Thread: wood for pipe bowl

anyone know the differant types of wood used for pipe bowls. thanks dave

briare cherry apple and rosewood is what i have seen
tryed to make from birch beech and ebony* myself

*I dont recomend ebony sinse it did add an extra tingle probably due to being toxic

hmm seems like cherry birch rosewood and beech is toxic too in some way (better to stay safe i guess)

Ill edit a lot on tis it seems but look here http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_wood_...or_pipe_making

And then for instance here http://www.degutopia.co.uk/degutoxic.htm

Briar seems to be the most common. Morta / Bog Oak is another one that's supposed to be great. I have seen some of the other ones Janivar mentions, but I'm hesitant to try one.

Briar (white heather) is really the best one. You could make a pipe out of whatever wood you wanted, but problems arise with toxicity or absence of the fire-resistant properties that make briar so ideal.

Originally Posted by BKratchmer

Briar (white heather) is really the best one. You could make a pipe out of whatever wood you wanted, but problems arise with toxicity or absence of the fire-resistant properties that make briar so ideal.

Yes - you are correct. Upon havesting and cutting the briar - it is boiled in water for 12 - 24 hours to remove resins and prepare the blocks for aging. The blocks also are near impossible to burn - so hence great pipe wood.

I've seen some olive wood pipes made by very respectable makers and artisans. And I suppose ebony can also be used. At least, Dunhill uses it on their "dress" colection. But briar seems to be the most common. As it seems, it was Comoy's that first brand to use briar to make mass produced pipes, thus making it so widely spread.

Originally Posted by fpessanha

I've seen some olive wood pipes made by very respectable makers and artisans. And I suppose ebony can also be used. At least, Dunhill uses it on their "dress" colection. But briar seems to be the most common. As it seems, it was Comoy's that first brand to use briar to make mass produced pipes, thus making it so widely spread.

I think the "ebony" is actually a black-stained or lacquered briar.

Originally Posted by BKratchmer

I think the "ebony" is actually a black-stained or lacquered briar.

You would be correct on this. No self respecting pipe maker would use anything but briar. As stated above there is no worry about toxicity, and they won't burn up like other woods. I have briar sellers in my bookmarks somewhere. If you're interested let me know and I will find them for you

thanks. i made a bowl out of ceder but was told not to use it. i was wanting to use some local wood but i think i will stick to briar. Alembic gave me some sites to check out. going to try and make a pipe. dave

I was gonna try plum tree wood. I have a limb that I have been dryig for about three years.