Made My First Pipe In My Shop

Its hard to critique a first pipe. There is so much to figure out, and it only happens with practice, lots of it.

As far as being done spending, I promise you're not. I thought the same thing with the first $2000 I spent. I thought it again with the second $2000. And the third.... At this point I'm about $14,000 in :lol: Turns out $2,000 was just ante to start the game.

That is a nice pipe! This summer I hope to start a few kits and I hope mine turn out half as well.

I got a lathe for cheap and thought I saved a bunch

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Yep, I spent just under $1000 for my lathe, thinking damn thats half my budget :rofl: If I'd have realized how much I would spend ultimately, I would have dropped some extra on a few of my tools. Hell just a new chuck for holding the briar is $500. $250 for a quick change tool post and holders, a couple hundred for cutting bits, a few hundred in Jacobs Chucks for the tail stock... You're not even talking drill bits yet ! I have $1,000+ in drill bits alone. High dollar files and rasps, a hundred other little tools.... Its all uphill from here :D

That machine shop down the road will come in handy.

All that matters to me is that the draft hole hits the chamber in the right spot. As far as anything else goes it's preferences or asthetics. Those are importantat and will come with practice, but I believe those are superfluous in regard to function. Smoke with pride and I hope it smokes really well for you.

Yeah sure, hit me up with any questions you have. I'll help any way I can but the truth is a lot of it can't be explained too easily. Its really a matter of time and effort, along with studying anywhere you can find info.

But it really just depends on what you want to do. If you'd just like to make a few pipes to smoke, it makes no sense put too much into the tooling. If you'd like to make a few pipes on the side to sell, you will be up against some pretty high standards. If you'd ever like to make a profit on any of it, it will take a ridiculous amount of effort to reach those standards, and and at least a few years making them in your part time. You may pay for your tools though with a couple years work.

I put in 50-70 hour weeks and haven't turned a lick of profit in 2012 or 2013 ! But thats the dedication its taken to finally get to where I am.

Even if you're not buying every drill bit and tool for the shop though, its not going to be profitable for a long long time. The amount of time you'll spend to make a decent pipe and the price range you'll have to sell in will make sure that doesn't happen. Even when you get to a point you can make a pipe on the level with Rad Davis, Premal Chheda, Joe Nelson, Nate King, Wayne Teipen, Ernie Markle, Todd Bannard etc, the best you can hope to do is make a living... In fact, less than half those guys do this full time and make a living at it.

But if its what you love, keep on keeping on and don't let anyone tell you different. But do it for the love, not the money... Cause there's really not any money :nana:

Nice looking piece! I like that you left it natural color. The rim looks rather thin at the back of the bowl.

Frame that on the wall just so you can always take a look at how much better you've gotten and never forget where you started. It definitely does not look like an artisan pipe most would pay for, but keep in mind we have seen a member make true works of art after starting with a log that had a hole in it as his first pipe. Your much further along than that and I wish you the best of luck. I think you got what it takes
Also as a beginner you might consider selling your first pipes at cost or a little higher depending on what it cost to make them to forum members, that way you could afford to make more, even if the quality is a little below what you would prefer selling them as. Never sell the first one though, you will regret it later

Glenn, looks pretty good for a first attempt. One thing I noticed is that the bowl looks out of round. The back wall looks much thinner than the rest of the pipe, don't know if that is just because of the pictures but that is what I saw. I wish you good luck in your new venture and hope you have some fun doing it.

I would be mighty proud if that was my first effort - looks great, congrats!

Glenn, Don't know if you've checked out Pipe Makers Forum, but you'll get a lot of great techniques that will help you move it forward...

Glenn, you should be darned proud of that pipe! I think you did a great job;

and how satisfying it must be to smoke a pipe you made yourself! :clap:

I think it is a beautiful first pipe! I haven't tried making one yet out of anything other than catlinite (pipestone). It's on my bucket list though. If my first briar looks anything at all like yours, I'll be proud.

Awesome! I'm just finishing up my first freehand as well and know what kind of labor went into that.

I'm guessing your hands and forearms are tired and there is a general loss of skin across the knuckles. lol
Really nice job and something to be proud of!

So when can we start buying your pipes ?

I know zilch about making pipes. just wondering how long a pipe like that takes to make?