How to Make Tobacco Pipe Supplies

Pipes are a much older tool for smoking than cigars or cigarettes

Unlike smoking cigarettes, the smoking of a tobacco pipe requires a number of small accessories. For many pipe enthusiasts, these items are a big part of the ritual and the enjoyment of the smoking experience. If you're a pipe smoker, and also a DIY enthusiast, what better way is there to combine your hobbies than to make your own handmade pipe supplies? Create your own tools for cleaning, smoking and pipe storage using readily available craft supplies.

Things You'll Need

• 12 inch length of craft wire
• Wire cutter
• Fabric hole punch
• Five inch by 1 ½ inch strip of felt
• Five inch wooden dowel, 1 ½ inch diameter
• Oscillating power tool
• Wheel saw bit
• Carving or grinding bit
• Fine, medium and heavy grain sand paper
• 2 packages polymer clay, complementary colors
• Kitchen plastic wrap

Instructions

Pipe Cleaner

1. Use the cloth hole punch to make a small hole in the end of the felt.Use the smallest of the punch's settings.

2. Poke the end of the wire through the hole in the felt. Fold about an inch of the end of the wire over itself, gripping the felt and holding it in place.

3. Fold the length of wire in half. Line up the fold with the center of the felt strip, gripping the cloth in the wire.

4. Use the pliers to twist the folded wire and cloth into a spiral shape.

Tamper

1. Rub the dowel piece with medium-grain sandpaper, then with fine sandpaper. Switch to a heavy sandpaper and use it to shape one end of the dowel into a tapered, narrow tip of about a half inch or less. This will be the tamper's handle.

2. Fit the oscillating power tool with a grinding tip. Turn it on and set it to medium speed.

3. Run the grinding tip along the side of the dowel in a slow, smooth motion to form grooves. Make these straight in line with the dowel, or give them a slight curve. Do four or give grooves, evenly spaced, as you prefer.

Pipe Stand

1. Knead the two clay colors into a single lump. Work and stretch this in your hands until you've mixed the colors into a marble pattern.

2. Roll the clay between your flat palms to form it into a ball. Hold the ball about six inches above your work station and drop it; this will give it a flat bottom.

3. Wrap the pipe in plastic wrap.

4. Press the pipe into the tip of the clay bowl, bowl side-down. This will form a recess to hold the pipe in place.

5. Bake the clay according to manufacturer's instructions.

References

• "Pipesmoking: A 21st Century Guide;" Richard Carleton Hacker; 2006