Category Archives: Tobacco Pipes
How to Make a Tobacco Pipe with Hand Tools, Part 4: Stem-Bending, Staining, and Finishing
On balance, I would say that half of pipe making involves sanding. It’s not exactly the fun part of making a pipe, but the results are worth the care and effort. Theoretically, rasps and files are used to establish the … Continue reading
How to Make a Tobacco Pipe with Hand Tools, Part 3: Shaping with Rasps and Files
When we left off last time, we had a stem inserted into a drilled block of briar wood. Now, you could smoke this block if you wanted to (I’ve seen it done!), but you probably want to do some shaping … Continue reading
How to Make a Tobacco Pipe with Hand Tools, Part 2: Drilling the Briar Block
In my last post, I explained how I prepare a stem to be fitted to a pipe. In this post, I will show how I drill the holes in the block of wood itself. This stage of the pipe-making process … Continue reading
How to Make a Tobacco Pipe with Hand Tools, Part 1: The Stem and Tenon
Five years ago, I wrote here about making a tobacco pipe with hand tools. That post assumed you were starting with a “pipe kit,” i.e. a pre-drilled block of wood with a stem pre-fitted into it. I still think that … Continue reading
Classical Training–for a Pipe Maker
A lot of people who try their hand at making a tobacco pipe do so because they want to make a special shape that they cannot afford to buy, such as a blowfish: But pipe making is kind of like … Continue reading
Recent Pipes
I’ve spent quite a bit of time this summer making more pipes. I learn a little bit (and sometimes a lot) with each one I’ve made recently. I’ve been experimenting with layering different stains on top of each other, and … Continue reading
Two for One: A Freehand Dublin and a Churchwarden Apple
Trying out materials from different suppliers is always an adventure. Some time ago, I ordered a “medium” sized block of plateaux briar wood from a vendor who came highly recommended. When I got the block in the mail, I was … Continue reading
Two More Churchwarden Pipes
Here are my latest two pipes, both churchwardens made from briar. This one is my first attempt at using a stain on briar. The color is not quite as even as I had expected, but I am pleased with the … Continue reading
Tobacco Pipe Aesthetics and Design: Whole Number Ratios
Why do some tobacco pipes look smooth and graceful while others look clunky and clumsy? I had been looking at classic pipe shapes, especially in old Dunhill catalogs I’d found online. I began wondering why some designs stood out, and … Continue reading
Literary Workshop Is Now Live on Etsy
It is with some trepidation that I announce that the Literary Workshop has gone commercial. I will now be selling my tobacco pipes (and perhaps a few other items) at my new Etsy shop. I plan to make one or … Continue reading
The Literary Workshop Blog 