Brand new person who wants a new hobby

[fritznut]

I am brand new to pipe smoking. I have a couple of cheap store bought pipes and after reading this forum, I would love to make my own pipes.

My question is that how to start. I read on here many times using briar wood. Actually would any wood work? I split wood so could I cut smaller pieces and what size if possible? Thanks guy for any suggestions and hopefully soon I can start on a project.

[kkendall]

A lot of folks start with a pipe kit (predrilled block of briar with a stem).

[Sasquatch]

Most woods burn at fairly low temps compared to briar. There are a few well known "pipe woods" - cherry, olive... but many woods do not take the heat, the cyclical wet/dry business, the stability for holding a stem... on and on.

Order some briar, dude. It's like 10 bucks a block. Check out PIMO pipe supply for your first few.

[Nick]

Briar, olive, cherry, ebony, lemonwood. There's an article in P&T talking about the different woods used for pipes afew years back. Still, your best bet is briar.