What kind of Wood for a pipe

[Dave Dionne]

Hi

My friends dad wants me to hand make him a pipe out of domestic wood. He got the idea from the native American pipes, that there must be a native wood to use. I am totally clueless on what kind of wood to use. I know that Briar was the traditional wood to use but is there other choices? I have read how to use ash from burnt wood to make a almost cement like mixture to rub inside the bowl for fire glazing but not what kind of wood to use.

Thanks for any kind of help you can give

Dave

[Jim Becker]

I'm not a tobacco kind of guy in any way, but aren't most pipes made of burl or briar root?

[Steve Schoene]

Google on "pipe making" burl supplies and you will get a lot of information and places to sell you kit, etc.

[Matt Tawes]

I've smoked a pipe for 13yrs. and all of mine have always been as Jim suggested... Burl or Briar. There are tons of resources on the web for pipe making supplies, methods and what not that might give you some insight.

[Bob Johnson2]

I carved one from Briar but here's one of cherry.

http://www.premierpipes.com/images/PremiumEstates/main/pe-052.jpg

[Tom Jones III]

Makes you wonder why corncob pipes don't burn up. But then again maybe it's just me ... speaking of that anyone know why dogs don't have belly buttons? (I baby sat this weekend and didn't have the answer to that one)

[Joe Pelonio]

This place sells materials: http://www.amsmoke.com/

I've seen them made with briar, corncob, meerschaum, cherry wood. For native American style you could use any wood for the stem, or deer or elk antler. They also used antler for the bowl. The bowl commonly was carved from any available hard wood, molded from clay or carved from red pipestone called Catlinite. Other stones such as Sandstone, Soapstone, hard stones such as Granite, Quartzite and Steatite were also used. Mesquite would make a nice bowl if you could find it.

[Dave Dionne]

I have some 8/4 cherry laying around so I think that is what I will try.

Thanks again

Dave

[Doug Ketellapper]

Um, dogs do have belly buttons. They aren't as obvious as ones on humans, but they in fact do have them.

[Mark Rios]

I'm even further away from the tobacco thing than Jim is. When I clicked on the thread, I was thinking of what kind of liquid or gas that someone would need to run through a wooden hollow pipe. And then, I was thinking that it would have to be one of those lathe guys that would have to make it. Oops!:D :D :D

[Jerry Olexa]

IMHO I think Briar is the usual choice

[tod evans]

i`ve been a pipe smoker for about 8 months and mine are briar...02 tod

[Bob Swenson]

<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> Dave<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p>
A Bank in NY used to keep a wooden pipe on display in the windows of all its branches; they were pieces of early NY water pipe. The first one in the morning would remove it To let the others know that it was safe to come in.

OK, it’s more than you needed to know.:cool:
Bob