Because I don't know - Olive wood

[kamkiel]

What is the attraction to an Olive wood pipe? I agree that the grain is pretty and I also think that it is a nice change of pace to see one posted in the gallery. As far as the "market" is concerned, do a lot of people go for Olive wood pipes? Probably just a personal opinion, I see some on the forum and I think they look nice, but then I think of myself having on hanging from my mouth. I like looking down and seeing a nice plain old briar billiard or some other classic shape. If I looked down and saw a wood type that might match my furniture I don't think I would be as satisfied.

I have made some pipes that stray from the path of a traditional pipe and I rarely use them, even as a shop pipe. Having an Olive wood pipe would stand out in your collection the same as a more "artsy" pipe would for the simple fact that it is different; but if I am going to smoke a pipe, a simple briar pipe is most likely the one that I will take off the rack.

I am not against alternative materials. I just wanted to hear what other people think about them. If I get the chance I will probably eventually make a pipe from Olive, Morta, etc.

Kiel

[Mark B.]

I made an olive pipe because I'd never smoked one and was curious about it. Smoked it for the first time today.

[Charl]

It's different, taste cool and on top of all, it smells wonderful to work with.
But it's not going to last as long as briar, dulls quickly and most of all most probably will not sell.

[kamkiel]

I made an olive pipe because I'd never smoked one and was curious about it. Smoked it for the first time today.

That's cool. I wasn't trying to say anything bad about them in this post. I've just noticed quite a few being posted and thought I'd ask. Now that you've made one, what do you think? I read on PMF someone said olive was good for smoking Latakia. There are also some post I olive pipes that are sandblasted which look really cool.

Kiel

[kamkiel]

It's different, taste cool and on top of all, it smells wonderful to work with.
But it's not going to last as long as briar, dulls quickly and most of all most probably will not sell.

Thanks Charl. I will probably get around to trying it out someday. I have never sold nor attempted to sell a pipe, it was more just to see what other makers tell buyers about olive wood, or what buyers find attractive about them.

I am sure that if the two of us were to sell pipes next to each other, your olive pipes would be long gone before I could sell a briar one

Kiel

[Albert.A]

I have made two olive pipes. The first I made because I was courious as to how it would smoke compared to briar, and the second one (which I reasently posted in the gallery) I made because I was asked to by a customer. I think olive is nice to work with because it's so different from briar, and it's nice to have some variation sometimes. But I don't like the smell of it, although I think my nose get mildly irritated by the dust so that might explain why I don't like it.

[kamkiel]

Okay, so now I guess I know. I purchased a few blocks of olive wood to try it out. I think it is fun to work with and like others have said, it smells really nice! I wasn't too crazy about the flavor of latakia through the pipe, but I will blame that on my lack of experience with the leaf (I read somewhere on this forum that it is good with latakias). Would anyone recommend something other that latakia in an olive wood pipe?

Here are some pictures of the pipe.

[Effe]

I made over 20 pipes from olive wood.
I own a field with very old trees.
At the beginning was economycal rison,
but after I felt in love with the taste and the Beuty
of this wood!

[kamkiel]

Messed the stem up on this one, so its mine now

[Rodneywt1180b]

I don't sell pipes so I don't know that an olive pipe is a tough sell. I do know they stand out in a cabinet full of briar. My eyes were drawn instantly to the one I saw the last time I was in a pipe shop. Budget was the only reason it didn't come home with me.
Rodney

[kamkiel]

They really do stand out! We had a local pipe smokers gathering here in Chongqing last week, and quite a few people took notice of my pipe. I still like briar better, but the olive is nice to take out every now and then.

[caskwith]

I like to make one now and then for a change of pace, love the smell when working it too! Don't often get a commission for them though and they can be a tough sell, I enjoy the change though so it's worth that hassle and lower return.

[kamkiel]

This the last of my olive wood. It was fun to work with, but I think it makes me a little sneezy.

[Effe]

You can do everything with the Olive wood.....
I smoke almost only olive pipes and I made a lot of them.
They are perfect smokers and does not need so much time to rest like briar.
I grow up with that Holly tree
Of course the have also some sensetivities ,if you now them is a perfect material for a long and hard use .

[Billy Klubb]

Effe, those are beautiful!

y'all just keep amazing me with all your beautiful work. it keeps me inspired.

[Effe]

Thank you Billy!
Some more projects on the bench. ..All Rustic Olive pipes