Custom Pipe Cases

[sablebrush52]

Or.... you could think of another material and process to get it done. Press the pipe into a foam +/- plastic as a thought?

There was a guy I met at the WCPS about 5 years ago, who had the set up to do injection molding as part of this trade, who had made himself a couple of cases for his pipes, so the answer is yes, there are certainly other ways to do this.

Nobody is going to bother unless they can see a financial reward to doing so. So, nobody is going to be doing this. "For the love of it" is quickly becoming extinct.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

First... I would really think about how practical a case like this is going to be for you. I prefer to use racks, because once a pipe goes out of my sight, I forget all about it. A regular 2 or 3 pipe case can at least also hold some tobacco and pipe cleaners, maybe a lighter and a tamper. These fitted cases don't hold shit but the pipe. So, most likely, you are still left with more baggage outside of the pipe case. Are going to have a fitted case made for your lighter and maybe one for your pipecleaners as well?

A meerschaum... I can see needing extra protection, because a good bump can flake off a side or just crack it. They are practically plaster. But a briar? No.

Once you've truly considered how impractical a case like this is, besides just looking neat... and you still wanna do this.... maybe consider some alternatives.... using paperclay from your local Hobby Lobby shop, which is a moldable paper based paper mache product that sorta acts like clay in the way you work it, except it air dries.
Maybe conder using Sculpy, which can be baked hard in you oven at low temps.

Old luggage used to use paper mache, which is sturdy up until you get it wet.

Then, to cover it... take some leather working classes at the nearest Tandy Leather store, get some skillz, take some classes, maybe try making a wallet or a belt first, then tackle stretching that hard to work shit out with your strong bare fingers. Leather can be too expensive to just start improvising with it (making it up as you go along). Or, maybe use vinyl faux leather and a heat gun. Then add some stretched felt to the inside.

And... unless you get lucky or have a real knack for doing arts and crafts, your first four or five are going to look like total crap. Making hinged objects is usually not a beginner woodworking project, because hinges presents some real 3D challenges for folks that don't think in 3D like this.
Of course, this is not rocket science, nor is it a complex cabinetry. But, really, you have to ask yourself how much you really "need" something like this.

 

[Doctor Chopper]

First... I would really think about how practical a case like this is going to be for you. I prefer to use racks, because once a pipe goes out of my sight, I forget all about it. A regular 2 or 3 pipe case can at least also hold some tobacco and pipe cleaners, maybe a lighter and a tamper. These fitted cases don't hold shit but the pipe. So, most likely, you are still left with more baggage outside of the pipe case. Are going to have a fitted case made for your lighter and maybe one for your pipecleaners as well?

A meerschaum... I can see needing extra protection, because a good bump can flake off a side or just crack it. They are practically plaster. But a briar? No.

Once you've truly considered how impractical a case like this is, besides just looking neat... and you still wanna do this.... maybe consider some alternatives.... using paperclay from your local Hobby Lobby shop, which is a moldable paper based paper mache product that sorta acts like clay in the way you work it, except it air dries.
Maybe conder using Sculpy, which can be baked hard in you oven at low temps.

Old luggage used to use paper mache, which is sturdy up until you get it wet.

Then, to cover it... take some leather working classes at the nearest Tandy Leather store, get some skillz, take some classes, maybe try making a wallet or a belt first, then tackle stretching that hard to work shit out with your strong bare fingers. Leather can be too expensive to just start improvising with it (making it up as you go along). Or, maybe use vinyl faux leather and a heat gun. Then add some stretched felt to the inside.

And... unless you get lucky or have a real knack for doing arts and crafts, your first four or five are going to look like total crap. Making hinged objects is usually not a beginner woodworking project, because hinges presents some real 3D challenges for folks that don't think in 3D like this.
Of course, this is not rocket science, nor is it a complex cabinetry. But, really, you have to ask yourself how much you really "need" something like this.

Agreed.

I can only think of one use for a case - travel.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

An ambitious person with a handheld laser scanner and a 3D printer ought to be able to make cases pretty easily, I would think. Covering and lining would still need to be done by hand. But like @cosmicfolklore said, it ain't really rocket surgery...

Based on the PDF that I posted the Turkish case makers aren't using anything more than a drill press/ballnose end mill, band saw, and basic French wheel. They use basswood or some other soft wood, maybe balsa. The interior and exterior aren't very refined relying on the covering and lining to hide it.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

An ambitious person with a handheld laser scanner and a 3D printer ought to be able to make cases pretty easily, I would think. Covering and lining would still need to be done by hand. But like @cosmicfolklore said, it ain't really rocket surgery...

Based on the PDF that I posted the Turkish case makers aren't using anything more than a drill press/ballnose end mill, band saw, and basic French wheel. They use basswood or some other soft wood, maybe balsa. The interior and exterior aren't very refined relying on the covering and lining to hide it.

I think those that want to use scanners and 3D printers need to also think about making these with enough wiggle room to be able to easily place the pipe in and out. Too close of a fit, and it is like snapping the pipe in and out, rather tricky and difficult. Also leaving some wiggle room will give you enough space to add some felt lining. Just a hard plastic case can still scratch up the pipe, and no cover on it like leather or vinyl, will just be rather unattractive. And, I think that the leather and felt are what gives the cases their appeal. If you lose the eye appeal, there's not really much else left as a reason to make one, IMO.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

I think those that want to use scanners and 3D printers need to also think about making these with enough wiggle room to be able to easily place the pipe in and out. Too close of a fit, and it is like snapping the pipe in and out, rather tricky and difficult. Also leaving some wiggle room will give you enough space to add some felt lining. Just a hard plastic case can still scratch up the pipe, and no cover on it like leather or vinyl, will just be rather unattractive. And, I think that the leather and felt are what gives the cases their appeal. If you lose the eye appeal, there's not really much else left as a reason to make one, IMO.

Yeah, from what I can tell the Turkish case makers carve em with a lot of wiggle room inside, they tension the lining around the pipe with the case closed so it acts to gently suspend the pipe between the to halves of the case.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Yeah, from what I can tell the Turkish case makers carve em with a lot of wiggle room inside, they tension the lining around the pipe with the case closed so it acts to gently suspend the pipe between the to halves of the case.

Then, I would definitely be thinking about a felt lining. You can get felt usually in 3mm-4mm thick. I wouldn't want it rattling around in there like a set of musical morraccas. That could cause damage by itself. Felt would at least cushion it.

 

[sasquatch]

Do you have any photos of the case or the process?



Thanks for the PDF, guys!

So... this was two pieces of basswood, light, strong, easy to carve. Cut pipe shapes out of the bottom and flocked it, carved out the top and made a silk pillow up there to hold them tight. Rounded the outsides off and pulled a really thin stretchy lambskin over it, wrapped it up around and put it in a trench that I'd routed on the inside lip, then stuffed that with cording to hold it (you can see the cord on the top of the clam in the first picture, it wasn't done on the bottom yet.

Assembling decent hardware, learning various methods of finishing a box outside and in, and doing it all, I probably have 8 hours in the box itself, and it took about six months to round everything else up and work out the details of construction.

 

[OzPiper]

Derailing this thread somewhat

Cigar cases are still being made
Are the process(es) involved so very different ?

 

[Doctor Chopper]

Then, I would definitely be thinking about a felt lining. You can get felt usually in 3mm-4mm thick. I wouldn't want it rattling around in there like a set of musical morraccas. That could cause damage by itself. Felt would at least cushion it.

An eggcrate foam or similar would hold it well, and make the fit less important.

 

[snagstangl]

I am pretty sure I posted that how to make a pipe case PDF a few years ago on the forum.