How to Make a Homemade Corncob Pipe
Corn cob pipes are an integral part of smoking culture.. For years, farmers have used this makeshift device to smoke tobacco while they toiled away on their fields. Today, mass manufactured corn cob pipes are available online, at drug stores, and even gas stations around the globe. However, you can have a good time and save a few bucks by making one yourself.
Things You'll Need
- Corn cob
- Drill
- Pen knife
- Wild rice stalk, bamboo, or corn stalk
- Twist drill
Instructions
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1
Select a few different ears of corn, as the varying sizes may make for a more or less comfortable fit. Trial and error is really the only way to find the right shape for your personal preference. Make sure also, to get an ear with plenty of pith (the cylindrical center, or core of the cob).
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2
Dry your corn cob out in the oven at around 175 degrees Fahrenheit for at least five hours until it feels completely dry, inside and out.
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3
Break off the pointed end of the cob, making the broken piece a few inches long, at least. Hold this in your hand, and if it feels too big, chop a little off the non-pointed end until you get it down to the size you feel comfortable with.
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4
Dig out the middle of the pith with your pen knife. Go about two to two and a half inches down to make the bowl. When you get to the outside of the core, you'll notice that the pith becomes very hard, and almost woody. Be sure not to trim away too much of that layer of pith, as this will be the sturdiest part of your bowl.
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5
Hollow out a small piece of wild rice stalk, bamboo, or the thinnest part of the corn stalk. This will be your stem. You can use a thin screwdriver, or coat hanger to hollow out the rice or corn stalk. Blow through it a few times to clear debris, and also to make sure that the hollowed out part is wide enough to allow the passage of smoke.
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6
Cut about a one third inch U-shaped slice from one side of the stem on the end that's going to go into the bowl. Be sure to make that side of the stem face up when you put the two pieces together.
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7
Make a hole in the side of the bowl, positioned just above the bottom of the part that you dug out with your pen knife. It's probably best to use a twist drill to avoid destroying your bowl, or worse, cutting yourself. Make one full rotation clockwise, and then a half rotation counter-clockwise, doing your best to keep the drill at a 90 degree angle (it doesn't have to be perfect, but the closer, the better). Be cautious about the size of the hole, so that you don't make it too large for your stem.
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8
Push the stem into the bowl by pressing it into the hole you just drilled, and you've got your pipe. Smoke it a few times to break it in, and beware that you'll probably burn up the remainder of the pith the first few times you smoke with it.
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