Bonehead Question

[baronsamedi]

I am aware of the danger posed by animal horn. Out here in Texas you can get all sorts of animal bones. Would drilling a piece cow femur, working out a shank/stem pose any potential health risk?

 

[pstlpkr]

I wouldn't think so Baron.

Then again I'm not the expert on dead things... you are. :D

 

[ichbinmuede]

Well we all know that bone dust is bad for your lungs and I can't imagine that burnt is much better. Just to be on the safe side and avoid inhaling any at all I wouldn't do it.

I don't see any reason why you couldn't drill it and use it as a shank extension like bamboo though. It'd be quite a bit more unusual but still pretty neat.

 

[tobakenist]

Try it and let us know :nana:

 

[buster]

Might want to use an antler or some thing like that instead of a femur bone? I would think a femur of a cow would be rather large? What is the danger of animal horn/antler? I have seen pipes made from deer antler in the past.
I did see some where in the Civil war times turkey quills were used as stems for clay bowls and to fix broken stems on clay pipes.

 

[schmitzbitz]

I would guess that a layer of slip would be all it takes...just make sure that it contains enough porcelain to completely seal the walls airway off, yet is thin enough to not just seal the airway. Probably wouldn't hurt to repeat every so often, too, just to be on the safe side. I know this method makes soapstone safe to smoke (burning soapstone dust is quite caustic).
This link gives you a recipe for said slip, although its for a much larger quantity than you'll ever need, it should give you a basic idea how to go about it.

 

[cyndi]

Make sure you use the best air mask/filtration system you can put your hands on. Bone dust can be lethal. I don't think there's any danger after its cut, but there is a definite link with lung conditions and bone dust.

 

[rickpal14]

Then again I'm not the expert on dead things... you are. [:D]

:rofl:

 

[iowamike]

+ 1 for Lawrence

Learn something new everyday, had no idea bone dust would be bad for you. Of course not a lot of us out there cutting bones up...right?

 

[igloo]

Old bones Should come with a warning label , someone needs to call the EPA ,FDA,OSHA or some other agency . Perhaps we can get a grant to study the effects of bone dust on ants or something . :crazy:

 

[iowamike]

What the hell am I supposed to do with the mess in my dungeon!

 

[igloo]

Make skull pipes . :D

 

[iowamike]

Igloo If I do that then I will own a head shop :rofl:

 

[baronsamedi]

A shank (beef shank, not pipe shank)cut from a cow femur is about the only piece you could make a bowl from (right after roasting it and eating the marrow (tasty)). For the shank you'd have to experiment with different things. A human radial bone might work for a pipe shank but you'd have some 'splainin to do if you get found smoking pipes made of human remains. A deer's leg bone is comparable size. hmm.
I'm not worry about inhaling any bone dust. Trust me I inhale stuff on a regular basis you wouldn't even want to think about.
The slip schmitz was refering to sounds promising.
No skull pipes, silly. Everyone knows those are for cereal bowls.

 

[lonestar]

I cant think of any reason not to. If you're worried about Bovine Spongiform Encephalitis, chances are you would already have it anyway.

Maybe I'm missing something, but bone was used for a long time as stems so I wouldn't worry too much myself.

 

[baronsamedi]

Bovine Spongiform Encephalitis...If you want to sent morticians running in every direction, screaming like little girls, point at a body and say those words. eeeeeeek!

 

[zanthal]

Somehow I'm skeptical about the longevity of a pipe made of bone. They may be hard, but I have doubts about their ability to withstand regular heating and cooling.
Horns and antlers I think would be better suited for it.
Not that I actually know what I'm talking about, these are just my observations. :puffpipe:

 

[philip]

Bone pipe on ebay.

Would drilling a piece cow femur, working out a shank/stem pose any potential health risk?

I don't know if this pipe would be risky, but the opium might be.

Chinese Bone Opium Pipe