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So do I keep my own pipe or send it to the top of the list?

I guess you aren't totally dead to me. I mean, you did take time Chicago to talk with a lowlife like myself. Ah, heck...who am I kidding. I'm down right fond of you.

Bluesytone wrote:So do I keep my own pipe or send it to the top of the list?

Top of the list.

Thanks for putting this together again Manny! You’re the best!

PremalChheda wrote:Thanks for putting this together again Manny! You’re the best!

IAWP, thanks a ton!

Not only is Manny the man, I get my first Atilano pipe. I'm stoked!

wdteipen wrote:Not only is Manny the man, I get my first Atilano pipe. I'm stoked!

Manny told me the second he saw his pipe was going to you that he ruffied the bowl coating.

So here's a question that will hopefully be of some help to other folks who don't ship pipes often - what's the best way to do that? The last pipe I shipped, I packed in a box that was probably 3-4" too big in each dimension filled with bubble wrap, and it cost nearly $20 to send the damn thing. Surely there's a better way, right?

I'm hoping my pipe from Wayne arrives with some hooch!

scotties22 wrote:I'm hoping my pipe from Wayne arrives with some hooch!

I’m not getting a Wayne pipe, but I wouldn't mind some if his home brew either...wink, wink *suddle hint*

scotties22 wrote:I'm hoping my pipe from Wayne arrives with some hooch!

Distribution through the fed mail kicks the illegality and thus the jail time/penalty to the next level. I'll bring you some to Chicago next year.

Just to breath some life into this thread. I received Premal's pipe a few days ago. I've put a couple bowls of Va through it. I am going to try a few other Va and VaPer blends and will give a critique later. I feel silly critiquing his pipe. But I will do it none the less so the rest of you can roll your eyes at me.

Better late than never! Just a few more coats of oil and my pipe will be headed to Jeremy!

I also just noticed in the picture that the bottom line of the stem, from the shank through the bend, needs a bit more attention.

scotties22 wrote:Better late than never! Just a few more coats of oil and my pipe will be headed to Jeremy!

I also just noticed in the picture that the bottom line of the stem, from the shank through the bend, needs a bit more attention.

It is interesting that a photo will reveal something that was missed while the pipe was in hand.
I experienced an “Aw shit!” moment when I looked at photos of my bamboo entry in the North American Pipe Carvers contest AFTER it was in the mail.
DocAitch

I still take in progress pics of my of my pipes. For whatever reason pictures don't lie

scotties22 wrote:Better late than never! Just a few more coats of oil and my pipe will be headed to Jeremy!

I also just noticed in the picture that the bottom line of the stem, from the shank through the bend, needs a bit more attention.

oh man, sooooo excited.....I mean, can't wait to critique the stuffing out of that thing......I mean, eager to learn so much just from holding that thing.... wait, I get to smoke it??!?....... oh man, sooooooooo excited.......




Sent from my bloopty-bloop, using hooty-hoo.

Ok...my review of Premal's pipe. *GULP* I make the disclaimer that I find myself in no way qualified to critique the likes of Premal, but given that those are the rules of the game I will try...although there's not much to critique.

Firstly, the pipe is beautiful. I don't even particularly like the Author shape personally, but you would be hard pressed to find someone to say that Premal's offering wasn't "pretty". The sandblast was stellar. It wasn't overly craggy (which craggy isn't a bad thing) but the lines were very defined. It looked as though it was blasted and then blasted again with a detailed tip to carve out the growth rings. But that is strictly speculation.

As for the "critique," (picture Dr. Evil doing finger quotes there)...

As you can see the button and slot look great. The only thing I would change is to widen the slot. Now, this is strictly for personal aesthetic reasons. The slot is plenty big to easily accept a pipe cleaner and allow it to pass with ease. I think I may prefer the look of a wider slot simply due to the fact that is what I am conditioned to look for.


As for the stem, I couldn't find a single tool/sanding mark anywhere. Even behind the button was as smooth as glass. I think I would have liked the overall look of the stem more if it carried the bend throughout its entirety rather than just that last third. Though, I don't think that is really what a "standard" author is supposed to do (again, that is just a personal aesthetic thing.) However, given the weight of the bowl a more comprehensive bend might make it easier to clench this pipe.


Ok...I'm writing this part simply because there really isn't anything to else to critique. As was immediately evident when I met him at the Chicago show, Premal is horribly arrogant, and prideful, and full of himself so I need to bring him down a few pegs. Joking, joking, joking. Premal was super cool and very nice. The smooth rim is not totally the same size all the way around. I measured with my calipers and there are places that are a few hundredths of an inch off. Shame on you Premal. In order to critique something on this pipe I had to measure in crazy small increments.


No critique on this...dang that looks symmetrical.

Pipe smokes as well as you would assume a pipe of this caliber to smoke. It's not really a clencher as the weight of the bowl is a bit more to hold on to than I like, but that is simply due to the style of pipe that it is and part of the reason why I am personally not a fan of the shape. That said, however, I'm a fan of Premal as he is crazy talented.

Thank you JMG!