English
It Was the Best of Pipes, by Dirk Claessen
Late in November of 2011, Michael Ziff (aka dusty-z on SF) contacted me asking if I was doing commissions.
I actually love doing commissions, especially with customers who know what they want, but at the same time leave me some freedom to go with the inspiration of the moment. A lot of e-mails went back and forth before Michael and I finally decided on the shape and finish. We had a go!
It was just a matter of when I could start. At the time, specifically during December and January, I was solely dedicated to making the Pipe of the Year for Pipaforo, the Spanish pipe forum. After that there were several commissions waiting to get started.
By the end of December, I felt like doing something other than all those identical pipes, so I began on Michael’s commission. After the pipe was shaped and drilled, I took a picture of it and send it over to Michael. He was satisfied so far. I took the piece to the blasting cabinet and during the third blasting session a little hole appeared on the upper part of the shank. I had reached the smoke channel. (Insert sad Dirk face here) Naturally, this was an upsetting occurrence.
Because of the time pressure to get those 57 Pipes of the Year done, Michael and I agree that I would give his pipe a second try by the end of January. When the time came, I decided to make two versions of the same pipe, with some minor differences in coloring and the material for the shank, thus giving Michael the luxury of choice.
The two pipes came out wonderful, with no extra air holes this time. After some consideration, Michael opted for the “Tête Jaune Cache”. Both this pipe and its twin, the “Yukon”, were named after locations in western Canada, Michael’s country. My girlfriend and I visited both of these places in 2004 during our bicycle trip through the Americas.
At the time when I began with the first attempt on the pipe in December, Michael had started a thread about our cooperation on Smokers’ Forum’s Common Sewers. Now, with the pipe completed and his selection made, he could present the final result.
The second pipe was picked up a couple days later by pipe blogger Ethan Brandt (aka The Foolish on pipe forums).
So, one pipe went to Canada and one to the US and the – let’s be gentle and call it – prototype, stayed with me here in Spain. I covered up the hole in the shank and provided her with a stem I had laying around. She may not be picture perfect, but she smokes like a dream.
Thank you, Michael and Ethan.
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A Review of the Tête Jaune Cache, by Michael Ziff
After almost two years of smoking pipes and putting together a decent collection of estate smokers, I thought it was time to explore the world of commissioned pipes. My first venture was in September of 2011 with Rad Davis and it was a pleasure getting my first unsmoked piece of wood.
I was hooked.