pipemakersforum.com

So, for real, what do I do to join the virtual get-together? I think I have a Google+ account because I always get e-mails about whatever stream-of-consciousness posts David Migdal has recently made. Help a brotha' out, would ya'?. TJ If you have a gmail account, you have a google+ account. You mig...

ToddJohnson wrote:Bowl is fine. Shank is fine. That pipe needs a saddle mouthpiece.

I gotta agree here. You might re-evaluate the rest of the pipe with a saddle stem completely differently. The length and curve of the shank make the taper stem visually cumbersome.

I'm late to the party on this one because I had no idea what it was about from reading the Subject line. It's an interesting discussion--and one I often have in my Friday morning counseling sessions. I don't believe there is a separation between "intention" and iteration. To use the acade...

I guess what I am saying is that I think it is ok to aspire to make "good pipes" and I hope that isn't seen as diminishing the craft. I completely agree with you Chris! I think we all would. You make an excellent pipe for your price- sure if you were charging $1000+ it'd be a different st...

You should totally join us Todd- we use Google hangouts- it's a video chat option on google+. Really simple to use, and tons o' fun.

I'm just curious to know what #indie #artisans are "independent" from . Who/What is the "Establishment" from whom they have broken free? What yolk of convention have they thrown off so as to be thus emancipated? Is it simply the burdensome shackles of convention, dictating that ...

This has been a fascinating thread especially for me in the slightly unusual position of not being an "Indie US pipemaker" but selling the vast majority of my pipes to the US. I guess you Yanks like our British turds :lol: It's odd, because the universal category/ stigma being thrown on n...

The best thing you can do, Micah, is continue making excellent pipes, and do so consistently for a number of years. As has been said a number of times already, slow and steady wins the race. And, just to be clear, the reason your collectors think of you as "practically a kid" is because a...

It's like pulling a plant out of your vegetable garden by the roots so you can shake every last edible morsel off of it RIGHT NOW! . Great, it'll provide you with one big meal, and you'll be fat and happy for a short time, but when you go back to it again, and you're hungry, all you're gonna find i...

Todd, that's an amazing story! I want to be sitting in a bar in Copenhagen with Lars some day.... The mentality of those guys is truly amazing. It's really hard to imagine Lars of all people struggling to sell pipes, it really puts things in perspective. Most people making pipes these days absolutel...

Well, the Illuminati objection was bound to be first. Surely a group of like minded individuals who share common goals of quality, integrity, and respect for the consumer could not be formed without it becoming a diabolical oligarchy, hellbent on brainwashing the masses, taking their freedom, and b...

I nominate Premal! j/k In all seriousness It would be cool if someone who had access to factory pipes, "artisan" pipes, and high grades, did a quick video explaining what you should be looking for in pipes that were in the $150 and below range, $200 to $300 range, $350 to $500 range, and ...

ToddJohnson wrote: George,

we agree point-for-point on this
TJ

Thus Wilbur was granted wings, and flew sluggishly into the sunset.


I completely concur with the notion George is suggesting. Show pipe buyers where the bar actually is.

Food for thought: if social media is a bad place to start, who the heck are you guys chapped at who are selling all their stuff on social media? It works. Pay attention to what the successful guys do. True. Retailers usually give credibility to a carver, something which is much harder for social me...

andrew wrote:
Social media can be ok. It's another tool in the box. In my opinion it's a bad place for a carver to start, not a bad place to end.

KRAAAAAKOW!

Anyway, I suppose my point is simply, I don't really use social media and I'm really happy with where I'm at and where I'm heading as a pipemaker. And if a new maker isn't into social media, I personally don't see how that will hold them back in any way. Social media has certainly helped me broaden...

Right?! We miss you too Nate!

Vermont Freehand wrote:so those who make turd pipes, are they now considered fartisans?

When the body is deprived of half of one of it's senses....

sandahlpipe wrote:don't collectors of high grades know how to distinguish between the good, the bad, and the ugly?

Usually.

ToddJohnson wrote:
I can think of at least a dozen would-be pipe makers whose third chamber I'd love to shove a switchblade into.

TJ

I think the issue is you just aren't expressing your feelings clearly enough. You shouldn't hold back. Let it out man!