Other Woods Article

[Rigidman]

Just finished reading this piece.

"PIPES IN OTHER WOODS"

Found it really informative. But there are some woods I'm still curious about like Morta and Paorosa. There's probably many others I can't think of or simply don't know of that may be fine for pipe making.

I'm not really into making a pipe at this time. But there are makers out there exploring these woods and many other species. My interest leans more towards smoking them.

I love wood. The grains, the things nature can do to a tree or wood can make it all the more beautiful and interesting. Every time I see a piece of furniture with gorgeous grain that some knucklehead has painted, I have a few choice words I'd like to say to them.

I have no problem with a wash that lets the grain show or painting pine or something with boring grain, but when they cover up something beautiful out of laziness because they don't want to refinish it. Its not something I would do.

I know some people could care less about wood or its grain. I've refinished a lot of furniture over the years and when people see it they say stuff like is that the ugly green end table or ugly blue coffee table, or cabinet or whatever.

I always wind up having to wipe off their finger prints.

Back to the pipes. I have a couple of Morta wood pipes. They smoke great. Can't remember the maker. I think Morta is oak that's been in a swamp for about a century or so.

Paorosa, I have no idea. I've been researching it and so far just the eBay auctions have been coming up. I'll probably find something about 20+ pages in.

I've read about some other woods people have asked about here as well. Like cherry, rose wood, fruit woods, and so on.

I have a maple in my front yard with a giant burl. If I was a wood worker that thing would've been cut down a long time ago.

I have serious back issues so wood working isn't something I can do unless I was sitting. I've made things over the years like boxes and tables. Easy things.

Been wanting to make a bed and dressers or wardrobes with a couple drawers at the bottom or maybe off to one side so I don't have to bend over. Wonder what a rusticated night stand top would look like with glass over it?

I hope we get a decent discussion going about woods that haven't been used a lot for pipes or that people have been curious about.

I read about a spalted maple pipe. I would've thought the spalting would have burned through, because its basically the beginning of rot.

The other thing I'm curious about is I've seen where wood workers used resin or similar to fill in cracks and so on, sometimes just to get a certain look.

Pipes like Hilson used polymer bowls with meer linings. I wonder if that could work for woods with beautiful grain but can't be used as a pipe because it'd burn through.

I'm guessing if a wood is toxic a meer lining wouldn't be advisable? But what about impregnated polymer wood?

I've seen wood workers use this method on soft woods or wood with rot. I'm guessing if the wood isn't extremely dense that you might be able to do this with hardwood? Haven't checked so I have no idea yet.

The next question would be is there a safe polymer to smoke from? How does the polymer/resin and wood change chemically when combined? When adding heat?

There are probably a lot of directions one could go while exploring these ideas. But there's also the old saying KISS. Keep it simple stupid. So polymer/resin impregnated wood might be interesting as furniture, not for a pipe.

So what woods are you curious about? If a wood might burn out can a meer lining help? If a wood has a very low toxicity, can a meer lining be used to to prevent any toxins from being inhaled? Would you even chance it?

Thanks

 

[tschiraldi]

No, thanks. I like Briar.

 

[Rigidman]

Yeah it's the most common. I prefer it too. But a lot of makers and amateurs are looking for less expensive stuff. One could make a pipe out of a 2x4 for practicing, but all that work and you can't use it.

So I can understand the want or need for other woods. The real test of a pipe is in the using of it. How well does it smoke? How long will it last?

God forbid one day briar could go the way of the American Chestnut. Then what? In the US the chestnut disappeared due to a blight. Same thing could happen to the Erica Arborea. If you think briar pipes are expensive now, if it disappears, I don't want to think about it. Smoking our sweet tobacco from glass pipes.

Shortly after that the meerschaum will disappear. Meerschaum price would be so high common people couldn't afford it. Then you'd only have clay/ceramic, glass, metal, and other wood.

Personally I wouldn't mind having a maple lace wood pipe. I think it'd be gorgeous. A cross cut walnut wouldn't be bad either, or tiger grain.

 

[anotherbob]

I like Briar too but might consider trying another wood. Especially when you consider that at one point not too long ago Briar was a revolutionary material for pipes.

 

[warren]

Briar makes for an excellent smoking tool. Meerschaum and corn cobs (which you omitted from your post) also. I understand there are a couple of other practical materials but, why bother? Your "briar/meerschaum apocalypse" scenario would certainly benefit the Missouri Meerschaum company in some, possibly significant, way. Briar, meerschaum and corn cobs are still sufficiently available to provide as many inexpensive smoking tools as the world is willing to consume. Those pipers who want "pretty" and are willing to pay for it? There's plenty of product for them also. I like a bit of silver on a pipe now and then myself. Not a fan of colorful plastic though. But, that's a personal choice.

I suppose, if forced by circumstance, other materials could rise in popularity. It's not as though smoking tools haven't been made from stone, reeds, clay, various metals, paper, various woods and combinations of such could be used to hold smoking smoldering leaf. Until sufficient demand exists, doubtful in a shrinking market, the lowly briar will have to suffice I suppose. There doesn't seem to be a great clamoring for alternatives to corn, briar, and meerschaum.

 

[Rigidman]

Not really an apocalypse type scenario. I don't know how much meerschaum there is. My guess its like oil, one day it'll run out. Probably won't be for some time. It is used for an amazing number if products. Pipe making is just a small percentage of that production.

I'm basing that on the percentage of pipe smokers over all. If the numbers I read about is correct. They figured 2% of smokers are pipe smokers. I think cigarettes was first. Forgot where cigars fall in to their pie chart.

Briar on the other hand, just like the American chestnut, can be wiped out from a blight or even a parasite or insect, possibly even man. Then it would be no more in that area.

Currently there are efforts to try and bring back the chestnut to the US. Since some of the briar plants are spread out over the Mediterranean, I don't think it could wipe it all out at once.

But the largest grove of these plants could be wiped out. Or it could be the smallest grove on a island. Either way briar prices would increase as would the final products.

Can you imagine free hand danish cobs or artisan cobs? Then imagine paying $200-$300+ for a cob. Are there artisan cobs? I've seen a couple estates that could possibly be artisan cob. I don't know of anyone doing fancy cob pipes. Im sure they're out there. I guess ill have to do a search to find out.

Has anyone smoked from Morta pipes? I understand they've been around for some time. Also I understand they smoke like any other pipe. As long as its made correctly or hasn't been reamed to death.

Has anyone heard of Paorosa wood pipes? I've seen these on eBay, from the UK. I haven't even heard of this wood. Thanks