Bubinga Wood (?)

[madox07]

does anybody have a clue what on earth is bubinga wood? My birthday was last week, and we have celbrated in Bulgaria by the Black Sea. We met with a family there, fridns of ours, also romanians and they gifted me this bubingq wood pipe, knowing that I like my pipes. It doesn't look high end nor the cheap low end either, it is OK quality wise. I haven't smoked it since I only brought cigars with me on this trip, but I figured I should ask our community first any say. So what is this bubinga ?

P.s. the box says designed in phoenix arizona, and the brand is called "Raw".

 

[Old School 3319]

It is an African wood similar to African Rosewood, never smoked it but it is a nice wood

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Very pretty hardwood. It's often used in custom pool cues due to its aesthetic beauty. No idea what kind of smoking medium it would make. A photo would be nice.

 

[sumusfumus]

I have smoked, and enjoyed pipes made from Olive, Bocote, Ebony. Many of these hard, exotic woods, can be used as an alternative to the more traditional Briar. I have noticed very little, if any, actual (not imagined) difference when comparing the these woods to Briar. Bubinga is probably just as good. Try it...you might like it. Oak and Cherry are also used to make pipes.

Corn Cob and Brylon ..... gave me two of my worst smoking experiences..... I expected more from the much touted Corn Cob. It tasted like heated plastic and burned shellac. It went into the garbage. The vintage Brylon, made from a plastic resin (probably Bakelite, or other phenolic) smoked red hot, wet, and wasn't worth the effort. It went into the garbage, too.

Good luck with the Bubinga pipe. Let us know what you think about your new pipe.

 

[chilllucky]

I wouldn't smoke it. Bubinga is in a family of rosewoods which have natural oils that trigger allergies in some percentage of the population.

I'm a furniture maker by trade, and whenever I cut the stuff, I get little red welts wherever the hot sawdust from cutting the material hits my skin.

 

[verporchting]

This^^^

 

[jonasclark]

I, too, would be extremely cautious smoking from a wood that may or may not cause allergy issues.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

This is what heavily figured Bubinga looks like and generally appears when used in a pool cue. It is a gorgeous wood. It may make you sick or kill you if you use it as a pipe bowl but you'll enjoy looking at it.

 

[mso489]

Since a member in the relatively small Forums demographic has had allergic response to this wood, I wouldn't smoke it. Probably with a carbon layer, it would never cause a problem, but allergies are tricky. I have a cocobolo pipe that raises the same kind of questions. It hasn't caused problems, but it is a pocket pipe I don't smoke a lot. It is more a concern in working this wood and inhaling the dust. However, it sure is fun to say Bubinga.

 

[trubka2]

The company Raw makes rolling papers and various accoutrements for pot smoking, so I'd guess your pipe isn't meant for tobacco. Bubinga is gorgeous, and it sounds great - I have a snare drum wrapped with a couple layers of it.

 

[canucklehead]

The company Raw makes rolling papers and various accoutrements for pot smoking, so I'd guess your pipe isn't meant for tobacco. Bubinga is gorgeous, and it sounds great - I have a snare drum wrapped with a couple layers of it.

There is RAW pipe tobacco too, it's made by Mac Baren.

updating via yoast

www.tobaccoreviews.com

 

[canucklehead]

I made an apple wood non-tipping desk pipe for friend that had a bubinga accent and tamper.

 

[rmpeeps]

Bubinga has creates tremendous tones in drums; not sure I’d smoke it though.

 

[madox07]

Sorry for the late delay, I am still on vacation and Internet is not that good around here. I will post a pic as soon as I get back, it is a paneled pipe, quite nice looking, with a 9 mm filter.. so inguess it was meant for smlking (pipe tobacco that is), although since i am alergic to several things I am jot sure I would give it a try.

 

[tbradsim1]

We accente our Acordions with it, wouldn't smoke it, not the Acordion the pipe.

 

[tbradsim1]

 

[mso489]

Mighty nice squeeze box that is.

 

[Country Bladesmith]

View attachment 40817

 

[madox07]

And here are the promised pics .. it looks pretty darn good, I would actually be tempted to give it a light. Perhaps start with half a bowl, see what happens if I get any alergic reactions.

 

[bnichols23]

It *is* a little toxic & some do get allergies from it. From what I remember it's a little hard to carve too. When I worked for Tinder Box eons ago a guy we just knew as "the bubinga wood man" would come by a couple of times a year & boss Jim would buy a few of his more interesting pieces. Can't remember what we'd charge for them. Never bought one myself.