I always see people spending their cash on over priced pipes that quality wise are not worth half that price. I also find glass is so easy to break and chip that you if youre not careful you end up going broke just trying to keep your paraphernalia working.
Infact, my sister got a brand new pipe for her birthday that changes colors when lit, got blazed and naturally dropped it.
It shattered.
So today I am here to offer you both an awesome and cheap alternative to buying your pipes.
Today we will be discussing pipe carving.
Most people have the idea that carving takes forever or requires some kind of skill, when in fact you can create a decent pipe pretty quickly. The time and effort you put into carving a pipe is repaid more than tenfold in the use you will get out of it.
So let us get started shall we?
[B]
Material:[/B]
Pipe carving can be done in many materials, but unfortunately only one material can be done quickly and safely and that material is soap stone. Soap stone is a soft stone (obviously) which can be carved and is very durable to heat so can be used as a pipe. Soap stone has been used to make anything from architecture in Victorian era buildings to peace pipes by cultural races.
It is very cheap and depending on your location you can get a pound of it for 2$.
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soapstone[/url]
[B]Tools:[/B]
To start off you will need some carving tools, and while these can be somewhat pricey you will want to invest in a nice set for better quality. By paying about 40-80$ you have the tools to create not just pipes but anything you feel like and even more so you can SELL THE STUFF YOU MAKE. I have made a good 250$ off a pipe I custom made for a dude.
Here are what some basic tools look like:
[img]http://supertoolss.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/carving-tools.jpg[/img]
Theyre pretty much sharper equivalents to rubber carving tools or clay tools.
You will also want sand paper to smooth the stone and linseed oil to make the stone shine (optional of course)
[B]Creation:[/B]
A pipe is not a difficult feat of engineering, and I am sure many of you are familiar with the anatomy of a pipe. But for the sake of being informative, here is a chart.
[img]http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iPhQV47KZww/TYJ1zsx20tI/AAAAAAAAAok/QodEOHwmYzc/s1600/pipe-architecture.gif[/img]
This is for a 2 piece, tobacco pipe, so your carving is pretty much a dumbed down version of the above. The mortise and the tenon will not exist and the pipe will be a one piece so it boils down to basically getting the shape of the pipe then making a tunnel.
Now then here is some informational steps:
Choose a flat working surface in a well-ventilated area or work in a covered area outdoors. Very fine dust will fly around as you cut and carve the pipe.
2 Don protective gear before you beginning. Soapstone is a form of talc and can cause breathing problems in some people when inhaled. Any mask that prevents you from breathing in particles is suitable. Wear safety glasses or goggles to protect your eyes from any flying rock debris.
3 Inspect the soapstone from all angles and try to keep the image of the pipe in mind while you work. Draw the basic design of the pipe onto the soapstone using a soft pencil and make simple lines to outline the bowl and stem. Don’t worry about making a detailed sketch; focus on achieving the desired size.
4 Begin cutting the pipe shape using carving tools. Select a U-shaped or V-shaped scoop. Shape the pipe bowl and hollow it out.
5 Cut away excess material to create the handle. Use a thin tool to hollow out the handle and the mouthpiece.
6 Carve any designs into the sides of the bowl and handle.
7 Polish the finished product using fine-grained sandpaper. Polish all edges and etched areas.
8 Wet the soapstone to clean off dust and check the finish. Dry and continue polishing until you achieve the desired effect.
9 Use a lint-free cloth and rub mineral oil into the finished soapstone pipe to bring out its luster.
Now then this can sound pretty daunting but soap stone is very to carve and comes down to just repetitive motions of grinding down, chipping and gouging out details you want.
Here are some videos showing people working with soapstone and how easy it is. (hell, one dude is using a machete to carve)
This guy uses power tools in the beginning, but his shapes are more complicated than a pipe and he still goes back to using hand tools after using the drill.
[video=youtube;z078tE_u_ZI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z078tE_u_ZI[/video]
Two part video of a dude using a filing technique to make something:
[video=youtube;ajXXYfgKGKk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajXXYfgKGKk&feature=related[/video]
[video=youtube;vFx1oVaKxE4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFx1oVaKxE4&feature=related[/video]
Guy making a soapstone carving with a machete:
[video=youtube;dhccdpkqcvw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhccdpkqcvw[/video]
Now then you are only limited by your imagination and as you improve you can pretty much make some extremely intricate pipes if you are willing to be dedicated. Here are some examples of some basic pipes though since I do not want to fill you with the expectation that you can create instant awesome ones.
This is a craft and it does take practice to become good at it like all things, but I think it is a craft worth learning not just to save you some money on pipes, but simply because it can be a fun hobby too!
[img]http://www.willybanjo.com/shop/smoking_supplies/pipes/deluxe_pipes/images/main_soapstone_pipe.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.willybanjo.com/shop/smoking_supplies/pipes/deluxe_pipes/images/main_soapstone_buz_bomb.jpg[/img]
[img]http://azarius.net/images/resize/detail/pipe_soapstone.jpg[/img]
Happy carving and smarking drugpunch.
This is what I envision happening if I try this :v:
[img]http://www.picshag.com/pics/122010/how-to-build-a-model-helicopter.jpg[/img]
But seriously thanks for this well written thread its quite interesting and useful.
[QUOTE=Stormcharger;34693678]This is what I envision happening if I try this :v:[/QUOTE]
Actually the danger comes from inhaling the dust of the soapstone, the tools aren't too dangerous and generally carving away from yourself prevents all accidents!
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