In "Scorpius' cave"

Greetings to all!
 

It's Autumn, it's also cold outside....it's not usual to see Scorpions around here but...

Who search deeper for something, always find ....

... and It was what was done....a deep search and "the Scorpuis' cave" was found !

 

 

 

 

Last Friday I took the road to try to find the Workshop of João Madail, a Portuguese pipe maker, that is working hard around pipe's world....

He is the owner, the founder, the pipe maker of  "Scorpius pipes".

 



 

 

 

 

João Madail is a great Man, a friend of his

friend, always available and always prepared to share information and knowlodge with those who want's to learn, not only comun pipes lovers but also with other pipe makers...
He is a Man who likes a lot, or should I say "he loves" what he is doing: ....Pipes.

 

 

 

 

 

The visit was a great lesson of pipes construction...

Machinery everywhere..from all types, all kinds, for all details and needs.Well it is a whorkshop.

 

 

 

 

Lathe and ...
Drill column precision

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   At this moment, drilling, marking and cutting of blocks ....

 It's the second phase after the thought about the shape the pipe  will have...

 

 

 

By these counters all is about details and detail and tuning ......
polishing and details of colors, if any, and more polishing...

 

 

 

 

It's gratificante to have someone with who to learn, people like João Madail that opens the door of his workshop without any issue....to explain, to teach...to detail how things work. How he get's ideas and put them in pratice....It's realy great.

 

 

 Right now there're some Scorpius pipes being finish and more news will come in a few days...

This one is one of the newest and a beauty combination of rustic and pure good grain at the top..

 

 

 

This is only a little example of "Scorpius pipes", but in fact a great piece....
....more news regarding Scorpius pipe by João Madail will be present soon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And I should also say that "Scorpius' cave" is well prepared to receive friends...
Coffee, special "Tangerina" licor, and some bottles at the fridge (water of course) :) old wines to taste.....time for a great smoke as well,  and a great talk during all afternoon ....well, indeed, it was a great time spend with this friend.

 

 

João Madail and João Farinha in the "Scorpius' cave"

 

 

João Madail, for you my friend a Huge and Cordial thanks for your hostess and friendship.
Please keep on with the pipe making and ....please bring us news....
All the best for you and for "Scorpius pipes" by yourself.


 

Portuguese Pipemakers at CCP Dinner Oct12

Greetings to all..

 

Last 4th October one more CCP (Cachimbo Clube de Portugal) dinner toke place.
this time CCP change place and the dinner was at "CAFE CANAS" in Lisbon...

 

 

As usual good environment, good people, friends, Clube members, good food, good drinks, pipes, tobaccos and more.....
CCP's dinner brings people the joy of meet toghether at least once a month, and the pleasure to enjoy the spirit of the pipe's world.
From this dinner on more topics and news regarding tobacco tastes and blenders, but that NEWS i'll comment up front in other Blog Comment. ...

For now just the reference to the great spirit that all 'staff'' and members share within the CCP's dinner.






Always a typical table with pipes from the CCP collection and some tobaccos as well and pipes from pipe makers or personal collections....Good to see. always a positive topic ....






Besides a monthly dinner, this time we could meet all toghether 5 pipe makers from Portugal.
Paulo Santos, Bruno Robalo, João Madail, Antonio Monteiro and João Reis.
YES, João Reis is a Portuguese pipe maker who is living and working a long time in Denmark, but he is Portugues.... :)


 

 

At dinner's time, Paulo Santos and Bruno Robalo sharing some ideas and comments about pipe work and machinery !

Using a break on dinner's, Antonio Monteiro and João Madail, talking about some news at 'work'..
New ideas for new pipes and always sharing knowledge...Great to see.!

It was good to see all toghether, changing opinions, technics, comments....ideas..and also planning to visit eachothers on their workshops...That is a reason to be proud of : UNION..
Many things could be positive for the grow of the pipemakling movment in Portugal...

João Madail, João Reis and António Monteiro.




The way they change information and technics will be great for sure in future works...
The humble way they live and share their work, their knowledge is great to see..
What i like to express with this comment is that no matter what famous each one are in their personal or profissional life, they change and talk about pipemaking 'opennly" this means without restrictions...the reason should be....if they all goes in the same direction, fighting with all adversities that Portuguese market has, they could be faraway...in merit, fame and recognition....
All of them, with different styles, all of them have great work, great pieces,.,,
Handmade pipes, freehands..whatever...

Well the reason of this words .....besides the reference to one more dinner, thanks CCP for that, is really the Achieved Goal that was to join all these 5 Man, 5 pipemakers and friends all toghether at the same place at the same dinner.  I was REALLY great to see.

For sure in a near future we will be able to se more and more pieces of these Pipe Makers around our Universe....

 And, of course "THE Saloon" was present and represented there.

 

 

João Madail, João Reis, João Farinha and Carlos Batalha

 

There're many CCP's Members that are already Saloon's members..this is good because in fact,in really true, "THE Saloon is a International Friendship Brotherwood that counts with Portuguese members as well...proudly.!

Thanks for reading this lines...
Wishes of good smokes to all!

 

Saloon's II Anniversary

Greetings to all

 

 As you already notice, we are celebrating the Saloon's 2nd anniversary .

 

Great days, remembering the time spend during the last years..
...the way we grow as a group, as a huge friendship brotherhood community...
The way we share information, knowlodge, ideias, comments, well a great group we have created...

And we are growing and growing every day...

I will not comment Figures and Facts, because i done that a few time ago.....with a big point of situation...

but i can say that for celebration period we are at "NON STOP" mood...  !

 

This mean that:

we are making a Photo Gallery for Saloon's Members.

That's great..imagine in a couple of years you look at the photo Gallery and remember this celebration...and who was present! it will be great!

So, if you haven't filled it with your photo, just do it!

 

Also looking forward for the ISS Pipe 2012.
I will not comment about that, because you already know all details, just refere that untill the end of the year we will have it on hands and we will prepare a specific day to celebrate it.

 

One thing we all learn is that each day Saloon's members wants more to have meetings, at each  Countries, sometimes little international meetings, when someone have a trip to another country...and that is really positive for our brotherhood. For Various reasons...increase the confidence, the friendship, the openness to others coltures and habits...at the end of the day..it's great to share also social aspects...

But we are preparing ideas for the 2nd ISS Official Meeting that will take place at 2013, we don't know where for now, but we are on the field to comment about that in a near future...Please stay focus....

 

Other important topic to refere is that in two years the Crisis arrived in to many countries and some times we can see sadness at the people 'faces' or comments...
But one friend one day said: " There's no sad days at the Saloon"...
and that's a fact. Without close doors, 24/24, 7/7...we have a good environment with friends from all over the world...and always counting with that. For all friends a great Thanks for all support and friendship.

This topic is just to remember that "sadness don't pay debts" (Popular Saying) and no matter how much expensive is our pieces to smoke...the important is the pleasure we will get with a good pipe and a good tobacco.,....no matter if we are smoking a "high grade" or a simple and humble "CornCob", with all respect for both....

important is to join the pieces that you have and turn everything in a GREAT smoke moment...
usually a relax moment...that what counts.....

 

Other important topic is the Enforce that Saloon's members use and do everyday to keep Saloon Alive. For all a big, sincere and deep thanks. It's appreciable the union we have within the Saloon.

 

This is also something that we learn at the Saloon.....Live life with values...

and with that we have fun, we enjoy and we meet toghether as equals...

 

Long Live the Saloon...

 

and now....please join us .....

It's time to ..

keep Celebration!

 

Cheers and good smokes to all

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Saloon's Universe - Figures and Facts

Saloon's members, supporters, followers, my friends
Greetings to All...

It's about time to comment with all of you what's going on around the Saloon's Universe, in general, specific, at the moment and even some news and projects...

We are about to celebrate the 2nd year of existence.
YES, next September....and that for sure a fact to celebrate....
regarding this event more news will appear.....

 

In almost 2 years we have already stories to tell....
of course we have, but almost all of them you already know from the blog comments that were publish, you've already followed on the Saloon...

But Figures and Facts are a "moto" to keep on..YES, we never give up!
As you all know we are a International community of "smoke lovers", pipe and cigar smokes and simply friends..
Our friendship brotherhood grows and grows all days..I'm not only talking about Saloon's Members but also about followers, supporters and really friends...

Some Basic Facts

"The Saloon's Universe", usualy called "The Saloon", or "ISS" that stands for :

## International Smoking Saloon ##

Is composed by:

Group on Facebook
Page also on Facebook
Website
Blog
Page on Google +

These are the Facts.!

Introduced the Universe, well let's check some figures:

We are now 1.754 ISS members;

 

ISS page on Facebook have  323 direct "LIKES" and we "reach" last week 112.028 people

 

The ISS Blog was viewed 2.058 times till now (with 3 months of Existence) !

 

The Saloon's Universe Website was viewed 5.127 times till now (also with 3 months of Existence) !

These are our Figures,!

As a group, but special as a friendship brotherhood we have done some things so far..
maybe you already know...I know! !...but I will resume just a few of them...

ISS pipe 2011, pipe done by Lucien George from Corsica.

 

 

 

International Celebration of the ISS 1st Anniversary  - Worldwide

1st ISS Official Meeting that took place in Holmegaard/Copenhagen/Denmark

 

This year we are working at the ISS pipe 2012, already choosen and will be effective till the end of the year.

 

It will be a Georgi Todorov "Connus" pipe.

We are preparing the 2nd ISS Official Meeting, more news will come after...
Maybe a participation in some pipeshows as a group will be possible....

Working on the website to make it grow and grow as a huge platform is also a Goal.
At this moment The Saloon's Universe is proud to announce that counts already with:

 

"The Briar Pipe" - Business Marked (on line shop)

and



as Pipe makers:

Lucien George - Corsica / France

Mr. Lucien George is Man who created the pipe maker as well of the ISS pipe 2011.

Mr. Lucien George and João Farinha

 

Antonio Monteiro - Portugal

 

 

 

 

 

 

Working at the Workshop during my visit 

 

George Boyadjiev - Bulgary

 

 

Michal Novak - Czech Republik

Yuriy Aksenov- Ukrain

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Giacomo Mora - Italy

Enrico Marola - Italy

 

 Tho all these Friends, with who we can count on the Saloon''s Universe a deep and big thanks

"Puros.pt" - Supporter

Also a special thanks to "PUROS.pt" that as you can see Supports the Saloon's Universe since the very begining of the web life cicle. Cordial Thanks

Well my friends ...as point of situations is done..
Friendship Brotherhood is growing and also the whole Saloon's Universe.

Many news at the Saloon's Boxes on the website ...just stay "tunned" and take a deep look...
Blog comments (till this one - 14) with regular launch
Facebook group and page daily live (24/24 - 7/7)....just take a look it's amazing :)
Please bear in mind that the Saloon's doors are always open for friends.,..
We are an International friendship brotherhood of people who live enjoying the "smoke cult" and lifestyle ..... we are all over the world...so we are always waked up !!!

Hope you look for the Saloon, you will find us wherever you will be....
I wish a great smoke moment to all...

and as I tasted a new mix this evening (it was at maturation period)...

now i will do the second taste....and enjoy also a coffee....

I'll keep on with this CornCob pipe at this moment...

and don't forget..."Coffee and a smoke...a great combination!

 

Good smokes to all and just enjoy life.

 

Cordially and Deeply thanks to all

- Myself -

.

Friendship Brotherhood - "The most!"

Greetings to all..

Friendship is the main word that lead the Saloon's Spirit.

"Saloon" or "The Saloon" stands for ## International Smoking Saloon ## as you already know...

The Saloon begun based on this "Character Element" and we want to keep it like that.

It's simply great to see that each new Saloon's member quickly get the spirit and its integrate on this huge brotherhood.

As you all should have notice we are a group of friends from all over the world..

( We are at the moment 1.727 Saloon's Official members that we call Friends.)

 ...for that reason we call to the new project "The Saloon's Universe",

Saloon's members, sorry, Saloon's Friends are from differents countries as:

 from Brazil to Denmark, from Argentina to Norway, China to South Africa, Germany to Portugal, from USA to Indonesia, From Mexico to France, from Pakistan to Australia, France to Canada, just to mention some of the countries (and sorry friends if I don0t mention directly your contry)...

The Saloon's doors are always open to friends..

Saloon never "sleeps"..and there's always someone to welcome you, or to give you a "word" when you need..always someone present when you need an advice, always a friend waiting to share some info with you,....
As we have friends from all over the world, different timetables are apllied...

when a friend is going to work, other one is going to rest, when you lunch maybe someone is having dinner...nevertheless at all time, the feeling a full house, a room with many people a place where you will find a friend, is always present...

This is the spirit of the Saloon..

real friendship brotherhood, living like that and behave like that as well,..

as prove of that we achieve a some important goals that we think that are very important to keep the spirit of this huge friendship brotherhood..

We made the ISS Pipe 2011.

A handmade pipe, marked with # ISS 2011 (Nº) each friend that want a piece has his own number..

So with that we know that in the world we have some pipes that are UNIQUES...

that we have them...That was a great achievmente

Each pipe is like a symbol of pure friendship...

By the way we are preparing the ISS Pipe 2012..

And at the moment, I just receaved the news that we are alreeady 50 friends which are on the list to have the ISS Pipe 2012....Good achievement so far...

We made  the "1st ISS Official Meeting"  it was the first one and we join in Denmark last March.

At this meeting  we join friends from Czech Republic, Portugal, Denmark, Germany and Austria...

This was more than a Official meeting, this was a pure meeting between friends..

We were there (in Denmark) as we know eachother in life from long time....or I can say, since ever...

Great prove of our Friendship Brotherhood.

Moments like this we will want to be present in the Saloon's spirit...for now, and forever...

We always read at the Saloon's universe symbols of JOY, but we could see and we can have that moments always present.

We will prepare the next one and we will be more friends from more Countries for sure...

We can see moments of friendship at each moment within the Saloon.

From the single asking question and a answer appears, to other dimentions...as.."Help"..

We helped a specific friend when needed.

We support his Cause..It was a desease issue...

We were and we will be always with the ones who need something, if we can,,we will do something...

We "help" Nations as Japan when the Tsunami hits that country..

well....

This is the reason I am here writing this humble words...

These are release of words but are deeply words with "high grade" feelings..

As you all know me...I talk the true and you also know it...

in resume...

we have more plans to The Saloon, we are growing....and Growing...but...

we want to grow with as many friends as we can,.,.....we don't want NUMBERS..we want......

....Human Beings

That's what we are..

we stand for Human Values,

Character Values...

We are The Saloon and you are all very welcome....

If you want to take part of this Friendship Brotherhood, or if you want to be part of the

Saloon's Universe...just say, just contact...and you will be very welcome.

Please accept this humble invitation, cross the doors and Enjoy the Saloon's Universe!

http://www.internationalsmokingsaloon.com/home

I Will take advance of these lines and send a BIG Thanks to all Saloon's Friends.

Cordial Thanks for everything.

Let's Keep the spirit

The Host, Myself..Me.

Warm up - ISS Pipe 2012

Greetings to all !.

As you already know, at the Saloon we had to create one symbol of our friendship brotherhood.

For that reason on 2011 we prepared the ISS pipe 2011 that was a really sucess.

As a goal and as all members were very happy we decide to keep with the same GOAL for this year as well.

As it was announced yesterday the pipe that will be the ISS PIPE 2012, I will comment the way we come to that decision.

We ask within the Saloon, to pipe makers, which of them wants to participate in this project.

We created a document, some pipe makers add the name and the proposal pipe and we had a tuff and hard task to elect THE ONE.

When we decide in Majority, the elected pipe maker was suppouse to be Georgi Todorov and a prototype was send for one of the members of the Saloon who had the task to test, taste and try it at any ways and circustances. :)

The Man is FRITZ SCHROTER.

He tested and comment the process,

Next words and comments are from him.

I take the opportunity to send him a great THANKs for all work he had until we finnaly decide to this pipe.

Also a Big Hug of Pure Friendship to Georgi Todorov and to all "Round Table" friends!

So, let's read about the ISS PIPE 2012 - "The CONUS" final report.

---------------- // -----------------

Final report after 10 smokes and hard testing the „Conus“.

Dear friends of the “round table”!

First, you must know, that I´m usually a fan of the classic shapes and at the beginning of our discussion for the ISS pipe 2012, my vote was going more to another pipe maker.
But after the proposal, that Georgi would make a “test pipe”, it was finally me, who was “elected” to test it.

Now I want to give you my experiences:

After opening the parcel, it was a great surprise, what I could hold in my hands.
It was a really well handcrafted pipe of a new design and a system, I never saw before.

(The first photo shows the brand new pipe on my desk)

I was very

curious of course and took apart the whole pieces. Now I understood the system!
(Second photo)

But I wondered what function the little metal button on the opposite side of the mouthpiece had? I took it away, also the mouthpiece – and now it was clear! You can use this pipe in a changeable shape (Photo 3)

In my opinion, that´s a very nice idea of Georgi and the little chain protects from loosing this button and it looks very nice, too J

Well, after analyzing, it was time for the first smoke!

Even though, it was my part, to test this pipe hard, I wanted to treat it right and as all my new pipes I smoked the first bowls very slowly and with a neutral Virginia Mixture.

Already during the first bowl, I ´ve found a very dry and cool smoke! The taste was good, too, but this fact I wanted to vote after some more bowls, because first the coal layer has to increase

After some bowls with the VA Mixture, I wanted to test, whether the pipe will keep “dry”, when smoking a flake tobacco, of whom I know, that it makes a lot of condensate.
The result was the same – an absolute dry smoke - and where the condensate stays, you can see on photo N° 4.

All moisture collects in the concave bottom!

At this point I want to tell you my doubts, that the Calabash System could have a problem, with getting a bad taste time by time, because the condensate collects in the cooling chamber.

Dear friends, in this case and to provoke it, I treated the pipe during 5 bowls very bad (with full intention!) and let it on the table without cleaning it until the next smoke.

Before the next smoke I took apart the pipe, wiped the bottom cap and the cooling chamber with a kitchen paper with alcohol – and the result: No bad taste and absolute clean!
BTW:  This is the easiest “clean up pipe” I know until now!
See Photo N°5

Well, the “facts” were tested and finally I want to know, whether the “Conus” will stand the comparison with my best briar or Meerschaum pipes and filled it for 9^th and 10^th bowl with MOB N° 43, which I like very much and which has an incredible fine taste.
Result: The “Conus” stand it and the taste was as good as in my favourite pipes!

Well dear friends, what will finally be my vote?

In my opinion, the “Conus” is a very well handycrafted pipe, with a well thought out “system” and will bring a good, cool and dry smoke and I´ve found absolutely no fault during the ten smokes.

At last the shape?

The shape is always a thing of personal taste and nevertheless I will remain faithfully to the classic shapes, I find the shape of the “Conus” very unique (especially the possibility to change it) and during the last weeks I began to love it J

Now it´s your turn to vote yes or no ?

Please comment and give your vote!
Best regards
Fritz

---------------- // -----------------

Well these were the words of a great friend Fritz who express a "pure and clear" explanation about the tests he made.
We all had give opinions, and the decision were taken,
It's Official , "The CONUS" from Georgi Todorov it wil be the ISS PIPE 2012

Pipe Workshop - Deep into Antonio's Atelier

Greetings to all!

I had the privilege to visit Antonio Monteiro's Atelier.

First of all a big Thanks to Antonio Monteiro that received me on his Atelier with all patience and time to deep explain his way of doing his pipes.

On this humble report i just want to express how gratificante is for a commun pipe smoker to learn how everything is made during the elaboration's process until the final result of a pipe.






Woods, machinery, tools, cleaners  ...
... all of them has to be present on the atelier and always ready to work...

[In real true I think that one of these blocks will be prepared for the next piece :) ]

When the moment arrives, imagination and the Art of the pipe maker will take place.

António always make free-hand pipes. As he use to say, he has no pre-designed shapes, he thinks on something and the process begins.







Each pipe is a pipe and it's specific prepared and worked until the final result where Antonio always wants that "Elegance","Details" and "Style" are present ...

Machinery helps, but in real true tools and figgers are the most on these free-hands pipes.

Limes, punches, sanders and other parts are essential auxiliaries meticulous manual work that Antonio strives to each piece ..

From the very begining, when the block of wood is prepared, to the real final, when the pipe is clean to be expose to the public, all details has to be considerated...

the cleanning process (polishing "pulling the brightness" is one of the moments) it's very important,.

As we all know....our eyes are the firsts to demand the "order"to the brain...

[António Polishing one of my pipes to explain me the process]

At the end of the day with so many details we could appreciate his last pierce ...

it's a poker,.....but with so many details...such elegancy ...this one:

Well ... indeed..This Portuguese pipe maker has great pieces, cool pipes, with elegance, glamour, details and style....


Thanks for read this humble lines that are only a expression of gratitude for the friendship showed by a pipe maker who opens the doors of his Atelier and explained your process...
Thanks
And please take a look on the Saloon's Universe at António Monteiro's BOX

[Click on the image]