Buying Briar

For the things that don't fit neatly into the other categories.
Post Reply
pmbattles
Posts: 54
Joined: Tue Jan 03, 2017 5:23 pm

Buying Briar

Post by pmbattles »

I got a little bit of money back on my tax return and I wanted to set aside about $100.00 for briar. I know that it is not much but I am tired of making pipes out of maple and cherry and I want to make sure I utilize the money as best as possible. So, suggestions? Do I buy the most grade 3 ebauchon I can... or some grade 1 plateaux... do I get seconds from JH Lowe. For that matter what sizes; R2, R2.25, B-4, B-5X?? How in the hell do y'all decide what to order? I need advice on how to get the most out of what little I have. Thanks in advance for those that reply.
User avatar
sandahlpipe
Posts: 2106
Joined: Mon Feb 04, 2013 8:49 pm
Location: Zimmerman, MN
Contact:

Re: Buying Briar

Post by sandahlpipe »

My ordering habits have changed from one order to the next. I think it comes down to what you want to do. If you're just practicing the fundamentals, get seconds blocks. If you want to improve your chances of having a decent pipe, buy decent briar. I've had to toss many pipes due to fatal flaws. More so with the cheap briar than the good stuff from Mimmo or others. Don't mess around with plateaux unless it's worth the extra money. Standard ebauchons are just as high of quality.

I've gotten the occasional smooth from a grade 3 and had rejects from grade 1. But generally you get what you pay for. If you want more briar, get cheaper. If you want higher quality, shell out the dough.

For sizes, I think there's a chart on Tim's site that explains the measurements. The smaller blocks are quite adequate for most classic shapes. The larger blocks give you some room to reposition the shape in the block or make bigger pipes.

In the ideal case, you'd buy briar in person and pick out the blocks you like. We don't always have that luxury though.
---
Fail early, fail often. Your success depends on it.

Jeremiah Sandahl
http://sandahlpipe.com
caskwith
Posts: 2196
Joined: Sat Dec 08, 2007 6:00 am

Re: Buying Briar

Post by caskwith »

Assuming you are in the US, contact Steve at Vermont Freehand, tell him you are learning to work with briar having used maple and cherry before, you have $100 to spend and you want to get the most learning material you can for the money. I am sure he will know what to do.

In your position I would want as many medium size blocks as i could get, mostly eb's but a couple of plateau too, not too small and not shitty quality but plain boring grain will suffice.
Massis
Posts: 938
Joined: Thu Aug 26, 2010 9:05 am

Re: Buying Briar

Post by Massis »

caskwith wrote:Assuming you are in the US, contact Steve at Vermont Freehand, tell him you are learning to work with briar having used maple and cherry before, you have $100 to spend and you want to get the most learning material you can for the money. I am sure he will know what to do.

In your position I would want as many medium size blocks as i could get, mostly eb's but a couple of plateau too, not too small and not shitty quality but plain boring grain will suffice.

What he said!
DocAitch
Posts: 1109
Joined: Mon Dec 14, 2015 12:44 am
Location: Baltimore, Maryland

Re: Buying Briar

Post by DocAitch »

Massis wrote:
caskwith wrote:Assuming you are in the US, contact Steve at Vermont Freehand, tell him you are learning to work with briar having used maple and cherry before, you have $100 to spend and you want to get the most learning material you can for the money. I am sure he will know what to do.

In your position I would want as many medium size blocks as i could get, mostly eb's but a couple of plateau too, not too small and not shitty quality but plain boring grain will suffice.

What he said!
I agree with the caveat that you don't need plateaux. At your stage, cutting and shaping briar is your major task. Utilizing plateaux comes down the line.
DocAitch
"Hettinger, if you stamp 'hand made' on a dog turd, some one will buy it."
-Charles Hollyday, pipe maker, reluctant mentor, and curmudgeon
" Never show an idiot an unfinished pipe!"- same guy
caskwith
Posts: 2196
Joined: Sat Dec 08, 2007 6:00 am

Re: Buying Briar

Post by caskwith »

You don't need it, but a few pieces will be good learning experience to see the different between the 2 cuts and how they machine differently etc.
kamkiel
Posts: 405
Joined: Fri Jan 03, 2014 10:35 am
Location: Chongqing, China

Re: Buying Briar

Post by kamkiel »

+1 Caskwith
pipedreamer
Posts: 1056
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2013 6:25 pm

Re: Buying Briar

Post by pipedreamer »

I agree with Chris!!!
Charl
Posts: 1901
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2008 3:03 pm
Location: South Africa

Re: Buying Briar

Post by Charl »

:clap: Chris is the man!
:D
Post Reply