A Kind Word for Bamboo

[didimauw]

Bamboo didn't do it for me. I like pure Briar.

 

[bnichols23]

can look real patchy and corny, but when it's right,

Totes agree, Tom. It's like articles of clothing that have some wild off-the-wall element that by all rights shouldn't be on it at all, yet some people actually completely rock it when wearing, whereas on *me* just for example, it'd look as stupid as my smoking a baby corncob -- the first thing you think of is "Popeye!".
Bill

 

[bazungu]

I never really liked bamboo, as I find in many case the piece of bamboo is put there without much thought or consideration. After a while, mainly after seeing some good examples of pipes from fishnbanjo (mainly doc pipes) I have started to warm up to them. Sadly, most of the good examples are way out of my price comfort zone at the moment.

 

[fishnbanjo]

There are some definite beauties in this thread folks, thanks for sharing. The pipe lestrout is speaking about is made by rod maker Rolf Baginski, he sets bamboo sections 60 degrees apart like a bamboo rod is made, I call mine a Poker Chip Stack. Sable the Walt Cannoy is an incredible smoker!

banjo

 

[Chasing Embers]

Bamboo didn't do it for me. I like pure Briar.

Same. Bamboo just looks like an afterthought.

 

[georged]

So, it's bamboo that DOESN'T look like an afterthought you want, then?
Alrighty. Say no more.
.

 

[Chasing Embers]

There are so many things wrong with that pipe that the bamboo just doesn't even seem like an issue.

 

[theloniousmonkfish]

There are so many things wrong with that pipe I kind of like it...

 

[georged]

Mr. Monkfish understands. :mrgreen:

 

[Chasing Embers]

It's sort of odd that I don't. I love the cork covered Spanu pipes.

 

[jeffro]

I never liked the look of bamboo shank pipes, But I received one with a lot of estate pipes I purchased and after cleaning it up it's a great smoker. light weight and smokes very dry. It does not have a metal rod through the bamboo.

Now I like them a bit more, and with the more modern renditions pictured here I am intrigued buy some of them.

By biggest question is how the heck does one drill through the all knuckles with the various bends in the larger pieces of bamboo root shanks?

 

[Chasing Embers]

Probably something similar to this.
https://youtu.be/LRvFrhZjjPA

 

[gatorlope]

Just for contrast, these are Japanese kiseru pipes where bamboo stems are the standard, but still show a great deal of variation. Frankly, I’m partial to the beast on top, just because it’s so different from the norm. I’m not sure that I’ve ever seen a pipe with a jade (?) mouthpiece before, but I like it! Definitely not a production line piece!

It’s not new, but the patina and wear markings show that it has been much loved in it’s lifetime.

 

[fishnbanjo]

Here’s an Acorn shape with bamboo shank by Teddy Knudsen.

This one is called The Mermaid by maker Jan Szymon Golowacz of Poland

Finally a smattering of my bamboo shank pipes.

banjo

 

[bent1]

Wow Fish, beautiful collection!

 

[gatorlope]

Sorry, just realized that my picture didn’t display...