Questions You Thought Were Too Dumb to Ask (Pipes Edition)

[Pugsley]

Over the years I've collected quite a number of pipes, some that rarely or never get smoked. Now, for the first time, I'm giving some thought to selling some. Two of them are unsmoked, limited editions, one is a very lightly used Dunhill in what seems to be an unpopular size and shape. My questions are how do you set prices if you can't find similar examples for sale, and how do you sell them? Ebay? List them on forums? Sell to friends? I have a couple friends that smoke pipes but they are both of the "If you aren't going to smoke it you should just give it to me" variety.

[Branzig]

Over the years I've collected quite a number of pipes, some that rarely or never get smoked. Now, for the first time, I'm giving some thought to selling some. Two of them are unsmoked, limited editions, one is a very lightly used Dunhill in what seems to be an unpopular size and shape. My questions are how do you set prices if you can't find similar examples for sale, and how do you sell them? Ebay? List them on forums? Sell to friends? I have a couple friends that smoke pipes but they are both of the "If you aren't going to smoke it you should just give it to me" variety.

I have a pretty strict, "If I don't smoke it, it's got to go" mentality. With that being said, if I like a pipe, I will give it a year or so to get into my rotation. If after a year I still find it more often than not just sitting there, it is gone-zo.

I have a local shop that I deal with from time to time, he is a good guy and buys a lot of my estates and trades with me. Forums are a great place to sell pipes to fellow brothers, if it is a pipe that you like but just didn't smoke, you at least know it is going to a fellow piper who will enjoy it and take care of it. Rarer pipes that you aren't sure of the value of, Ebay is a good bet. Put it up and see what it fetches....seller fees can be steep though.

As far as pricing goes...I guess the more you sell, the more you realize what things are worth. Condition and demand play a huge role. You can use Ebay as kind of a reference guide, but be forewarned that some of those "Buy It Now" prices are just not realistic whatsoever. Smokingpipes also sells estates and you can kind of gauge the market by what they are asking for their pipes....but that is only if your pipe is in great, restored condition. Smokingpipes estates are just top notch and they command top dollar for their work.

[Griz]

What do you all do with empty pipe tins? Just toss them?

doesn't have to be Altoids

http://indefinitelywild.gizmodo.com/...kit-1609107708

[Cardinal]

I'm trying replace all the lost wealth of Pxxx here, and I have another question. I just tried to smoke some SG Best Brown Flake yesterday, and I think that was the 2nd or 3rd time trying, but as finely as I rubbed it out it still seemed moist and wouldn't burn at all.

Is it totally dependent, or should I be leaving flake out overnight to dry?

My problem is I typically smoke a pipe in the morning and don't have a lot of time to let things air out unless I set it out the night before.

[tmoran]

SG Flakes tend to have more moisture than pretty much anything besides goopers. If I don't dry it out, I cannot get it to burn properly. If you don't have time immediately beforehand to dry it out, you can take say a week's worth, dry it all out to your preferred moisture level, and then seal it back in a jar.

[Branzig]

I'm trying replace all the lost wealth of Pxxx here, and I have another question. I just tried to smoke some SG Best Brown Flake yesterday, and I think that was the 2nd or 3rd time trying, but as finely as I rubbed it out it still seemed moist and wouldn't burn at all.

Is it totally dependent, or should I be leaving flake out overnight to dry?

My problem is I typically smoke a pipe in the morning and don't have a lot of time to let things air out unless I set it out the night before.

Leave it out over night.

I leave fresh SG flakes out for 24 hours sometimes before smoking them. If you rub the flake out completely, it will dry quicker, but I prefer to let them dry as flakes then rub them out.

[El Whedo]

What do you all do with empty pipe tins? Just toss them?

I use 'em for target practice with my .50 cal Hawkins black powder rifle. If I can hit a pipe tobacco tin at 75 or 80 metres with a ball and patch, then the local deer and elk are in trouble.

[Pugsley]

I just placed another tobacco order this morning. After doing so, thought I'd do an inventory of the unopened tins I have. I just finished and I have 93 tins, not counting the 2+ lbs. of bulk tobacco and tubs of Carter Hall. I also have another 9 tins and one tub open. That's a lot of tobacco. But, what I discovered while doing this, is that I already had all the tobaccos I just ordered, with multiple tins of some. Obviously, I have no system for keeping track of what I have. How do you keep track of a mess like this? I've heard of online cellars but never used one. Are they helpful? Can they be used easily by a computer illiterate like myself? Is there a better method or system?

[Branzig]

I just placed another tobacco order this morning. After doing so, thought I'd do an inventory of the unopened tins I have. I just finished and I have 93 tins, not counting the 2+ lbs. of bulk tobacco and tubs of Carter Hall. I also have another 9 tins and one tub open. That's a lot of tobacco. But, what I discovered while doing this, is that I already had all the tobaccos I just ordered, with multiple tins of some. Obviously, I have no system for keeping track of what I have. How do you keep track of a mess like this? I've heard of online cellars but never used one. Are they helpful? Can they be used easily by a computer illiterate like myself? Is there a better method or system?

I don't have an online cellar, but I kind of think I should. I bet it would help me and it sure sounds like it would definitely help you out! I can't imagine it is all that hard to set up, if you have ever filled out a spread sheet, I am sure it is very similar to that.

It is something I may have to look into shortly as well.

[AlanS]

On occasion I slip a small Boveda in jars of tobacco. Probably not necessary most of the time,but they feel like a little insurance.Any thoughts on this? Thanks