New Pipe Carver Question

[JamesPipe]

EDIT: Fixed Capitalization in Title (See Rule 9)

Would carving a pipe out of a standard unstained 2x4 be a bad idea

 

[peregrinus]

Would carving a pipe out of a standard unstained 2x4 be a bad idea

Carving? No, it might serve as practice, however, I would not recommend smoking a pipe carved from Douglas Fir, Western Hemlock or Pine.

 

[JamesPipe]

No, it might serve as practice, however, I would not recommend smoking a pipe carved from Douglas Fir or Western Hemlock.

Is there a stain or finish I could apply to make it acceptable to smoke

 

[peregrinus]

Is there a stain or finish I could apply to make it acceptable to smoke

No I don’t think so. If you are looking for a suitable material look for woods like cherry, pear, apple or other woods commonly used in smoking meats. Stay away from the pine woods, the sap can trigger nasty skin reactions and even anaphylactic shock in some people because they containTurpentine and other caustic elements.
There are others here who are carving pipes from fruit woods and know much more than I do.

 

[peregrinus]

Would carving a pipe out of a standard unstained 2x4 be a bad idea

Check out this part of the forum for more information.
Make Your Own Pipe

 

[craig61a]

Look around for Ash, Maple, Apple, even Lilac. Most people have those growing in their yard.

Takes time for it to dry. But you can smoke it after you make a pipe out of it.

Sandpaper, files, and a rasp are basic tools to get started. Spade bits for drilling the chamber won’t set you back too much. An inexpensive drill press and a vice will be helpful.