Does anyone know how clay pipes are made? I ask because I'm taking sculpture/ceramic classes and it would be a blast to make a clay pipe of my own design.
Making Clay Pipes
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There are several internet sites about making clay pipes. Just do a search and they should come up.
There's an episode of "How It's Made" that includes a visit to a clay pipe maker - I tried to find the episode or clip online, but the bit I found was about drainage pipes, not smoking pipes.
Edit - Season 13, Episode 4 includes "Replica Clay Pipes". Episode is available for purchase online.
Edit - Season 13, Episode 4 includes "Replica Clay Pipes". Episode is available for purchase online.
I realize this threads over a month old, but since we've started making clay pipes in addition to our cobs, I figured I'd add my two cents. There are basically two methods for making historical colonial era clay pipes, by hand or by press mold. Most of the white clay pipes that people normally associate with the 17th and 18th centuries were press molded clay pipes typically made in brass/bronze, wood,or cast iron pipe molds. The clay would have been rolled from clay balls into "rolls" that were placed in the 2-piece mold and pressed in a gin press. A special tool called a "stopper" was then inserted into the bowl end of the mold from the top to shape the bowl chamber. Finally, a wire was inserted through the stem end of the mold until it punctured into the base of the bowl (some manufacturers would run the wire through the stem end of the roll before placing it into the mold). The "molded" pipe was then set aside on a drying tray (often referred to as a dozening board) to dry before "fettling" (process of removing the extruded seam clay in order to give the pipe a more aesthetic appearance). It's very easy to accidentally break a pipe during the fettling process as the clay is still very green at this point and the pipes are extremely fragile until fired. Once completely dry, the pipes were then bisque fired in a kiln (typically we fire our pipes in the 1,760-1,830 degree F range).
The other method, by hand, is typically associated with Native American pipes as well as "Colono" or "Chesapeake" pipes. The red terra cotta Colono pipes are somewhat of a mystery as archaeologists and pipe historians still argue whether or not these pipes were made in the Colonies by English colonists, Native Americans, African slaves, or a combination of all three. The Colono pipes were typically rolled by hand but made to closely resemble European press-molded pipes of the period. They were often highly decorated with symbols or geometric patterns pressed into the clay such as by using cording or twine wrapped around the bowl and stems to create a "rope" pattern. White clay slip was often added into the impressions to highlight the decorative elements. Colono pipes are typically associated with the 17th century and pretty much disappeared by the beginning of the 18th century.
Anyway, hope this information was useful.
The other method, by hand, is typically associated with Native American pipes as well as "Colono" or "Chesapeake" pipes. The red terra cotta Colono pipes are somewhat of a mystery as archaeologists and pipe historians still argue whether or not these pipes were made in the Colonies by English colonists, Native Americans, African slaves, or a combination of all three. The Colono pipes were typically rolled by hand but made to closely resemble European press-molded pipes of the period. They were often highly decorated with symbols or geometric patterns pressed into the clay such as by using cording or twine wrapped around the bowl and stems to create a "rope" pattern. White clay slip was often added into the impressions to highlight the decorative elements. Colono pipes are typically associated with the 17th century and pretty much disappeared by the beginning of the 18th century.
Anyway, hope this information was useful.
winton,
Hope you're enjoing the clay! It was great meeting you in person at the Chicago Show. My wife and I plan to make the West Coast Pipe Show in Vegas this Fall. I'm hoping to have a new 17th century clay pipe to debut at the show. I've been also playing around with glazing some stems on my clays for those folks who prefer to smoke a clay with a glazed stem.
Hope you're enjoing the clay! It was great meeting you in person at the Chicago Show. My wife and I plan to make the West Coast Pipe Show in Vegas this Fall. I'm hoping to have a new 17th century clay pipe to debut at the show. I've been also playing around with glazing some stems on my clays for those folks who prefer to smoke a clay with a glazed stem.
Virginiacob, I really enjoyed your pipe last night. I got a little abuse for having such a small pipe, but it is a fun crowd. It was great for trying samples of various blends that were offered.
Also, I finally found a pipe that I can smoke entirely with only one match.
I support your idea of glazing the stems. I melted some candle wax on the end of my pipe, to avoid having my lips stick to the pipe. Glazing might be a better solution.
Also, I finally found a pipe that I can smoke entirely with only one match.
I support your idea of glazing the stems. I melted some candle wax on the end of my pipe, to avoid having my lips stick to the pipe. Glazing might be a better solution.
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