Luck is a Ben Wade Tonight

Just a couple of miles from my house is a great antique shop that my wife and I frequently visit. It has some nice old tobacco advertisements, way expensive of course, but never have I found an interesting estate pipe there. But as we all know things are always bound to change and this time I was there to reap the rewards. Ok nothing as great as the cache of Savinells that I came across last year but defiantly not the normal load of burned out Grabows and yellow-boles. This time around I stumbled upon an old Ben Wade free hand in excellent shape with only the slightest bit of use. I will post a pic of it with this entry and them post another later in the week after i have refurbished it. Oh ya, it was only twelve dollars! Now just trying to determine its age and which revamp of Ben Wade it hails from. All in all its a cool find for the price and condition.

Number 6

Last one I finished is a bent poker, and this one had the least flaws lol!

New Pipes

just a quick vid of the last few pipes I have done.

And Number Five is a Nose Warmer

Went with a stubby little nose warmer on this one and all went great for a change. I have one more on the way and then its a wait for more briar to get here next week. With the next few I hope to send some out to friends and get some response from others on how they smoke and overall opinions. As for smoking today, I am revisiting Bob's Chocolate Flake. I was a bit critical of it on my first quasi review but as it so often happens, time has been favorable to this blend and is somewhat enjoyable this go around.

Dublin or Bust

Just finished pipe number four and this time it is an attempt at a dublin. I really dig using patches of rustication on the pipe, plus its a great way to cover flaws or grain issues as pipe makers discovered long ago. So anyhow I hope all of you have not yet grown tired of my pipe making endeavors for I am having a great time in doing it. With each one I have encountered several obstacles and ruined a few pieces of briar in the process but it is all part of the challenge. And with each one I find a new way of doing a particular procedure. Oh and as a side note I have really been enjoying Mac Baren's Plumcake, if you have not tried it I suggest getting a tin and giving it a whirl!

Finding the Silver Lining

So tonight my dear wife cornered me into watching a "chick flick", yes, yes your condolences are appreciated. The particular flick that crept it's way into my humble home was Larry Crowne, starring Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts and was certain to spoil a Friday night. But I being one to accentuate the positives(haha) found a glimmering light in this cinematic ruination to ones masculinity in that two, yes two of the characters, and main characters at that, actively smoke pipes in the film! With that I officially give the film two thumbs up! And any rumors of me laughing throughout the movie are just that, rumors!

Welcome to 2012 and Pipe #3

So the holidays are over and it's time to get back to life as usual, ha, as if life is ever usual! Anyhow hope you all had a merry Christmas and a happy new years. Well now it is time to leave the festivities and distractions behind and return the pure and important things in life and by that I of course mean pipes, tobaccos, brews and other such glorious things. Along with my greetings into 2012 I present to you my third attempt at pipe making. This time I endeavored to create a rusticated free-hand poker and all in all I am happy with the results and noting the flaws to try to avoid on the next. I had planned to keep this one for myself but haven't quite decided on it due to my dad's affinity for this particular pipe... hmmm, such decisions.