pipemakersforum.com

I am working on my first pipe, which is looking like it is going to be something like a poker with a short wooden stem. The entire thing is raw oak from the firewood pile in my back yard. The piece I am working with is a cylinder about 2.25" tall by 1.75" across (sorry, no pics yet). I think that I am going to get a decent bowl out of this, but I don't think that I'll be able to make a substantial shank on it. I haven't seen this anywhere, but I may try to fit my stem directly into the bowl, similar to a basic corncob. It seems fine to me, but again, it's my first pipe, and I haven't seen anyone else do one like this. I'll keep looking. Does anyone have a reason that this plan won't work?

Hey, now I feel dumb, but after another half hour of looking, I found two examples of the pipe I was looking for.

Good morning!

There's plenty of pipes out there that don't have shanks, so fire away. A couple of things to consider:

-the shorter airway makes for a "hotter" smoke
-you may have issues with your stummel. Firewood isn't exactly known for its excellent pipe-making qualities. Only briar really acts like briar, but when I started out, I also tried cheaper wood before briar. If your oak piece wasn't cut from a knot, you may find that it will split very easily. Best case scenario- you' have your first pipe. Worst case scenario- you'll learn something not to do next time.

Dunhill Duke, Eltang Basic.
I agree with BighornBriar- nothing works like briar.
DocAitch

I don't agree with Bighornbriar, the shorter airway makes no difference to how hot the pipe smokes, old urban myth of pipemaking.

caskwith wrote: ↑Wed Mar 29, 2023 3:56 am I don't agree with Bighornbriar, the shorter airway makes no difference to how hot the pipe smokes, old urban myth of pipemaking.

Yes, I didn’t address that.
DocAitch

I am new here, but is oak not carcinogenic, therefore cancer causing ergo not good for making pipes out of?

Briar, morta and olive are the standard. Hardwoods will burn out with repeated use. Yes, Oak is an A1 carcinogen and bad for smoking pipes.

Good to know

Papawhisky wrote: ↑Wed Apr 05, 2023 9:34 am I am new here, but is oak not carcinogenic, therefore cancer causing ergo not good for making pipes out of?

I just have to throw this in as food for thought when discussing toxic and carcinogenic materials for SMOKING pipes.
TOBACCO smoke contains >250 toxic compounds, at least 10 of which are carcinogenic.
I am not saying to use oak or other compounds, but perhaps we should keep some perspective.
DocAitch

Oh good! I'll rest easy knowing that I my pipe only slightly increases my already high chances of getting cancer. ; )

In all seriousness, I am not super concerned, as I am not planning on becoming a regular smoker.