What Defines Series Pipes?

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Like with Freehands, the name of series pipes already provides some insight: The pipes are produced "in series," meaning with the use of machines in larger quantities. Typically, CNC machines or copying mills are used for shaping the pipe bowl. The advantage: Virtually unlimited numbers of identical pieces can be produced.

All From One Factory?

The same applies to mouthpieces. However, outsourcing has become standard practice here: Many pipe manufacturers source their mouthpieces from suppliers. Not all, though—some still produce them in-house.

The same is true for decorations. Many companies no longer handle this themselves but instead purchase them. In Italy, for example, there is even a manufacturer specializing in pipe rings and applications for the industry. So, if you've ever wondered why you occasionally see almost identical decorations from different manufacturers...

This doesn't mean that the respective pipes are of lower quality—quite the contrary. The suppliers are highly skilled in their craft. With a series pipe, the focus is less on holding a unique piece and more on achieving the best balance between quality and price.

Far From Fully Automated

However, there are still workshops that maintain in-house facilities for applications, where work is done by hand. Overall, technology has its limits. Even series pipes are far from being products that simply pop out of a machine. The fine work on the bowl and the adjustment of the mouthpiece to the shank cannot be done by any machine. Stains or varnish also have to be applied by hand, not to mention the treatment of rough surfaces.

It is often surprising that rough pipes are cheaper than smooth ones, as sandblasting or rustication are labor-intensive processes that cannot be automated. And you still need a person with two hands to attach a mouthpiece to the pipe shank. Typically, it doesn’t fit perfectly at first and needs to be polished and adjusted. The transition between the bowl and shank also has to be manually refined to achieve a flawless finish.

Individuality Cannot Be Denied

Although individual pieces of a model naturally resemble each other, every series pipe remains somewhat unique. It's surprising how much is still done by hand despite all the machinery. And then there’s the raw material: No block of briar is ever exactly the same as another!