Category Archives: Tobacco Pipes

Classical Training–for a Pipe Maker

Posted on August 11, 2014 by

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 →

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Recent Pipes

Posted on July 25, 2014 by

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 →

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Two for One: A Freehand Dublin and a Churchwarden Apple

Posted on December 1, 2013 by

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 →

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Two More Churchwarden Pipes

Posted on September 24, 2013 by

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 →

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Tobacco Pipe Aesthetics and Design: Whole Number Ratios

Posted on September 6, 2013 by

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 →

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Literary Workshop Is Now Live on Etsy

Posted on August 1, 2013 by

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 →

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Making a Tobacco Pipe with Hand Tools: A Preliminary Tutorial

Posted on May 25, 2013 by

When I made my first tobacco pipe a year ago, I searched the Internet for information on making pipes primarily with hand tools.  Alas, all I could find were sites on making pipes on metal lathes and high-speed grinding/sanding equipment, … Continue reading →

Posted in Build-Alongs, Tobacco Pipes | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

Two More Pipes

Posted on May 12, 2013 by

I have made two pipes in the last two weeks. The first is a freehand churchwarden, which was a lot of fun to shape.  The textured top is the natural top of the burl from which briar pipes are made.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Tobacco Pipes, Wood and Woodwork | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Recent Pipes

Posted on April 17, 2013 by

I recently finished my eighth, ninth, and tenth pipes. All the advice for new pipe makers suggests starting with basic, classic forms, so this is my cherrywood billiard.  Pipes like this are usually roughed out on a lathe.  Getting everything … Continue reading →

Posted in Tobacco Pipes, Wood and Woodwork | 1 Comment

The Tragedy of Dull Saws

Posted on April 16, 2013 by

This afternoon, I was reading William Goldring’s The Pipe Book: A History and How to (1973), which briefly recounts the history of each historical type of pipe and explains how to make a similar one using a few, simple tools. … Continue reading →

Posted in Musings, Tobacco Pipes, Woodworking Literature | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments