How Long To Make A Pipe

[puffy]

Since we're talking about high grade pipes..Lets say that a professional carver sets out to make one pipe completely by hand.We see these vidios on Youtube where someone makes a pipe in 10 minutes.My guess is it really takes a few hours.Anyone have an idea how long it actually takes.

 

[piperl12]

Gents,
The issue isn't really how long it takes to create a pipe that drives cost of a high grade pipe. A standard shape utilizing a lathe to drill and turn usually only takes a few hours from start to finish. The issue is to get that straight grain no blemish or fill pipe may take a carver several attempts to find the right peice of briar to yield that one off grain pattern or non blemished surface. You could be almost done with the pipe and a bit more sanding uncovers a blemish that makes that pipe worth a 1/4 of what it could have been. So you start over and repeat the process until you have the perfect pipe. I have blown through four sometimes five blocks to find the right finished product. So cost of material, and time drives the price way up. Good briar is getting harder and harder to find with a nice straight grain.

 

[tbradsim1]

I would believe a really high end pipe 15 to 20 hrs? Lets say 15 hrs at base rate of 25$ an hr , 375 labor , 3 to 4 ruined briar blocks , 200$, up to 575& so what some of them charge its not out of line, You get most of the time what you pay for IMHO, when my Father and I were shrimping, the cheapsters at the dock wanted their shrimp for 1$ a pound. The old cajun

 

[withnail]

I recently read somewhere that Dunhill discard an average of 7 blocks per finished pipe. Even if all those blocks showed their faults in the first few minutes of making a pipe, that is still a lot of expensive wood to loose.

 

[wayneteipen]

The more experienced a pipemaker is the quicker they can complete a pipe. I've heard of some that can finish a pipe in four hours from start to finish. I can't imagine it myself. It takes me on average about eight to ten hours depending on the pipe. The fastest I've made a pipe is about four hours but it was a simple straight billiard with no bells or whistles and certainly not a high grade.

 

[wayneteipen]

@mikephillips, wood is too dense to show anything on x-ray. I once tried to use ultrasound to see if it was powerful enough to pick up on flaws in a block of briar. The briar was too dense. A CT scanner might work but you're talking about a million dollar machine.

 

[piperl12]

@mike, I have never tried it but tend to agree with wayne I would imagine the wood would be too dense to see much. @Rothnh I had read that too course I'm not too proud to smoke my mistakes lol

 

[cigrmaster]

I read that JT Cooke takes 15-20 hours per pipe and a couple of notable artisans found that to be way too long, and wondered what he could be doing to take that long. One thing is for sure, pipe makers are not getting rich doing this and that the best ones can make a decent living, but certainly they will not be driving a Bentley or living in a penthouse on Park Ave. I believe the best ones have a passion for their work and that is why they do it. If anyone is new to the pipe making game and thinks they are going to get rich, they had better re think this.

 

[piperl12]

You know after getting around to thinking about this xray thing over night I think I am going to take a pipe with me that I know has a couple flaws in it next time I visit the dentist. He is always bugging me about my pipe smoking so this might be a good opportunity to get my $150 per Xray value out of it and satisfy everyone's curiosity. Stay tuned I'll report back in a couple of weeks!

 

[shaintiques]

Don't forget cutting the stem, it probably takes me more time to cut the stem, and shape it by hand than the pipe itself.

 

[wcannoy]

I've heard of some that can finish a pipe in four hours from start to finish. I can't imagine it myself. It takes me on average about eight to ten hours depending on the pipe.

Seems to me that if someone is making a pipe in four hours, then they are missing a lot of detail work! I can't imagine it either! Ten hours on a pipe, if everything goes well, is about as quick as I can work and still provide the best in quality.
Cheers

-Walt

 

[wcannoy]

Don't forget cutting the stem, it probably takes me more time to cut the stem, and shape it by hand than the pipe itself.

Cutting a stem takes quite a bit of time if you're doing it right. I recently posted a video to a popular video hosting site showing the steps I go through to cut a stem, but I think it's against the rules to post the link here...
In addition to that, if you are applying rings, bands, extensions or inlays, as I almost always do, that also takes more time than you would think.
Cheers

-Walt

 

[foggymountain]

A high level pipemaker, Lasse Skovgaard makes about 300+ pipes a year. That works out to a little less than a day each. Of course we don't know how long a day he works, but if it is 8 hours, 5 days, it comes to 6 hours 42 minutes per pipe.

 

[pipedreamer]

The majority of pipe makers want to do one thing. Make a pipe that is a great smoker and moving to look at. The problem lies in many areas of fact. First the briar can give unexpected results. The tools are many and each maker has his or her favorites. To survive you can't just make what you want. The end user has their ideas. Factories mass produce pipes and seduce potential buyers. Passion? All pipe makers are driven by a desire to create an item that brings peace, tranquility, pleasure, and transcendence into each buyers life. How long does it take? In some cases a few hours, in others weeks or longer. You have to make pipes for everyone you can. Some can get a good smoker for between one and two hundred. No perfect grain here. The best grains etc. are cherished. No one I know would make a pipe out of a perfect block in hours. I, trying to make a point once held up a Rainer Barbi and asked what would you pay for a pipe like this? The gentleman said "Thats a good one,two hundred,Maybe" I just put the pipe away.You see to survive you have to accommodate.You do the best you can under the circumstances.Would you tell a guy that heard hand cut stems rule, standing there with his dads pipe that says imported on the side the truth and cost or would you tell him you will make a stem he can be proud of? You can't please everyone, but every pipe maker I've known sure tries.... I just happen to have a xxplateau block and some german ebonite, if you can wait a few hours I'm sure it will make a perfect straight grain, with birds eyes on the bottom. on SALE too! 125.00 Would this guy give me such a deal? Sure he would. I'm SURE!

 

[mso489]

Some pipes have unusual unique metal bands, or mixed materials, exotic wood, bone, whatever, plus premium briar

and intricate stems. I'd be surprised if some of the high level pipes took less than a day's work, and more to secure the

premium materials. I'm strictly a mid-level and lower piper, but I am surprised that some of my handmade pipes could be

made in less than four hours. A lot of care taken in shaping a freehand around the wood and getting the rusticated parts

just right, and an elegant curvature in the bowl conceptualized and carried out. Part of it is years of learning, like paying

your dentist for knowhow more than by the hour. I've spent less than $80 for a handmade pipe, and feel it is easily worth

the price. Years later.