good first pipe?

[SmokesAhoy]

haha so i started noticing myself looking for other styles... maybe the bug got me afterall.

was looking for some of those really large flat bowls with the short stems, saw some from jake hackert and seastarmcpipe but unfortunately those are all custom jobs.

 

[Aaron]

That's really funny. I can relate all too well. How are you liking your pipe so far?

 

[johnlee1933]

I just got a couple of cheap Dr. Grabow pipes. A bent with a 5/8 X 1 1/8 deep bowl and a straight 3/4 X 1 1/2 deep. Both appear to be lacquered on the outside and have what appears to be a little charring on the inside but it won't rub black on my finger. I plan to use them to sample filler blends for my cigars. I have not lit either of them yet. Anything I should do? ? Do's? Don'ts?

Thanks,
John

 

[Aaron]

I just got a couple of cheap Dr. Grabow pipes. A bent with a 5/8 X 1 1/8 deep bowl and a straight 3/4 X 1 1/2 deep. Both appear to be lacquered on the outside and have what appears to be a little charring on the inside but it won't rub black on my finger. I plan to use them to sample filler blends for my cigars. I have not lit either of them yet. Anything I should do? ? Do's? Don'ts?

Thanks,
John

I'd give them a good cleaning with some denatured alcohol or some rubbing alcohol. this will dull the finish though. especially if the stems are made of vulcanite/ebonite. if they are acrylic it wont affect it much. a good hand buffing after that, and maybe a light coat of carnauba wax and you'll be good to go. congrats on your new acquisitions!

 

[SmokesAhoy]

Since I got my pipe it must have had almost a hundred bowls thru it. I'm trying hard to find a cheap short stem sitter now but no luck yet. I might try to hit up Big B for some hedge, not sure yet tho if I wanna try making one

 

[johnlee1933]

I'd give them a good cleaning with some denatured alcohol or some rubbing alcohol. this will dull the finish though. especially if the stems are made of vulcanite/ebonite. if they are acrylic it wont affect it much. a good hand buffing after that, and maybe a light coat of carnauba wax and you'll be good to go. congrats on your new acquisitions!

I have ethanol, methanol and IPA. Any preference?

John

 

[deluxestogie]

When I break in a new briar pipe, I ignore the appearance, and focus on the interior. I follow the same ritual, regardless of the planned use for the pipe. Using a tiny quantity of milk and honey (well blended), I coat the inside of the bowl with my fingertip. Once this thoroughly dries, I fire-up the pipe with a quarter bowl of honey Cavendish (e.g. Captain Black - gold, Lane 1-Q)--a type of tobacco that I otherwise never choose to smoke. The point of all the sugars is to create a thin layer of carbon char, without burning the briar. By the 3rd or 4th bowl, I've graduated to packing a full bowl of 1-Q. Then I wean the pipe to the preferred tobacco type. Some custom pipe makers mix a similar potion for initially coating the interior of their pipes (though they allow the customer the honor of first smoking the pipe).

Meerschaum should not be treated this way.

Bob

 

[johnlee1933]

When I break in a new briar pipe, I ignore the appearance, and focus on the interior. I follow the same ritual, regardless of the planned use for the pipe. Using a tiny quantity of milk and honey (well blended), I coat the inside of the bowl with my fingertip. Once this thoroughly dries, I fire-up the pipe with a quarter bowl of honey Cavendish (e.g. Captain Black - gold, Lane 1-Q)--a type of tobacco that I otherwise never choose to smoke. The point of all the sugars is to create a thin layer of carbon char, without burning the briar. By the 3rd or 4th bowl, I've graduated to packing a full bowl of 1-Q. Then I wean the pipe to the preferred tobacco type. Some custom pipe makers mix a similar potion for initially coating the interior of their pipes (though they allow the customer the honor of first smoking the pipe).

Meerschaum should not be treated this way.

Bob

Thanks Bob, I'll give it a try. My Maryland 609 has been steaming for 12 hours now and is finally turning black. When I have finished processing that I'll take a bit, add a little honey/water mix and when dried put that in the bowl. Probably won't be much of a smoke but will satisfy the carbon layer requirement.

John

 

[Aaron]

I have ethanol, methanol and IPA. Any preference?

John

The Ethanol or the Ipa will work. Methanol is nasty poisonous and I always try avoid using it.

 

[Steve2md]

I'd use the ethanol....a little for the pipe, a little for me, a little for the pipe, a little for me........lol
when you smoke the pipes, be sure to clean them thoroughly with a few pipe cleaners. Never scrape the "cake" (char) down to bare wood, it helps to protect the pipe and keep it smoking cool. when lighting, try not to scorch the rim of the bowl. ALWAYS CLEAN YOUR PIPES!!!! let them air out for a few hours after cleaning, then store in an old sock. It will protect the finish and help control moisture loss. Cleaning and airing out after each smoke is part of the experience, and will keep your pipes smelling and tasting sweet, and not taking on that sour funk that dirty pipes get.

MOST IMPORTANTLY........... ENJOY YOURSELF!!!!

 

[Seanz]

Looks like another one has been caught with the pipe bug. And i have to agree with the idea of dedicating a pipe to certian tobaccos. My latest experiement is a coffe, cocoa vanilla casings goes into my beater no name

 

[BarG]

I would agree. It takes a bit of patience and practice to get a good smoke from a pipe, but I wouldn't smoke any other way. I love my pipes.

SmokesAhoy: If you are interested in getting a decent pipe I could probably be persuaded to make you one. I'm just an amateur pipemaker so it wouldn't be anything super special, but my pipes smoke great. If you have any interest let me know what shape type you would like and I'll see what I can come up with. Below are pictures of the last three pipes I've made.
View attachment 1469

View attachment 1470

View attachment 1471

Aaron

Wow , those are fine looking Aaron. I like the natural wood on the bottom pipe.

 

[BarG]

Thank you Bob, I really appreciate that. Like I said I'm just an amateur so I'm not trying to market them yet. I usually just like to get the cost of materials back out of them so I can make more for more practice. The first and third pipes in the pictures are made of Madrone. The pipe in the second picture is made of Briar. Briar does cost more, but usually I can make a pipe for about 30 to 40 dollars, depending on the wood. The biggest thing for me is the time it takes me to make one is about 40-50 hours. I make about one a month now, but I'm getting faster. So If someone has the time to wait for me to make one, I'm happy to sell it for costs while I'm still learning.

Aaron

You certainly do good work and I'll order one if your up to it. I appreciate the beauty of a natural wood finish. Pm if your interested and those are some beatiful pipes.

 

[DonH]

Aaron, I would like to buy one too.

 

[Aaron]

Wow, I'd be happy to make you guys a pipe! If you could, send me a pm letting me know what shapes or types you might like and I'll see what I can come up with.

 

[deluxestogie]

I'm also hoping to request one some time after Christmas. I'm partial to a 1/4-bent bulldog with wide shoulders, dark brown full sandblast, a diamond shank, and a wide, flat bit. My preference is for a 1" tobacco bore, about 1-1/4" deep.

I'd love to see photos of the pipes for BarG and DonH in stages of construction. You seems to have a good eye for balance.

Bob

 

[Aaron]

I'm also hoping to request one some time after Christmas. I'm partial to a 1/4-bent bulldog with wide shoulders, dark brown full sandblast, a diamond shank, and a wide, flat bit. My preference is for a 1" tobacco bore, about 1-1/4" deep.

I'd love to see photos of the pipes for BarG and DonH in stages of construction. You seems to have a good eye for balance.

Bob

That will be a fun one to make. I've only attempted one diamond shank so far and enjoyed shaping it very much. I'm not set up to do any sandblasting yet, but I know of a couple great pipemakers that I could have blast one for me. The couple pipe pics I posted with the rough finish was actually a rustication process where I slowly chip away the surface. I'll be sure to post some pics of the ones I make for the other guys.

This is just awesome, so far I've had requests by Jack in NB, BarG, DonH, and yourself all in one day. I'm very excited to get back to making some pipes and see if I can make something worthy of my FTT brothers.

 

[johnlee1933]

I'm not set up to do any sandblasting yet,

If you have an air compressor a sand blasting attachment as dirt cheap (check Northern Tools - Suction sand blasting kit $30). I bought one years ago. This area has lots of sand so I just go out and dig some. dry it and screen out the large particles. Like you my work is small and limited. (model plane parts, etching glass) You can modify the surface you get by changing grit size. If you are up for spending a lot of $$'s you can buy silicon carbide grits in a variety of sizes. If you choose to go this way be EXTERMELY careful with eye protection. A full face mash or fully enclosed safety goggles are a must. I use an old clean room hood and goggles. Since the sand it free I don't try to reclaim it but in an enclosed blast chamber you can do that too. I did at one time when I was refinishing golf club heads.

John

 

[Aaron]

My compressor is only a small 10gal that just isn't up to the task of blasting. I'm planning on trying to sell my motorcycle this spring to get some extra cash for some better tooling. Blasting is a process I will definitely be getting into in the future.

 

[DonH]

Wow , those are fine looking Aaron. I like the natural wood on the bottom pipe.

I also like the polished finish on the bottom one (Attachment 1471). Straight stem is good, especially if it's easier. I also like the half-curved kind. I don't have many clear preferences because I've never smoked a pipe. This will be my first one.