So we have a hidden pipemaker - two years to learn woodturning, obviously likes making reeds, favours Hunter Pipes as a model to base his own on - hmm…
Location given as ‘Heaven’ so googled Heaven and UK and this came up top of the list
Heaven - the most famous gay nightclub in the world.
Most makers seem to post under there own names so do we have a troll ?
John 
Hmmm, this guy, yes! he’s definitely arguing. 
oh by the way, you forgot to mention that great pipe maker, the late Johny Bourke.
Most makers seem to post under there own names
Not quite right as some post under their own name e.g. Brendan Ring, BillH, David Quinn, Ray Sloan, myself and few like to ‘sort of hide’ such as uillman, reedbiter, reedman, plus the inbetweens such as giggleswicksam 
I’m not hiding, I just lost my original password during one of my pc crashes and found it easier to open a new user account than dig for the old one. I generally always sign my name!
David Boisvert
Oh, wait, you mean Reedbiter is David Boisvert???
And here I thought you were Joseph Smith or something… whew!!!
giggleswicksam is my “generic” username for most things PC, cos it’s generally not already taken. I would like to lose the giggleswick part if possible Mr. moderator, and become plain Sam, or Sam L. L is for Lawrence btw. Or should I just re-register?
I did spend quite a while thinking that reedbiter was David Quinn . . .
The Giggleswick in question is found below . . .
http://www.stockdill.freeserve.co.uk/giggleswick/
for your information, we have eaten the friendly ducks. And I don’t live there anymore, I live in Bradford.[/i]
once again the thread has drifted - yes even the “sort of hidden” ones reveal their identities with one exception
Reedman
If you are a maker why hide ?
Perhaps, just perhaps, to avoid public ridicule or dicey topics… like this one for example. 
Why is it important that pipemakers be under the spotlight here or ousted from the safety of an in cognito status?
Who say’s I’m hiding, 
yes I make pipes, and repair & reed them, for fellow piping friends and for whom I choose, it is not my full time proffession, as yet, but will be so in the coming future, when I’m ready,
if you have a problem with that, then that is your problem, maybe you would like to reveal your true name? elmek. 
so I won’t forget it for the future,all the best.
I will never divulge my real name, ever. The environment here is simply too dicey. 
well said, joseph.
I support the unmasking of pipemakers, but why stop with just their real names? Why not include home address, marital status, social security number, gross annual income for the past 5 years, wedding photos, names of childhood pets, shoe size, favourite tipple, lucky numbers, breakfast cereal preferences and opinion on whether Y-fronts are better than boxer shorts!!
There are lots of amateur pipe makers out there that can make bloody good pipes, as good as many of the pro’s anyway 
I know of two around Norther Ireland, some makers just don’t want the hassle of orders and long hours working for basic low wages,they can make a better living with other skills, but they will make two or three sets a year in there spare time, just because they don’t make pipes for there living don’t mean they can’t make top quality pipes. all the best.
you guys are hilarious.
So nice to see there are still people who can do more then pretend to be witty and educated. 
A concept I feel loads of folk cannot seem to get their heads around.
I have a friend who is a journeyman cabinet maker. He produces some of the finest things I have ever seen built out of wood. His day job is a bartender.For the same reasons Reedman posted above, my friend does not want the hassle of trying to earn a living by working as a cabinet maker, even though he loves doing it. He tells me he woulf lose his love for his skill if he had to put it and himself under the kind of stress usually involved with running your own business.
He says he’s happy as a clam at bartending, and makes a good enough wage (including nice tips) to support him, his family and his hobbies.
Cheers Joseph, you explained it perfectly. 