pipemakersforum.com

I had fun and sales were good. Most of the pipe makers that I talked to did well and all around it seemed like a good show. Anybody upset about having to spend a quarter on a tobacco sample isn't looking at the bigger picture. The margins on pipe tobacco are pretty small, I'd imagine, especially at ...

We have all PM lathes at the Briarworks shop. I've got nothing bad to say about them, but I'm not an expert. They work pretty darn well for pipe making and are solid.

More swing is better if you can get it. I used to work on a 9" lathe and now work on a 12" lathe. 4.5" swing over vs 6" swing over. Most of the time I don't need the full 6" swing, but that extra room is really nice and it allows for some pipes that I would not have been abl...

I agree with you, George. I was mostly joking. I have seen some pretty squirrelly stuff on some very expensive pipes and heard people raving about pipes that have all sorts of issues. We all know how that goes...nothing new. My approach is to make the best pipes I can because it makes me feel good a...

I've mostly come to the conclusion that we all try to make our pipes perfect because we are dumbasses. It seems that consumers are primarily concerned with general aesthetics and if you can smoke tobacco in it. Everything else seems to be less important and brand/name recognition goes a long way. It...

I don't know exactly what's going to happen with this FDA business, but I will say that if BriarWorks were considering ceasing production of pipes, they probably wouldn't have launched a new website and online store two days ago. I agree it's too bad about the Nashville show, I think the main issue ...

Mr. Edmond, if you're nasty.

An Internet Sam sighting! Hot damn! Todd, I've seen Sam's marmalade technique. Ain't nothing easy about it.

All would have also been well if it was accepted that maybe Tyler's point is a significant part of the problem and that maybe internet trends, in general, don't affect all small, niche communities the same way. Statistics are easy to find and contextualize to prove one's point, grind one's axe, etc....

Well, that went downhill quickly. I think Tyler's post was spot on and the progress of this thread pretty much proves his point. Unfortunately, it won't make much of a difference without a little self-reflection and behavior adjustment from forum members. Do with that what you will.

Not to speak for Tyler at all, but empathy, sympathy, and a sense of responsibility are not the same thing as guilt. The word guilt is also often used pejoratively to explain why spiritual people, especially Christians, do what they do, as if they are driven by an emotion they aren't in control of. ...

I would guess that some of the decline in activity has to do with "regulars" getting tired of combative tones, opinions expressed as absolutes, and people without much experience presenting themselves as experts. I know I find those things tiresome and will often not post on something I'm ...

I should probably bow out. I recently moved and don't see myself getting around to this by the due date.

Congratulations!

This has been discussed in other threads recently, but I think all other things being equal the only thing any of us have to sell is ourselves. The connection between the consumer and the producer is an important one in most industries and probably more so in hand made art and craft fields. People w...

Yeah, I know, and I wouldn't begrudge a young man a smoke. I was just ribbing Micah a little.

I think it's a good idea. I need to take some photos anyway.

You are also a criminal. Smoking at 17! Kids these days...

Real name: Micah Redmond Age: 32 Location: Jacksonville, FL Years a pipe smoker: 6 How you got into pipe making: I bought my first pipe, started poking around online, and discovered the work of some American, Danish, and Japanese high grade makers and was attracted to the artistry possible in a func...

Wayne, you did not disappoint! Two insults in one sentence. Very well done, sir.