My Second Homemade! (Well Third).... Also Precious.

[waywardverve]

Well here is my second complete oakie doke pipe!

The bowl has been finished for a fortnight or so I was just waiting for my pre-made stem to arrive from the UK.

Bowl is oak, stem is Vulcanite (straight 5" mr Brog stem) much cheaper stem than the last pipe but for the price a great quality piece.
Bowl is about 3/4" diameter and 1,1/2" deep. Smokes evenly and well.
The pipe was done with hand tools and an electric drill (no vice or press)
Thoughts? Opinions? comparison to my other pipe? Go for broke all input is good input.
Verve,
PS:edit: Question to the masters. I have not been aging this wood. What effects would this be having on my pipes?

 

[waywardverve]

Does anyone know if Australian Gum would be a good pipe wood? may have to try for the next one.

 

[auslander]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MY4mLmdASKY
Also have a look here mate.
http://www.pipemakersforum.com/forum/index.php

 

[werdna]

Nice freehand. Green wood holds a lot of moisture, typically it will crack and check as it shrinks. I'd let it air dry for at least a year before investing time in making a pipe.

 

[cortezattic]

Ditto what Werdna said.

I believe the whole ritual of slowly breaking in a pipe by gradually increasing the amount of tobacco you use

came about because of the need to slowly drive-off internal resins and moisture from "green" wood lest it split.
I would also be concerned about some wood varieties releasing toxic substances when used as a pipe.

 

[waywardverve]

From now on i'll be trying to use aged wood... or at least 100% dry wood. I'm going to start looking into australian native woods like mallee burl