Pipes With Bamboo Shanks?

[sablebrush52]

I would consider Mike to be a Higher Quality pipe maker.

I’m assuming because this pipe is so small it’s the reason there isn’t a steel lining.

My comment is based on a conversation I overheard between Jared Cole and Jeff Gracik regarding lining the interior of a bamboo stem with a steel sheath. One of the things about Gracik that just about everyone agrees on is that his pipes are well constructed, made to last. Gracik was explaining to Cole the importance of the lineing to protect the bamboo from the effects of moisture, which would eventually cause the join between the briar and the bamboo to fail. Adding a steel sheath prevented that.

 

[OzPiper]

My comment is based on a conversation I overheard between Jared Cole and Jeff Gracik regarding lining the interior of a bamboo stem with a steel sheath. One of the things about Gracik that just about everyone agrees on is that his pipes are well constructed, made to last. Gracik was explaining to Cole the importance of the lineing to protect the bamboo from the effects of moisture, which would eventually cause the join between the briar and the bamboo to fail. Adding a steel sheath prevented that.

Do the steel tube-lined bamboo shank darken with smoking ?
I rather like the look of darkened bamboo extensions.

I have only one bamboo shanked pipe - a morta canted egg with black bamboo extension by Domagoj Telisman (Dotterpipes)

 

[sablebrush52]

Do the steel tube-lined bamboo shank darken with smoking ?
I rather like the look of darkened bamboo extensions.

I have only one bamboo shanked pipe - a morta canted egg with black bamboo extension by Domagoj Telisman (Dotterpipes)

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The sheath would certainly keep the bamboo from darkening from the inside, but some darkening over time from smoke would probably happen. Some bamboo is stained.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

I'd be remiss if I didn’t include this Highness Algerian Briar with Whangee stem in box, gifted by @ashdigger :

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I have 12 bamboo shanked pipes. Some do have the tubes, some don’t. But, to the OP, just smoke the pipe, and once it has been broken in well, it should just smoke like any other pipe. I have not noticed any worse smells in the pipe than any other of my pipes. I even water rinse the pipes after each use just like the rest of my pipes.
One of the properties bamboo has that makes it useful for so many different things is that it is water resistant.

 

[Searock Fan]

I've never smoked a bamboo pipe. However, I sold several Castello bamboos over the years and never heard a complaint. Don't remember where I heard it but the Castellos have a lucite tube inside the bamboo, so the smoke never touches the bamboo itself and therefore should not have any effect on the taste. I think the bamboo is only a fashion choice and if I saw one I liked I would not hesitate to buy it.

 

[chopper]

My crappy unsmoked Chinese Road Town Bamboo stem briar self destructed for no particle reason.
But that probably had more to do with shoddy material and poor craftmanship than the bamboo itself.

The bamboo bongs that my mates and I made in our youth all performed really well if that's any help.

 

[kcghost]

I'd best stay out of this argument other than to say that you guys have shown a wealth of great pipes!!

 

[dunnyboy]

Having a stainless tube in itself guarantees nothing.

A pipe's components and materials must be properly "used" regardless of what they are.

These pics are NOT some amateur's first go, by the way, but a marquee-name artisan carver who didn't pay attention to every detail.

Landmines are everywhere in the pipemaking game.


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What was the failure here? How were the materials used incorrectly? I ask because I'm pretty sure I have a bamboo shank by this carver. I love the pipe and admire the ingenuity of design.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

What was the failure here? How were the materials used incorrectly? I ask because I'm pretty sure I have a bamboo shank by this carver. I love the pipe and admire the ingenuity of design.

It looked to me like the face of the bamboo and black spacer before the stem weren’t roughed up enough to make enough nooks and crannies to get a good mechanical bond with the epoxy(?) or whatever bonding agent was used. I guess @georged will know best.

 

[dunnyboy]

BTW, if it's the carver I think it is, I'm certain he would repair that pipe gratis.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

I would think the outside of the steel tube should’ve been roughed up as well, so the black spacer could grab and lock onto that mechanically with epoxy.

 

[georged]

What was the failure here? How were the materials used incorrectly? I ask because I'm pretty sure I have a bamboo shank by this carver. I love the pipe and admire the ingenuity of design.

While the proper amount of mating surface roughening is always a good thing when gluing stuff, a lack of it didn't contribute much to this particular failure.

Because what went sideways is the glue itself was past its shelf life. Both cyanoacrylate and epoxy have a surprisingly short shelf life when still new and sealed, and which is reduced to a matter of weeks after opening.

 

[PipeIT]

I asked before if running a cleaner through the shank dipped in Everclear is ok with the bamboo?

I know that bamboo has a lot of uses, I actually lived in Japan for a year, the Japanese certainly use it for a lot of things. And I’ve always had bamboo cutting boards.

So I know it is quite a purposeful/resilient material, just wasn’t sure how it worked with a pipe, I mean, as far as any special attention, care, etc...

Thanks

P.S. I’m on like the 4th-5th bowl with the pipe now, really smoking it extremely slow and easy. So far, doing really great.

 

[georged]

I asked before if running a cleaner through the shank dipped in Everclear is ok with the bamboo?

No worries. Just treat it like a regular pipe.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

Here’s one of my favorite bamboo shanks, my Scottie Piersel billiard. It’s a SS lined shank. Wonderful smoking little pipe.

 

[georged]

Since the Cool Bamboo Festival has begun, here's an extra-special one.

The shank disconnects from the bowl in addition to the stem. Taken apart it's THREE pieces, in other words.

Why design it that way? Because the shape's geometry required it.

 

[sigaholic]

I have a Nathan Rimkus 4 knuckle bamboo with a steel insert. Nice wide open draw. I can pass two pipe cleaners side by side.

 

[PipeIT]

Since the Cool Bamboo Festival has begun..

LOL

 

[Briar Tuck]

No experience with bamboo pipes, but I did once have a bamboo digeridoo that cracked within two days of playing it. The combination of interior moisture from playing combined with a dry climate didn't work well. I'm sure the quality and treatment of the bamboo makes a big difference too. Lining it with steel makes a lot of sense for pipes.