern welder in a production environment.

 

[KevinM]

Once I crossed the 70 pipe mark I thought of a different approach --Some of my pipes are in racks (maybe 40, particularly those that make a handsome display). But others are nestled in small baskets, either because of aesthetics, or they're too big for a rack or whatever. The baskets take up less room and the wooden type found in antique shops are handsome and seem well suited to briiar nests. Cheaper than racks, too. You can also bunch pipes together by style, maker, size or whatever suits you.

But the best pipe display I ever saw was in P&T mag. A guy bought what looked like an old candy display case from a shop, hauled it into his man cave and refurbed it as a pipe display. He could sit in his chair and admire his whole collection in one glance

Hard to do, though, when you only have part of a bookshelf at your disposal.

 

[deyo67]

Pipe racks are a pain in the tush at times and a great space saver at other times. Lately the prices for some pipe racks and stands have sky rocketed. What I bought just 5 months ago has almost doubled in price. So now I make it a point to appreciate the ones I have, that I used to complain about, as they are now very pricey. I wish at the very start of pipe racks and stands that I bought one of those large ones that hold up to 75 pipes. In the long run I would have saved money as the shipping costs for some of the pipe racks and stands are as much as the rack itself. Being in Canada the shipping costs are crazy high, and are even worse now. So I am glad I bought the ones I did, when I did. One example of this is an pipe stand that holds 8 pipes ( 4 a side ) and has the nice wooden humidor box in the middle. That same one now is going for almost 3 times the cost of what I had initially paid for the one I have, that includes the shipping cost. I have come across sellers that want up to $50.00 and more to ship a pipe rack to me. The same with pipes, some sellers are decent with the shipping costs, others want up $46.50 for one pipe to be delivered to me. WOW!!! So I have to siphon through the maze and many times they do not even have the shipping charges on the page listed so I have to message them for the shipping cost, and try to haggle a deal with them. So I have almost every kind of stand and rack here, that now is worth a few bucks, but I will hang on to them as they are getting harder to find for a reasonable price with shipping included. I need to take up carpentry as a hobby and learn to build my own.
So if anyone has a nice pipe rack or stand they want to sell for cheap and that includes shipping charges, please do give me a ring. LOL!!!

 

[monbla256]

Pipe racks are one of those things that most folks don't really value in this whole pipe thing but really have a very important part in the long run enjoyment of it. When I started smoking and only owned three pipes, aftyer I bought my leather roll-up pouch, I bought a Decatur 8 pipe rack which I still have. Over the past 40 years of smoking I've added three others, 1-three tiered 36 pipe rack, 1 two tiered 24 pipe rack, and 1 round 12 pipe rack w/ 'bac jar ( that I don't use as the top really lets 'bac dry out to fast for me. They are all made by Decatur, are dark walnut finished, and since I have very few freehands and smoke mostly traditional shapes in the grp3/4 range fit most of my pipes just fine. I've not begrudged what I've paid over the years ( all were bought new) as they are well made, have secured my pipes reasonably and in the long scheme have been money well spent. Remember, if you are in this for life, are a younger newbie, you will be aquiring MORE pipes so I advise a rack BIGGER than you need currently to allow for further pipe purchases ( and the empty spaces will encourage this :twisted: ) and as good a quality as the pipes you are putting in it. Just my "old fart" advice :twisted: :twisted:

 

[stormwulf133]

That Decatur rack didn't seem that pricy until I saw: Shipping: $38.05

Why do people do this?  I am sure UPS would take it for a third the price.  On one hand you have Amazon and free shipping and then you have the sites where you go to buy something and then encounter the shipping from hell pricing.   Even if I want something, it makes me disconnect and look elsewhere.

You would be surprised. I shipped a pipe rack. Cost near that for shipping it. Checked USPS, UPS and Fedex