CA Custom Pipe 2010

[CigarGuy88]

Hey Guys

I want to get the pipe buy going again and I figured I should poll everyone who's interested to make it easier on me than getting 20+ PMs. This poll is going to just be cost based. Reading over the last couple threads it seems most want to go more budget yet a few of us, including me would like to go a little more high end. Let's get this poll done soon so we can get on with the order.

Also please post what maker you would like to go with and post a picture of the design you're thinking about.

[BigFrank]

I'd like to keep it under $100 preferably. Don't know what pipe maker to go with.

Last year's pipe maker Boswell is not doing special orders. Quote from the website "*Attention: We apologize for the inconvenience, but at this time we are unable to take any special orders. "

I'd like to get a pipe in a nose warmer style. The shape etc isnt that big of a deal to me. Boswell has been making some similar style pipes for well under $100 recently.

[Emjaysmash]

Originally Posted by BigFrank

I'd like to keep it under $100 preferably. Don't know what pipe maker to go with.

Last year's pipe maker Boswell is not doing special orders. Quote from the website "*Attention: We apologize for the inconvenience, but at this time we are unable to take any special orders. "

I'd like to get a pipe in a nose warmer style. The shape etc isnt that big of a deal to me. Boswell has been making some similar style pipes for well under $100 recently.

I'm not sure if you want us to be putting in our opinions on shape and style, but I really want a nosewarmer, rusticated if possible.

[CigarGuy88]

Originally Posted by Emjaysmash

I'm not sure if you want us to be putting in our opinions on shape and style, but I really want a nosewarmer, rusticated if possible.

The reason why I'm saying post a design is being I have no clue what the h*ll I'm doing I'm just getting into pipes so I'm a uber-noob.

[BigFrank]

Well I think the first step, if any would be to find a pipe maker who can handle making 10-20 similar pipes at once. Talk to each see the pricing, for different styles of pipes. How payment would be made to the maker etc.

[CigarGuy88]

I wanted to get the amount of people and the price people are willing to pay before I can get an idea for the amount of pipes we would order before I contacted anyone

[CigarGuy88]

Also at this point I'm looking very hard at American Pipe (Mark Tinsky) to do the pipes... I also think that we can do different levels of the pipes.... If lets say we get a pipe design/size down and some people want to spend less and other people want to spend more and get a more expensive pipe. Differences would be grain quality, silver or gold bands and stuff like that.

Heres the price guide... http://www.amsmoke.com/Index%20Folder/PRICE.html

The one problem I've noticed is pipes are mainly over $100 and most over $150 but I'm going to get in contact with him and see if he can make a little more of a budget pipe for us...

Any other pipe makers you would recommend?

[Beklage]

I would be interested in this so subscribed

[Emjaysmash]

Originally Posted by CigarGuy88

Also at this point I'm looking very hard at American Pipe (Mark Tinsky) to do the pipes... I also think that we can do different levels of the pipes.... If lets say we get a pipe design/size down and some people want to spend less and other people want to spend more and get a more expensive pipe. Differences would be grain quality, silver or gold bands and stuff like that.

Heres the price guide... http://www.amsmoke.com/Index%20Folder/PRICE.html

The one problem I've noticed is pipes are mainly over $100 and most over $150 but I'm going to get in contact with him and see if he can make a little more of a budget pipe for us...

Any other pipe makers you would recommend?

Not sure on his pricing, but Jake Hackert is one pipe maker I'd like a pipe from.

[CigarGuy88]

Originally Posted by Emjaysmash

Not sure on his pricing, but Jake Hackert is one pipe maker I'd like a pipe from.

I just emailed him and Mark and I'll let you know when I hear back... anyone else with recommendations?

[CigarGuy88]

I got an email back from mark and he will be calling me in a few minutes so we can chat about this. I'll let you know how it goes.... Any questions anyone wants me to ask?

[CigarGuy88]

What do you guys think about these for an overall design.....

Pipe #1 on this page: http://www.boswellpipes.com/stubbyno...ergallery.html

Pipe #1 on this page: http://www.boswellpipes.com/Freehands1.html

I'm looking around for a few more design ideas...

I really like this one:
Pipe #1 on this page: http://www.boswellpipes.com/Freehands1.html

[CigarGuy88]

Originally Posted by Yardgnome

I really like this one:
Pipe #1 on this page: http://www.boswellpipes.com/Freehands1.html

Thats one of my favorites too.... I'm currently sketching a design that I think people would like based on that... I'll post it later once i finish it.

[CigarGuy88]

Just a couple notes on the design.... the top part near the opening of the bowl will be rusticated with a little bit flowing down the edge and a black stain on the "band". The body will be a black understain with a deep red-orange topping (I'm feeling a burl grain). The band near the stem junction can either be rusticated like the bowl entrance with the black stain or my pipe will probably be rusticated like the bowl with a thick silver band...

Stem would be up to the guy putting it together so he could decide what works best for the design...

What do you guys think...?

[CigarGuy88]

I just thought of another possibilty... Reverse the smooth and rusticated that I just stated... So the 2 "bands" would be a smooth burl grain and the rest would be completely rusticated

[Emjaysmash]

Originally Posted by CigarGuy88

I just thought of another possibilty... Reverse the smooth and rusticated that I just stated... So the 2 "bands" would be a smooth burl grain and the rest would be completely rusticated

I like your first Idea with mostly smooth and a rusticated band at the top.
I don't really like the freehands, but if there was a rusticated rim I could deal with that.

[CigarGuy88]

Ok I just got a quote from Mark... Based on my design with the rustication on top with mostly smooth body and an endcap instead of a band (adds more to price and metal wont work on tapered stem) would be around $180 + any other niceties people would like to add and fully rusticated with just a smooth top near the opening of the bowl would be around $145...

He also mentioned that it is extremely hard to get a handmade (custom) pipe for under $100. He also recommended going with boswell due to cost restraints but they no longer do special orders as stated above.

It looks like the custom guys that I've looked at so far are well over $100 so I'm not sure what to do if we are primarily looking for sub- $100 pipes...

Still waiting to hear back from Jake but looking at his work it will probably be as expensive unless we went super basic...

[Ranger_B]

I threw in my vote for numbers. Personally I am not a fan of mixing smooth with any rustication. I like one or the other but that is just me. I am headed to a pipe show in Vegas this month so if we get a good Idea of what we are looking for I can talk to some of the carvers there. My fiancée and I are talking with a pipe maker about a wedding pipe.

[BigFrank]

I really like some of the Boswell Nosewarmer pipes. Looking at the pricing of them, under 100$ would be very reasonable. Maybe a phone call inquiring wouldnt hurt. I wonder what Mark's price would be for a series of nosewarmer pipes with mixed finishes. Usually rusticated runs slight cheaper than smooth finish.