In and Out of the Rotation

Topaz75

I realized today that I have a number of pipes that have been out of my rotation for years.  In my den, I keep about a half dozen pipes conveniently stored in a rack.  These are the ones I smoke regularly.  In upstairs rooms I have two additional racks containing probably 6 or 8 more pipes.  There’s nothing wrong with them, but somehow over time they’ve been dropped from the rotation.  How many pipes do you hold on to that are seldom used and are for the most part just sitting around gathering dust?

RockyMountainBriar

@Topaz75
     Heh,  with 400+ pipes, pretty much all of them.  My "rotation" includes them all, and I have not made it through the "rotation".  It seems I keep buying more pipes (serious PAD/TAD-I may need help). However, I have smoked several, many times.  I don't want to have to clean them.  I may need to sell more pipes?  After cleaning and caring for them, I get attached to them and I am afraid they may not go to a good home   Is that crazy?  I think it may be.  *deeter-deeter-phhffft*

PhilosoPiper

@RockyMountainBriar, I wouldn't know where to keep 400+ pipes 

I can say that out of my 25 pipes, there are about 5 that I do not smoke. These were pipes that I obtained early on in my pipe smoking journey, and eventually they just became obsolete compared to my better pipes. 

I want to sell them but going through the trouble of ebay, etc. Just for 5-10 bucks a pipe has been causing me to hang on to them.

motie2

I'm holding on to all nine of my pipes. Historical note: Three of the nine are ones I kept from my first pipe life 1964-1984.

KA9FFJ

I have around 50+pipes now. Like @RockyMountainBriar I try to rotate as many as possible, but I keep finding myself going back to the same 15 or so pipes. I, too, gain an attachment for all my refurbs after all the work I put into them. I'm going to start culling out 20 or so to take to the St. Louis Pipe Show in February to sell /barter for one or two bfreally good pipes.

KA9FFJ

@motie2 Ah, the simple life. You're probably the only smart one around here by keeping it simple...

motie2

I'm not keeping it simple; I'm on a limited income and am firmly under the thumb of SWMBO.

ghostsofpompeii

Just as I rotate tobacco blends I do the same with my pipes. The older ones ... especially the Dr. Grabows, Kaywoodie and no name basket pipes I once used primarily as work pipes tend to be the pipes I use when smoking OTC codger blends like Velvet, Carter Hall, Captain Black, and my MATCH blends of Edgeworth Ready Rubbed and John Rolfe Peach brandy.  

PappyJoe

I have over 50 pipes. All of them have been smoked at least once unless I haven't finished cleaning and restoring them. I do have several that are primarily "show" piece meerschaums and even those 2 of the 4 get smoked at least monthly. But I've found of late that I have maybe 10 pipes that are my regular rotation. 

xDutchx

<quote I'm not keeping it simple; I'm on a limited income and am firmly under the thumb of SWMBO. quote>

@motie2, I remember my first summer, fresh out of high school, I worked road construction with a guy who liked to lightheartedly speak of married life. After enjoying listening to story after story about married life, one day I asked him "Scott, how long have you been married anyway?"

"All my life!" he replied with a chuckle.

I got the feeling that he wouldn't have it any other way.

xDutchx

As for my rotation, basically my rotation of around 5 to 7 pipes, is dictated by which blends I have cracked open at the time. This means that I will keep that pipe in rotation, until I particular tin is finished. I don't always dedicate a particular pipe to a particular blend, but sometimes I will.

For the most part, pipes go into one of two categories, Virginia or Latakia. Anything non Latakia can be considered a possible Virginia pipe, etc. I am also more likely to dedicate a pipe to an aromatic blend that has come to be a favorite. Some of my favorite aros are dedicated to cobs, for obvious reasons.

Once you accumulate a certain number of pipes, and cannot smoke them all regularly, you become my definition of a collector. The price or collectible worth of the pipes is not a particular distinction. The reality to it is, that some pipes that may be of interest to you, may only fetch $40 to $200, but are highly collectible, especially so if you can put together a 7 day set. When collecting some pipes, it could take years, possibly decades to accumulate the set.

Therein lies the fun of collecting and the rewards it offers. As the old saying goes, "It's about the journey, not the destination.

Charles

I have about 50 pipes or so, including Meerschaums, but seem to rotate between the same 5.  I have two that I rotate when smoking English blends and the other three are rotated between aromatics.  Out of these three, I tend to favor my Rossi billiard the most. Maybe it's just me but it seems like that pipe just smokes better then all the others. 

RockyMountainBriar

@KA9FFJ
     I wish we had a pipe show or trade show around here, even within 100 miles or so would be great.  EBay is a serious pain for little gain.

RockyMountainBriar

@motie2
     I'm not sure what SWMBO is, but I know I don't have one.  Sounds like I could use one to keep me in check though

motie2

@RockyMountainBriar -- "She Who Must Be Obeyed"

Londy3

@Topaz75, no don't sell any of your 400+ pipes!
....than you'll buy new ones! 

KA9FFJ

@motie2 She looks like a softy to me... Unless that plane is armed with hell-fire missiles and a 50 cal. strafing gun...

KA9FFJ

@RockyMountainBriar I'm not sure where you're located, but I am about 18 miles NNE of St. Louis, MO in Illinois. It takes me about 35/40 minutes to get to the St. Louis Pipe show. It is held in an old Masonic Lodge every February. The Lodge actually has the original smoking lounge on the second level, and we are also allowed to smoke in the huge hall below where the show is being held. All in all it's a good experience. I have met people that have come from Tn., Ar., Ks., In., Ky., etc. for the show. It is one event I really look forward to... I wish you were in a position to easily go to one...

pipeman83

I have about 40 now in my collection, but I keep adding if I find a good deal, some get smoked more than others if they do not get smoked within a year for one reason or another they get taken to the NASPC show and are traded/sold for something else and some only get smoked on special occasions like my birthday, and holidays.

motie2

KA9FFJ -- 'Twas a civilian chopper, unarmed.
And she "don't need no steenking missiles." 

RockyMountainBriar

@KA9FFJ
     I am in Billings Montana.  It is around 250 miles just to the east border of Montana-North Dakota.  It is even farther to the western border with Idaho, and to the northern border with Canada.  On the upside, south to Wyoming is less than 100 miles....maybe.  Montana is a big state

motie2

I lived in Fargo for two years, so I can sympathize.

KA9FFJ

@RockyMountainBriar Yeah, I can see your rather isolated from the general public. While that has many upsides, it also leaves you in a bind when it comes to many social events. Suggestion: Find a pipe buddy in some proximity and make it a weekend vacation during HIS pipe show. Have a ball, then travel back home on Sunday... I feel for you...

Woodsman

I have 70 pipes 3 are for show, I try to get to all of them. I put out 7 pipes in a rack and smoke them before putting out the next 7. However it may take 3 or so weeks to smoke them all as I have a few pipes that I favor for certain tobaccos. The Meerschaums aren't in the rotation but get smoked often. The really large /deep ones rarely get smoked due to time factors but they come into play on long drives. I will venture to say that the whole collection gets used at least once every six months.

Russell

@KA9FFJ I would like some more info on this show sounds like road trip maybe in order 

KA9FFJ

@Russell Do a Google on St. Louis Pipe Show and you will probably get all the info you need. The show is always in February so weather can be a consideration, although it hasn't yet ( knock on wood).

mfresa

@motie2, she looks like someone not to be messed with.