How to Make an Indian Tobacco Pipe

Use both wood and stone carving tools to make an Indian tobacco pipe.

An Indian tobacco pipe, also known by the names sacred pipe or peace pipe, consists of a stone bowl and a long straight pipe stem. Original Indian pipes did not have screens in their bowls to prevent ashes from getting into the pipe stems. Placing a screen in the bottom of the bowl is optional. You can make an Indian tobacco pipe using a piece of soapstone and a piece of ash wood. The easiest bowl shape to carve is one that resembles the small letter "t."

Things You'll Need

• Soapstone rectangular pipe blank
• 1- by 1-inch ash board
• Stone carving tools
• Wood carving tools
• Rattail file
• 18-inch metal skewer
• Acetylene torch
• Striker
• Heave gauge wire
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Paper
• Scissors
• Scribe
• Bench vise
• Welding gloves

Instructions

Bowl

1. Trace around the soapstone pipe blank. Draw the design of the pipe bowl within the tracing. Cut out the paper bowl.

2. Place the paper bowl cutout on one side of the soapstone. Trace around the edges using a scribe. Flip the stone over and lay the paper bowl on the surface. Trace around the edges using a scribe. Make sure to flip the paper bowl cutout so the pipe bowl design is pointing in the same direction as the opposite side.

3. Cut away the unwanted stone with chisels and gouges. Use different size gouges to create the bowl. Use a pointed chisel to make the channel from the end of the stone to the pipe bowl.

4. Gently insert a rattail file into the hole made by the pointed chisel. Widen the hole wide enough to allow insertion of the pipe stem.

5. Carve desired surface decorations in the bowl at this time. Be careful when carving the weakened areas of the soapstone.

Stem Hole

1. Cut a 16-inch piece of 1- by 1-inch ash lumber. Mark the exact center of one end. Secure it tightly in a bench vise, making sure to have it on a perfect vertical.

2. Light the acetylene torch and put on the welding gloves. Heat the lower six to eight inches of the 18-inch metal skewer until it is red hot.

3. Insert the red-hot tip into the ash at the marked center point. Press slowly and firmly and let the metal skewer burn through the wood. Make sure to keep the skewer on a perfect vertical. Reheat the end of the skewer as needed until a hole is burnt through the entire shaft.

Stem Carving

1. Use wood carving tools to shape the stem of the pipe to the desired shape.

2. Periodically match the pipe stem up to the soapstone bowl stem opening. Carve away just enough wood so the stem fits tightly into the opening.

3. Carve desired decorations into the pipe stem at this time.

4. Lightly sand the pipe stem. Insert the stem into the bowl.

5. Add desired adornments to the pipe stem and bowl. Adornments may include beads, feathers, paint or leather strapping.

References

• All Sands: How to Make a Peace Pipe
• Article Alley: How to Carve Using Soapstone
• Native Languages: American Indian Pipes