a journey into pipe making......

[363]

Awesome work! I am to the carving point of my 1st pipe. just finished the lathe work last night, now to carve the shape.. I am using cherry wood for now and I have some briar on the way. Speaking of VF I just had a conversation with him earlier today and will be placing an order this upcoming week!

[deadrise]

yea these blocks are from Vermont Freehand

[OnePyroTec]

The original poster Jason/Deadrise agrees this topic can benefit from everyone posting their carvings or creations to it instead of a separate topic each time. Thank you.

For my first attempt at making a pipe, I bought some pre-drilled kits from Pipes & Cigars. One of the three had a less than perfect drill job on the drought hole, it is a bit off centered. P&C is my favorite retailer, but I will buy the rest of my kits (already ordered one) from Vermont Freehand.

Being so many years since I have worked with wood, I forgot a few things and made an error in sanding. I sanded my pipe to 12,000 grit without doing any dye/stain along the way. The pipe shines but won't take the dye...I will have to re-sand back to 400 grit to apply the dye then sand, then dye, then sand ect...then polish with tripoli & white diamond.

ALL my shaping was done using 60 grit sanding disc on a little all-in-one set-up from the 60's called a toastmaster deluxe. Here is a link to what those do & look like. This is not my set-up, bu what I have is identical. http://vintagemachinery.org/photoind...l.aspx?id=5120

I wish I took more pictures along the way even though I have to back track. (at least now I can get more pictures)

Picture #1 is rough pre-drilled block.

Picture #2 is after I finished shaping and ready to hand sand.

Picture #3 is a different angle after finished shaping

Picture #4 is after being sanded to 12k grit. It really may not benefit much from polishing after being sanded this far...I'll know for sure next week.

[deadrise]

very cool looking pipe well done Wayne

[xFreebirdx]

Real nice job man.

[OnePyroTec]

Thanks Gents, you may be able to see a couple little "blackheads" that popped up when sanding the bowl. The hard part for me is just starring at the darn thing not being able to put on the dye/stain. I don't want to start another until this one is finished and in my small town no one carries anything that I'd put on a pipe. The guy I bought my dyes from off fleabay took 3-4 days before he mailed the dyes out then add the long weekend...this waiting makes me want to

Not sure what to call the shape??? A stand-up billiard???

[OnePyroTec]

Finished my hack job today for the most part. I still need to "port & polish" the drought hole in the stem and just don't feel like doing that tonight.

I sanded to 400 grit, stained it U.S.M.C. Black, then sanded most of that off and stained it British Tan, sanded some more, stained it Yellow & sanded some more...I kept sanding until I hit 12k grit. Gave it a Tripoli buff, then a White Diamond buff, then multi-coats of Carnauba wax

Not bad for the first time around. I almost stopped after the British Tan, it was looking real good at that point. AND I next time I will take off more of the U.S.M.C. Black. LOTS of contrast going on.

[OnePyroTec]

[deadrise]

very good job on that finish it is very interesting i got 4 colors of stain powders 1 black 1 red and a dark and light gold i need to play around some more........looks great!!!!!!!!

[OnePyroTec]

It isn't quite as bright gold or yellow as the picture shows. It lit up when the flash hit the shine of the wax job.

[DarrelMorris]

These pipes look great. This is definitely on my list of projects to do someday.

[BamBam]

Great job on that contrasting finish, looks very nice.

[OnePyroTec]

thanks, It's all a huge learning curve, at least it is fun.

I finally ported my stem but one thing after another keeps getting in my way to using the pipe for the first time...yesterday it was cigars and today my "other" hobby took up the entire day since 4 a.m. and I'm still not done.

[363]

Alright guys, I think I have a bit to share with you all as well! I have started my journey into pipe making as well and these are the 3 projects I have going on at the moment. I have been using a wood lathe to get the shapes I wanted then hitting them with a dremel followed by a lot of hand sanding. All 3 of these are cherry wood as I got them for free and haven't wanted to mess with the briar I have yet. I got the cherry in 2x4x4 blocks and had to do all the holes and shaping, it is surprising relaxing and oh man how the time flies when I am out in the garage.. Technically the 1st pipe is done but I dont think I am done messing with it yet. I still feel like I want to stain it and buff it out some more.

here is a partially rusticated billiard that just needs stain and the works.

and here is what I am hoping will turn out to be a decent looking author pipe if not I am not sure what shape it will take lol!

[hazydat620]

Very nice gentlemen, you've both got some talent. I would be proud to smoke any one of those.

[OnePyroTec]

Originally Posted by 363

if not I am not sure what shape it will take lol!

IMHO that is the best part of making pipes. Want one thing, but the briar says something else.

[OnePyroTec]

Moving my stuff to a friend's shop so I can work on "things" through the winter. AND I just ordered some briar & rod stock for cutting my own mouth pieces. Hopefully I'll have some pictures soon. I plan on making a couple traditional pipes, one custom as well as some non-traditional shaped pocket pipes.

My friend wants to make a few custom cobs, and possibly carve a meer or two.

[G G]

Awesome work guys!!!!

[OnePyroTec]

Originally Posted by 363

if not I am not sure what shape it will take lol!

Did ya ever get this one finished?

[OnePyroTec]

Ended up starting a similar shape today. I can't believe I forgot to take the "BEFORE" picture. I put a couple chunks of the briar back in place after rough shaping just to show the original type of block I started with. I cheated and used a band saw to cut off the two larger sections to save time. Rough shaping was done with a 60 grit disc on a shaper...then 80 by hand, & just started 120 when I called it a day...the pictures are from just after starting 80 grit.