A smoking pipe, or simply pipe, is a device specifically made to smoke tobacco. Pipes can be made from a variety of materials including wood, Meerschaum (a form of mineral, clay, glass, Calabash gourds (usually with meerschaum or porcelain bowls set inside them) and even corn cobs! Prices range depending on the material used as well as the craftsmanship involved in making the pipe. Some intricately decorated and hand-made pipes are usually highly prized and often very expensive collector’s items.
If you are planning to send a pipe, here are some tips on how to properly pack and ship a smoking pipe to ensure that it arrives intact and without any damage.
Regulations in shipping tobacco vary from state to state. Just to be safe, make sure to clean the pipe thoroughly and get rid of any remnants of tobacco so your package would have less chances of getting the attention of a sniffing dog and avoid getting opened for inspection.
Wrap the pipe in tissue paper and then with bubble wrap to cushion it. Place the pipe inside a sturdy box with more bubble wrap or crumpled paper for cushioning so it will not move around. If shipping with accessories and other implements, wrap each item with bubble wrap before placing inside the box along with the pipe. There should be sufficient packing materials so that the items do not collide with each other.
Close the box and seal with packaging tape. Address and label the package and take to your local post office or shipping company.
If sending sveral pipes in one package, wrap each one individually with tissue paper and bubble wrap. Extremely fragile and valuable pipes should be placed in individual boxes before packing them together in a larger box.