Pipe Fittings Made of Metal?

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Kirklands

Starting to Get Obsessed
Jul 26, 2023
138
186
71
Kansas City, Missouri
Does anyone know where I can buy pipe fittings made of metal? I've seen African meers that have them. I'm wanting to make some pipes from small briar blocks and the design I have in mind places the end of the mortise quite close to the chamber so that I'm afraid to use plastic, vulcanite, etc. Any help will be appreciated.

They would be something list these but be made of metal:
regular-stem-push-pull-fittings__32303.jpg
 

Waning Embers

Captain of the Black Frigate
Nov 12, 2014
47,718
128,979
The metal ones were likely made specifically for whomever made the pipes and they'll eventually damage the meerschaum. The ones shown in your photo last for years. Vienna Meerschaum uses the nylon ones on their briar pipes.
 
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Ahi Ka

Lurker
Feb 25, 2020
7,190
33,841
Aotearoa (New Zealand)
If you are wanting the stem to connect via a push tenon, you could just try gluing a metal tube (stainless?) into your stem and having this go directly into the briar mortise.

That said, the pipes I have with metal fitments are all threaded tenons which screw into a threaded mortise.

As an aside check out smokingmetal.co.uk for inspiration. What I’m imagining when you describe your pipe design is something similar to the ornsby pipe
 
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Kirklands

Starting to Get Obsessed
Jul 26, 2023
138
186
71
Kansas City, Missouri
try gluing a metal tube (stainless?) into your stem
This is probably the way to go. I think Vermont Freehand has the tube.

your pipe design is something similar to the ornsby pipe
Yes. That's exactly what I have in mind.

Would your designs be suitable as Falcon bowl types?
Actually, that's what the blocks were cut for. I bought a dozen or so of these on eBay, and if I remember correctly the seller said they were old Dr. Grabow blocks designed for the Falcon bowl type.

I've made one pipe (see below) from them, but the chamber wall is so thin that the bowl gets too hot to hold. If I thicken chamber wall I can't have a shank at all. The briar is pretty nice with minimal flaws. Anyway, I'm having fun with what I have and I think the metal tube may be my solution.

Metal plus hot smoke equals condensation.
Bummer! I think I'll still give it a try, but we'll see how it smokes

Here's a pic of the pipe I made and the size of block that I'm working with. As I said, the chamber wall is too thin.
pipe i made.jpg.
 
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Kirklands

Starting to Get Obsessed
Jul 26, 2023
138
186
71
Kansas City, Missouri
The metal ones were likely made specifically for whomever made the pipes and they'll eventually damage the meerschaum. The ones shown in your photo last for years
I'd like to use the one's shown, but I'm afraid the proximity of the chamber to the plastic could cause trouble. Even so, I'm tempted to give the plastic a try. Regarding the availability of the metal fitments, you may be right. I've had no luck finding anything like it online.
 

xrundog

Lifer
Oct 23, 2014
2,292
25,200
Ames, IA
Other than the cheap nylon fittings, I think the meerschaum guys make their own from delrin tubing. It’s hard to do without a lathe. I’ve made some sets using a stainless steel tube tenon and a delrin mortise. It’s difficult to get a professional looking finish with hand tools.
 
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