I always wanted to make a pipe since starting to smoke, I am reasonably handy with tools, and always look for ways to make stuff rather than buy them, if I can - it's not thriftiness, it's just the joy of making something with your hands that you can use.
A colleague who knows I smoke a pipe, as well as that I like crafts gifted me a hobby block from Vauen (predrilled, with stem) upon completion of a tricky collaboration we had, so once I got my hands on some of my tools I got to work.
This was done with an angle grinder with flap disc, and a metal file. Horribly inappropriate and unsafe use of the grinder, and I am missing the most vital tool in any workshop (I don't even have a workshop!): a workbench with vise. Nevertheless, 2.5 hours later I ended up with something rough, but passable for me, and learnt a ton in the process. Next time, there will be a next time, many next times in fact, will be much better. Still need to sand it smooth, and stain it, will post final results once I do.
I am always happy to hear criticism, I started using a cutting wheel but made two very ugly gouges to the wood, next time I'll just use the flap disc for rough removing of material. Interestingly, as the angle grinder burns the wood rather than removing it, it gave me some ideas for using it for texture as well as patterns.
That's my starting material, already showing my first f-up with the cutting wheel.
My first concern was the rough shaping of the stem, as I knew that bit would give me trouble:
That's the texturing from the angle grinder, I want to use this and combine it with staining for some faceted effect.
And this is after at least 1.5 hours with the file, trying to clean up as much as possible while also making the stem connection seem flush, needs quite a bit more work but it was getting dark
A colleague who knows I smoke a pipe, as well as that I like crafts gifted me a hobby block from Vauen (predrilled, with stem) upon completion of a tricky collaboration we had, so once I got my hands on some of my tools I got to work.
This was done with an angle grinder with flap disc, and a metal file. Horribly inappropriate and unsafe use of the grinder, and I am missing the most vital tool in any workshop (I don't even have a workshop!): a workbench with vise. Nevertheless, 2.5 hours later I ended up with something rough, but passable for me, and learnt a ton in the process. Next time, there will be a next time, many next times in fact, will be much better. Still need to sand it smooth, and stain it, will post final results once I do.
I am always happy to hear criticism, I started using a cutting wheel but made two very ugly gouges to the wood, next time I'll just use the flap disc for rough removing of material. Interestingly, as the angle grinder burns the wood rather than removing it, it gave me some ideas for using it for texture as well as patterns.
That's my starting material, already showing my first f-up with the cutting wheel.
My first concern was the rough shaping of the stem, as I knew that bit would give me trouble:
That's the texturing from the angle grinder, I want to use this and combine it with staining for some faceted effect.
And this is after at least 1.5 hours with the file, trying to clean up as much as possible while also making the stem connection seem flush, needs quite a bit more work but it was getting dark