There Are No Stupid Questions

The "Frequently Asked Questions" section is divided according to broad topics for easy navigation. These include questions about my pipes, my pipe making, my guarantee, and others. Just scroll down to see the topics (listed in bold in the center of the screen.) If there are things you do not see addressed on this page, please eMail me and I'll see about adding it.

Questions About My Pipes & Pipemaking

Q: How are your pipes different from others on the market?

A: My pipes differ significantly in many key areas from many other pipes on the market today. For starters, I have a strong relationship with my briar supplier and hand-pick my briar at the source. This allows me to select the absolute best quality briar on the market today. After the selection process, I air-cure my briar for a minimum of three years before working it, allowing the briar to experience the seasons so that the wood "learns" how to bring moisture in and let it out gradually as the seasons change. This curing process allows for a much cooler, smoother smoking experience with little or no break-in period compared other pipes. My stems are all handcut from solid rod stock, and unlike many other American carvers, I do not use stem blanks at any time. In addition, the engineering that goes into critical areas of the stem - including the way the button slot is flared, the smooth transition in the tapered airway and the length of the tenon in relation to the mortise - is much more advanced than many pipes on the market today. All the little touches that are engineered into the finished product give the smoker an effortless smoking experience from the very first bowl.

Of course, all this engineering is useless if you don't like the way a pipe looks, and I strive to make certain my pipes look as good as they smoke. You can spot a Lindner Pipe from across the room. Whether you fancy traditional classics such as billiards, or prefer something more artistic, a Lindner Pipe is going to be beautiful, unique and perfectly executed. The level of attention given to the workmanship of my pipes is without peer, with every last detail addressed. You will simply not find a more exquisite, functional or better engineered pipe on the market today.

There are many top-grade pipe makers around the world today, including Tom Eltang, Jody Davis, Tokutomi, Chonowitsch, and many others. They all make wonderful pipes that smoke well, have been engineered properly and are beautiful to behold. When it comes to high-grade pipes, you expect that all the details have been taken care of, and with few exceptions they are. At that point, it really boils down to "Does this pipe 'do it' for me? Do I like this pipe maker's philosophy and design aesthetic?" That is a question I have no answer for - you have to decide for yourself if my pipes touch your soul the way they touch mine. I hope they do.

Q: Where do you get your briar?

A: Briar is sourced from Italy from the same source that Teddy Knudsen uses. The briar comes from many different regions but mainly Italy and Corsica.

Q: How do you cure your wood?

A: My briar is allowed to air-dry for about three years before I use it. I strongly believe that air-cured briar needs to experience the change of seasons – the humidity of summer, the dry winters, the change of temperatures – so I do not store my wood in an artificial environment. I lose more blocks this way (due to cracking) but I feel it produces a better smoking pipe.

Q: Do you handcut your stems? Do you hand-make your pipes? How do you attach the bamboo?

A: I only use vulcanite and brindle rod stock (sourced from Germany) for my stems and create each stem individually. I do not use acrylic for my stems as I find the material to be cold and inert; vulcanite has a warmth about it which is much more appealing. I occasionally use Delrin for my tenons but more often than not, the tenon is cut from the vulcanite rod. When using bamboo, I attach it to the pipe with a small stainless steel rod, but the bamboo itself is unlined. Stems on bamboo shanks use a stainless tenon as well. My pipes are handcut and the only machines I use when making my pipes are my lathe, some disc sanders and a belt sander.

Q: How many pipes do you make each year? How long does it take to make a pipe?

A: Making a pipe by hand involves hundreds of steps, and a typical pipe can take anywhere from 10 to 12 hours to complete. Of course, more complex shapes can add hours to the production process. Because of the labor-intensive nature of this craft, my production is limited to about 100 to 125 pipes per year.

Q: Do you use elephant ivory? What trim materials do you use?

A: My ivory is mammoth or mastadon, usually about 25,000 years old. I do not use elephant ivory – frankly I feel mastadon is more attractive. I use various hardwoods for trim (including Cocobolo, Box Elder, Spalted Tamarind and others) as well as bamboo and horn.

Q: What is your nomenclature? What is your grading system?

A: Please take a look at my Grading page for full information about my grading, my nomenclature and a rough guide to my prices.

Questions About My Guarantee

Q: What kind of warranty do you offer?

A: I guarantee my pipes to the original owner for one year from the date of purchase. This guarantee covers defects in workmanship and unseen flaws in the wood which would cause a pipe to burn through due to normal smoking and wear-and-tear. If a pipe needs to be returned for warranty exchange, a credit for the original purchase price will be issued to the owner which can be used on a future purchase. Refunds are not given. Generally speaking, because each one of my pieces is unique, replacing a warrantied pipe with one of identical style is not usually possible.

This warranty does NOT cover abuse due to use of a torch lighter or a damaging smoking style (such as smoking in a convertible with the top down at 80 MPH). A pipe, once exchanged, cannot be exchanged again. I reserve the right to limit the number and frequency of exchanges; what this means is, if a smoker proves themself to be continually burning out pipes due to their smoking style or abuse, I reserve the right to discontinue exchanging pipes to that smoker. 99.99% of all smokers use common sense when smoking and this reservation would not apply.

Questions About Buying My Pipes

Q: Where can I buy your pipes? Are the pipes in the Gallery for sale?

A: Please take a look at my Dealer List to locate a place to buy my pipes. The pipes shown in the Gallery are pieces I’ve made in the past and are already sold. They are shown as examples of my craftsmanship only.

Q: Can pipes in the Gallery be duplicated? Do you take custom orders?

A: Due to the nature of the briar, I cannot duplicate pieces shown in the Gallery. I do not take specific custom orders, meaning, I will not create a pipe to someone else’s specifications. However, if there is a general shape or design you have interest in (for example, you are looking for a blowfish or a cutty), please feel free to eMail me and let me know. When I create the next one, I will be happy let you know before offering it elsewhere.

Q: Do you sell pipes direct to the collector? Are pipes available for sale on this website?

A: I sell most of my pipes through my Dealers, although I do sell directly to some specific collectors and at pipe shows. Currently I am not selling any pieces on this site, but I do have plans to add a small section of available pieces in the future.

Questions About Me

Q: How long have you made pipes? How old are you? Where do you live? How did you learn to make pipes?

A: If you want to get to know me a bit, I would suggest taking a look at the History section of the website. There you will find a short biography and a brief history of my pipemaking.

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