What do you guys do with your early creations?

[ajpl]

I don't know how many pipes the average maker creates before he/she starts selling, but I'd imagine that some of you guys have a good number of early pipes lying around. They're too ugly to give away but you're too sentimental to just trash them (or are you?).

So what do you do with them?

[Massis]

I have 4 that I've kept myself, and all the other ones have been sold (most), thrown away (failed attempts that were unsalvagable) or made as gifts for friends.

[d.huber]

I smoke mine.

[wisemanpipes]

i did a thread like this last week or so about shop pipes. it seems like i have a ton, but its ~10 or so that ive kept and smoke.
-evan

[Growley]

I kept some and gave some away.

[The Smoking Yeti]

I don't smoke mine, the engineering on them is shit.

I did give one away to some starving writer dude who thought it was the coolest thing ever... poor guy, I hope he remembers to renew the electrical tape bond- he could lose the stem otherwise.

[jogilli]

I smoke the ones I've kept in the shop...gave some away....and sold a few.. some I was sorry I sold.. but I think that's life.. nothing like an early pipe falling almost apart for somebody that bought it.... took some back.. replaced some with better versions..etc etc etc... my only advice is don't sell any until you actually have one that is done right internally... it'll save you a lot of second guesses later

james

[Jos]

I smoke mine.

+ 1. Except for those that are complete crap ... these, I keep as examples how not to do it.

Jens

[Literaryworkshop]

Well, all I really have are early creations. I've only made a half-dozen or so as of yet. Thus far, I've sold three, and another one is spoken for pending payment. I can't tell if the people who bought them just have really low standards or what, but I won't argue with a cash offer. Two I know went to people who are very occasional smokers, so I think they just liked the look. The third went to someone who just wanted something custom-made, but he tells me it smokes well.

So far, I'm keeping two of my pipes. I'm not much of a smoker, so there's no point is making myself any more. I'll gladly make 'em for other people, though.