Not long ago, I was discussing a Peterson Kapp-Royal I was restoring with Mark Irwin at (https://petersonpipenotes.wordpress.com/) and he mentioned soaking the stummels in an alcohol bath to clean the exterior. Both Mark and Steve Laug at (https://rebornpipes.com/) use 91% isopropyl alcohol the bath. After 24 hours, the alcohol removes the finish, removes some of …
One of my four sisters likes to shop flea markets, street fairs, antique/collectible and junk shops. She recently found a Royal Danish 991R which she gifted to me as a restoration project. In researching the pipe, I’ve found that it is a Ukulele shape designed for Stanwell by Sixteen Iversson. Royal Danish is one of the “seconds” brand of Stanwell …
Even a blind squirrel finds an occasional acorn. That’s how I feel sometimes when I walk into a junktique shop (the signs usually say “Antique & Collectibles) and finding something worth adding to my collection. A recent Saturday expedition to one of these shops uncovered 15 or 16 usual Medicos, Dr. Grabow’s and Kaywoodie’s damaged beyond consideration. I found the …
The topic keeps resurfacing on pipe smoking forums. Do the higher priced, premium pipes really smoke better than less expensive pipes? There are some pipe smoking snobs who claim the more expensive pipes do smoke better. But how does that explain the thousands of pipe smokers who collect and swear by the smoking qualities of Kaywoodies and Dr. Grabow’s for …
For the testing I loaded two grams of Dunhill My Mixture 965 in each pipe. I weighed the tobacco on my kitchen scale. Stanwell HCA: Passes a pipe cleaner with some wiggling. Draft hole off center high. Avg. size airway in stem. Good, easy draught – like sipping a fountain drink through a plastic straw. Bowl was warm but comfortable …
“Do High Priced Pipes Really Smoke Better.” My Conclusions… After conducting my smoking test and talking to several expert pipe carvers and restorers, I decided the answer is so subjective for a yes or no answer. What makes a pipe a quality smoker depends on the definition of a quality smoker by each pipe smoker. I have several hypotheses and …
I didn’t win. A total of six other pipe smokers smoked longer than I did. Meaning I failed in my attempt to win three years in a row. Fellow New Orleans Pipe Club member, Frank Mares finished after 1 hour, 21 minutes and Pipe Club Member Charles Williams, Jr., was second at 1 hour, 18 minutes. In contrast, I was …
To Dunhill or not to Dunhill? That is the question. Whether it is better to have smoked Dunhill and suffer its demise or to have never smoked Dunhill and to not mourn it? I have smoked Dunhill pipe tobacco in the past and have even enjoyed a Dunhill cigar or two. I remember them as being good. Very good. Above …
I’m one of those pipe smokers who loves shopping for “estate” pipes. The wife and I enjoy walking around so called antique/collectible shops, malls, flea markets and street fairs. I like being able to pick up the various pipes I find and try to identify the maker and age. I have probably 25 rescued pipes I’ve bought from these shops. …
By New Year’s Day, everyone has made a number of New Year Resolution they swear they will keep all year. By January 2, they have ignored those resolutions. This year I made a resolution to not be like everyone else. I resolved to only make pipe smoking resolutions that I know I will or can keep. (Since this is 2018, …
