Help needed, with homemade pipe!

[marinecrafter]

Hello, I am fairly new to smoking a pipe, I actually started smoking a pipe as I needed a cheaper alternative to cigars. My first pipe was one that I threw together real quick just before going out on my annual training with my marines, made out of pine. (for the price of 1.5 of my preferred cigars, I was able to buy a whole can of tobacco. And cigars break when carried in a pack. Can is much better protected, and wood pipe much more durable.)

The pine lasted me very very well actually. And now Ive moved on. I just finished a fairly nice oak one that I want to give as a gift to my brother, and then want to make another for myself. But Im having trouble finding info about the wood I used. It was just off a california oak that I had cut down and had laying around. Help?

 

[madmurdoc]

From what I hear, pine gives off toxins when it burns, and shouldn't be inhaled. If this info is correct, you should toss that pine pipe and spend $30 on one. Stay healthy

 

[sparroa]

It sounds like you should buy a few blocks of briar if you have the knowledge to make a pipe, my friend.
There is a reason that it is the industry standard, nothing else comes close.
Some people have success with various fruit woods but why reinvent the wheel - try your hand at briar.

 

[philip]

Hi, marinecrafter. Welcome to the forum.
Have a look here... PIMO.

 

[zanthal]

Here's hoping Santa brings you a briar pipe for Christmas. ::

 

[ejames]

There are several woods pipes can be made from. Oak is OK I believe, as is Walnut,Locust,Mulberry( I have one)Manzanita ( the American version of briar) and others. Mark Stewart of http://www.pipecraft.org/index.html makes pipes out of many different woods and has one for sale on his site made of Honduran Rosewood.

 

[cajundad]

+1 Ejames . I have a rosewood pipe . smokes well . I want to get a strawberry wood . I think the one thats been catching my eye is a Becker !

 

[joshwolftree]

Marine,

First off: welcome to pipe forums,
Second: pine when burning release a large amount of tar and creosote, though perhaps when the cake is built up enough that's less of an issue.
Third: as a former member of the United States Chair Force, Thank you for your service
Fourth: hey Jarhead: look here We like pictures. Especially ones of handmade pipes with unusual woods and finishes. I wanna see that pine job, sounds interesting.
::
PS: that link is the instructions for picture posting

 

[tbradsim1]

Stay away from pine, not healthy, Tinsky sells block kits for 30$ if you want to make your own as do other pipe makers. The old cajun