Thread: pipe carving

With-in the next couple of months I am going to be separated from my family and living in a barracks on the Naval base I will be working on. I am looking for a project to keep me busy. I thought razor restoration, but dont know if I will have time or tools to devote to that. Now, I am thinking pipe carving. Does anyone know where I can get kits at a decent price. I have done the internet search, but only cam up with 2 or 3 options. I am looking to keep my business in the USA due to shipping reasons. I would prefer a briar kit over another predrilled block. I would like to find something that comes with some tools (i.e. files or whatnot). Anybody out there into this that can offer advice, or where to buy?
Thank you for the information.

does this work for you straight, just quickly looked it up.



Buy Carve Your Own Meerschaum Kits Online and Save | Tobacco Barn

Originally Posted by straightshot

With-in the next couple of months I am going to be separated from my family and living in a barracks on the Naval base I will be working on. I am looking for a project to keep me busy. I thought razor restoration, but dont know if I will have time or tools to devote to that. Now, I am thinking pipe carving. Does anyone know where I can get kits at a decent price. I have done the internet search, but only cam up with 2 or 3 options. I am looking to keep my business in the USA due to shipping reasons. I would prefer a briar kit over another predrilled block. I would like to find something that comes with some tools (i.e. files or whatnot). Anybody out there into this that can offer advice, or where to buy?
Thank you for the information.

Please post this article in Pipe of the day (inside the finer things of life) again.
There will be some member who give support!

There's a lot of work that goes into this - I did it once. Talk to Tim West at J.H. Lowe, he is a great guy and experienced pipe maker (jhlowe.com). Good prices. Also do a lot of reading on pipemakersforum.com before you even start!

What I needed from start to finish was:

Drill (I used hand drill, drill press is ideal)
Spade bit for bowl
Saw to rough shape the stummel
Stem (Pre-molded or cut/drilled from rod - either will require a LOT more finishing work than you would think - basically as much as the stummel.)
Sandpaper of various grits
Wood files
Leather Dye (to stain the pipe - it resists heat)
Wax

If I were to do it again, I would buy a mortise/tenon turning tool that ensures a tight fit from the start.

You can get pipe kits with bowl and stem drilled and turned ready to carve. All you need is a good sharp carving knife. Sure, a band saw, wood rasps, belt sander, etc make life easier but with the pre drilled kits, all you need are a knife or two and some sandpaper. You cannot buff them and polish them but you could still carve a serviceable pipe. You may want to look here for the kits and other stuff..

Pipe Making Information and Supplies from PIMO Pipe Craft

The kits make nice pipes.

Why can you not buff or polish a pre drilled kit? I am looking at the pre drilled briar kits that are for sale. I am looking at one like this

http://careysmokeshop.stores.yahoo.net/5408k.html

Thank you all for the information.

You can, it just requires more elbow grease. You can't apply carnauba though, without a buffer of some sort (it needs the friction to heat it up and apply well). You can use a hand applied wax though such as Halcyon II or Paragon, but neither will give it a real mirror finish, if that's what you're after.