Documenting First Attempt at Briar Pipe Making.

TwoXseveN · Post by **TwoXseveN** » Mon Oct 23, 2017 1:14 pm

Going into this pretty blind.... I practiced a bit with some other hardwoods but have never worked with briar and have limited tools at my disposal (basically just a drill press and disc sander)

Here's the first few pics:

Post drilling (used a scrap stem I had lying around):

After first round of rough shaping:

After second round of rough shaping (and the current status):

Del · Post by **Del** » Mon Oct 23, 2017 1:22 pm

DepartedLight · Post by **DepartedLight** » Mon Oct 23, 2017 1:24 pm

You'll need to get one of these

Goose55 · Post by **Goose55** » Mon Oct 23, 2017 8:20 pm

You are a brave soul, and I'd say that looks to be a very good result from a 1st undertaking. I'm more predisposed to destroying pipes than making them, so I applaud those that make them

TwoXseveN · Post by **TwoXseveN** » Mon Oct 23, 2017 8:47 pm

Current status:

Gotta work on evening out the bowl on top and I'm not sure what to do with the sizable crack towards the bottom of the bowl near the shank....

(Also, I changed the stem cause I didn't feel like the shank should be overly skinny given the imperfections)

JMG · Post by **JMG** » Mon Oct 23, 2017 9:22 pm

That stem looks better. Do you have a pic of he crack? You still have a good bit of meat to take off the bottom so the crack could diminish...could get worse. Even if it got worse, it would still be better, IMO, to shape this pipe to the best of your ability regardless of the crack...that is if you are thinking of trying this again and want to get better. Take it easy on the heal as it looks pretty close to where it needs to be. Also, the transition from bowl to shank on the top needs to be sharper so keep working on that. I like to wrap a small piece of sandpaper around something the diameter I need to use for that part.

It's looking great. Especially for a first attempt. I look forward to seeing how it ends up.

JohnnyMcPiperson · Post by **JohnnyMcPiperson** » Tue Oct 24, 2017 12:19 am

This is way better than my first attempt, I never quite finished though as we moved and I don’t have a workshop anymore...

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sir Moose · Post by **Sir Moose** » Tue Oct 24, 2017 12:35 am

JMG wrote: ↑
Mon Oct 23, 2017 9:22 pm
Do you have a pic of the crack?

I'm pretty sure the crack is front and center in that last picture. (Feel free to slap me down if I'm wrong.)

ETA: You might want to be careful asking the folks around here for a "pic of the crack." Brain-bleach doesn't usually cleanse deeply enough.

JMG · Post by **JMG** » Tue Oct 24, 2017 1:45 am

Sir Moose wrote: ↑
Tue Oct 24, 2017 12:35 am

JMG wrote: ↑
Mon Oct 23, 2017 9:22 pm
Do you have a pic of the crack?
I'm pretty sure the crack is front and center in that last picture. (Feel free to slap me down if I'm wrong.)

ETA: You might want to be careful asking the folks around here for a "pic of the crack." Brain-bleach doesn't usually cleanse deeply enough.

Oh yeah, I see it now. That should play out.

"Pic of the crack"...WHAT WAS I THINKING?

Jocose · Post by **Jocose** » Tue Oct 24, 2017 4:34 am

Spartans fan?

FredS · Post by **FredS** » Tue Oct 24, 2017 7:25 am

Looking good 14. Not many better ways to spend a fall evening than making pipes.

JimVH · Post by **JimVH** » Tue Oct 24, 2017 7:59 am

It looks like a pipe. That's a victory in itself.

Enjoy.

joegoat · Post by **joegoat** » Tue Oct 24, 2017 6:57 pm

Looks great!
If the crack doesn't go away with sanding,

The first pipe I made had an enormous sand pit right in the shank, going all the way into the airway. I was determined to smoke that thing so I mixed some Elmer's glue and briar dust from sanding into a paste and sealed it up.
It's holding up just fine.

TwoXseveN · Post by **TwoXseveN** » Tue Oct 24, 2017 8:28 pm

JMG wrote: ↑
Mon Oct 23, 2017 9:22 pm
That stem looks better. Do you have a pic of he crack? You still have a good bit of meat to take off the bottom so the crack could diminish...could get worse. Even if it got worse, it would still be better, IMO, to shape this pipe to the best of your ability regardless of the crack...that is if you are thinking of trying this again and want to get better. Take it easy on the heal as it looks pretty close to where it needs to be. Also, the transition from bowl to shank on the top needs to be sharper so keep working on that. I like to wrap a small piece of sandpaper around something the diameter I need to use for that part.

It's looking great. Especially for a first attempt. I look forward to seeing how it ends up.

Good feedback, thanks JMG

TwoXseveN · Post by **TwoXseveN** » Tue Oct 24, 2017 8:29 pm

Jocose wrote: ↑
Tue Oct 24, 2017 4:34 am
Spartans fan?

maybe a little. casual fan I'd say.
my family hasn't, yet, disowned me for going to bible school rather than MSU.

....Ok, a little more than a casual fan....

TwoXseveN · Post by **TwoXseveN** » Tue Oct 24, 2017 8:30 pm

FredS wrote: ↑
Tue Oct 24, 2017 7:25 am
Looking good 14. Not many better ways to spend a fall evening than making pipes.

Agreed! It's been cool, crisp, and three straight days of steady rain. Been a joy to have the shop as refuge.

TwoXseveN · Post by **TwoXseveN** » Tue Oct 24, 2017 8:30 pm

joegoat wrote: ↑
Tue Oct 24, 2017 6:57 pm
Looks great!
If the crack doesn't go away with sanding,

The first pipe I made had an enormous sand pit right in the shank, going all the way into the airway. I was determined to smoke that thing so I mixed some Elmer's glue and briar dust from sanding into a paste and sealed it up.
It's holding up just fine.

I really hope I don't have to go this route when it is all said and done, but it's certainly on the table at this point :/

TwoXseveN · Post by **TwoXseveN** » Tue Oct 24, 2017 8:31 pm

JimVH wrote: ↑
Tue Oct 24, 2017 7:59 am
It looks like a pipe. That's a victory in itself.

Enjoy.

Part of me just wants to call it a day and smoke it

TwoXseveN · Post by **TwoXseveN** » Tue Oct 24, 2017 8:33 pm

JMG wrote:
Sir Moose wrote: ↑
Tue Oct 24, 2017 12:35 am

JMG wrote: ↑
Mon Oct 23, 2017 9:22 pm
Do you have a pic of the crack?
I'm pretty sure the crack is front and center in that last picture. (Feel free to slap me down if I'm wrong.)

ETA: You might want to be careful asking the folks around here for a "pic of the crack." Brain-bleach doesn't usually cleanse deeply enough.
Oh yeah, I see it now. That should play out.

"Pic of the crack"...WHAT WAS I THINKING?

Ah yes, I should give you a close up of my crack...

Ready.....!?!?!

JMG · Post by **JMG** » Tue Oct 24, 2017 8:42 pm

TwoXseveN wrote: ↑
Tue Oct 24, 2017 8:33 pm

JMG wrote:
Sir Moose wrote: ↑
Tue Oct 24, 2017 12:35 am

JMG wrote: ↑
Mon Oct 23, 2017 9:22 pm
Do you have a pic of the crack?
I'm pretty sure the crack is front and center in that last picture. (Feel free to slap me down if I'm wrong.)

ETA: You might want to be careful asking the folks around here for a "pic of the crack." Brain-bleach doesn't usually cleanse deeply enough.
Oh yeah, I see it now. That should play out.

"Pic of the crack"...WHAT WAS I THINKING?
Ah yes, I should give you a close up of my crack...

Ready.....!?!?!

Keep sanding. It stands as much of a chance of diminishing as it does getting bigger. You're on the track.

Christian Pipe Smokers