How to Make a Simple Pipe
Making a tobacco pipe can enhance the experience of smoking. Designing, building and using a pipe of your own is the cheapest way to avoid spending a large amount of money on a pipe. Making your own pipe is a simple project that requires few tools and little to no woodworking experience. A tobacco pipe can be completely finished and ready for use in as little as an afternoon.
A more complex pipe, such as one with a decorative bowl, will take more time and skill, however.
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Things You'll Need
- Seasoned cherry wood
- Small ash branch
- Measuring tape
- Saw
- Pencil
- Clamp
- Drill
- Drill bits
- Knife
- Tape
- Wire
- Sandpaper
Instructions
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1
Cut a 6-inch section from your seasoned cherry wood. Use wood that has been seasoned for two to three months. Use a pencil or marker to mark the desired length of your pipe bowl. Leave an extra half an inch to a full inch to allow for the stem of your pipe to be inserted later.
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2
Hollow out part of the center of the bowl with a strong, sharp knife to start a hole for the drill. If the knife does not work, try using a pick.
Drill a pilot hole with a small drill bit. Measure the side of the bowl to decide how deep you want it to be and wrap a piece of electrical or duct tape around your drill bits as a gauge.
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3
Clamp the section just under the bowl into a vise to stabilize the wood as you drill out the bowl. Use progressively wider drill bits to make the bowl bigger. Do not drill past the depth you have allotted for your bowl.
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4
Measure the depth on the outside of the bowl where you will place the stem and make a mark about 1/2 inch higher than the bottom of your bowl.
Use your knife to start a hole for the stem and drill at 90 degree angle. Widen the hole so it is approximately 3/8 inch wide.
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5
Saw your bowl out of the wood and shape it into a circular or square bowl. Sand the edges and sides to avoid splinters. Leave 1/2 inch or more wood below the stem hole for added strength.
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6
Choose an ash branch or twig that fits snugly in the hole you have made. If necessary, use wood glue to affix it firmly to your pipe.
Push a piece of wire or a slim rod through the center of your ash branch. This will hollow it out. Place the branch into the hole in your pipe bowl
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