Twisted Spring Tobacco Pipe

This new tobacco pipe took two ideas. First there is the ridge that runs along the bottom length of the pipe. Second is the bit, for which I used a standard square tapered bit, but I lined it up like a diamond taper and then twisted it to line up. Also the black and blue dye came out beautifully. The way that the ridge comes out on the top of the bowl made me think of flower bowls and spring. This was a really fun pipe to make.

Ringer Tobacco Pipe

The Ringer Tobacco Pipe was one of the most difficult and exciting pipes I have every made. I have never seen another pipe anything like this. This is perfect for the smoker who has to fiddle with things as he smokes because the ring is completely detached from the bowl just like a chain link.  The bowl and the ring were carved integrally from a single block. The original idea for this pipe came from my sister and her husband Rosalie and David when they gave me the book Woodcarving Magic. As I was reading through the book I knew I had to bring those ideas into my pipe making. The bowl is colored with a red dye and the ring with a black dye. Enjoy.

Blowfish Wizard

The Blowfish Wizard is a sturdy freehand pipe with a quarter bent double ball freehand stem. The  use of the orange and blue dyes leaves the bowl with just a slight greenish tint in the darker grains while leaving the forefront color an almost natural brown. It sits pleasantly in the hand. Many a pleasant evening can be spent over a chessboard with the earthy tones of tobacco smoke pouring from this pipe as one enjoys the company of a good friend. 

Gandalf's Branch

It is a pleasure to present Gandalf's Branch. This freestyle (wizard) pipe features a beautiful bamboo churchwarden stem with a brass tenon and a pipe bowl in the the same family as The Trunk and the Branch. I realize in previous posts I have made digs at certain churchwarden pipes being considered for travels but of course for Gandalf I must eat my own words. Of course Gandalf must be able to safely store such a pipe as this at any time. Why else would his hat be so tall?

The Square Wizard

Here is The Square Wizard. This a small bowl wizard freehand tobacco pipe that plays around with squares. The stem is a bamboo piece and the the tenon is reinforced with brass. The stem is not quite as long as my other churchwarden pipes but is sufficiently longer than a standard pipe stem.

I have been smoking british blend tobacco out of the "Bamboo Churchwarden" myself for several months now, testing out the the strength and quality of the bamboo as a stem material and have found it holds up well and is an enjoyable texture in the mouth.

Bamboo Churchwarden

I am experimenting with stems right now. The Bamboo Churchwarden is a fairly interesting tobacco pipe bowl with a long bamboo stem. I am smoking out of it to test how the bamboo will hold up. One thing I already have discovered is that you have to pull it straight out as the bamboo doesn't have the grain strength to twist out. The brass collar is attached to the stem and reinforces the tenon where it goes into the bowl. 

The Wizard's Prow

The Wizard's Prow tobacco pipe was a gift pipe made for a young lady of whom I am quite fond. It is the first time I have used a Steck stem, as well as the first time I've made a straight freehand wizard pipe. It is a smaller break/lady pipe size bowl. The pipe ended up being wonderfully light because of the smaller bowl and an excellent little all around good pipe.