Pipes With Bamboo Shanks?

[PipeIT]

I have a very small pipe, a Bay Denmark Apple with bamboo, the only pipe I’ve had with bamboo.

So, given it’s extremely small size with bamboo, I want to be careful.

I’m wondering/assuming because of the bamboo a few things.

1. Smoke these pipes, slower, cooler, so a lot of heat/moisture doesn’t build up in the bamboo.

2. And possibly let the pipes dry out a littler longer, to ensure the bamboo has been well dried/aired out before smoking again.

Bamboo does have a good history of many uses as a wood, I’m just not sure where that stands with tobacco/heat/moisture running through it.

I don’t know if it’s because it’s a small pipe, or it’s the bamboo, or because it’s just new, the bamboo needs time to break in.

But, after smoking only half a bowl, it already has some moisture in the shank, because the tobacco gets that old moisture taste to it, when you start reaching the bottom, or you’ve been smoking to hot, generating a lot of moisture and it’s time to run a cleaner through it, so you get that stinky taste out of the pipe, and I’m not sure if this is because of the bamboo, or it being a small pipe.

Hmm

Anyone with bamboo on their pipes, please share your thoughts, experiences with this material.

These are the specs;

• Length:4.68 in. | 119 mm
• Weight:17 grams
• Bowl Height:1.33 in. | 34 mm
• Chamber Depth: 1.14 in. | 29 mm
• Chamber Diameter:0.66 in. | 17 mm
• Outside Diameter:1.22 in. | 31 mm

Here’s a pic to give you an idea how small.



Thanks

 

[fireground_piper]

Usually they have a stainless steel inner tube. Doesn't that prevent moisture actually ever touching the bamboo?

 

[PipeIT]

Usually they have a stainless steel inner tube. Doesn't that prevent moisture actually ever touching the bamboo?

This is just a bamboo shank, it has no lining to it. It looks smooth inside, but that might be because of a drill or Dremel to make it smooth. I doubt it has a coating applied.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

I think I only have two pipes with bamboo shanks (a Missouri Meerschaum and a Savinelli Punto Oro)—I don't think either has a metal tube.

Regardless of the material, you should be smoking slower and cooler. My pipe rotation is relatively large, so, each pipe gets plenty of rest—maybe give it a few days after use?

 

[PipeIT]

Something I forgot to mention, I was quite surprised how stinky the shank was after only half a bowl, and I dipped like 4-5 pipe cleaners in 151 Everclear and ran them through the shank to clean the stink out.

I should of asked before doing this, if Everclear is safe like this to clean out a Bamboo shank?

 

[fireground_piper]

I’m curious, how do the stems attach to the bamboo?

 

[Winnipeger]

I have an Eltang, a Musicò, and a Garmash, and recently purchased a Tsuge and a Stanwell, both of which are currently in the mail; all of which have bamboo shanks. I smoke them the same way I smoke all my other pipes. No special care. I think bamboo is pretty resilient or they wouldn't use it for pipes.

That Bay is pretty sweet.

@TheIronMonkey, let's see that Savinelli and Missouri Meer with bamboo. Sounds like they're pretty unique.

 

[sablebrush52]

The higher quality pipemakers line the interior of the bamboo with a surgical steel tube.

 

[kcghost]

You can try Scottie Piersel. You can find her at Blueroombriars.com. All her pipes that have bamboo have steel in them as well as many other pipes she offers.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Smoke them just as you would any other pipe. They'll be fine.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

@TheIronMonkey, let's see that Savinelli and Missouri Meer with bamboo. Sounds like they're pretty unique.

The Missouri Meerschaum is probably from the ’60s—not sure which period the Savinelli is from, but, both would precede the more modern practice of inserting a surgical steel tube.

 

[Chasing Embers]

The Missouri Meerschaum is probably from the ’60s—not sure which period the Savinelli is from, but, both would precede the more modern practice of inserting a surgical steel tube.

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I used to have a bamboo Punto Oro 904. It didn't have any sort of liner either.

 

[Winnipeger]

The Missouri Meerschaum is probably from the ’60s—not sure which period the Savinelli is from, but, both would precede the more modern practice of inserting a surgical steel tube.

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Those are pretty cool. Does the MM have a vulcanite stem? I thought the Sav was a 614 but it's a 615! Any idea what the difference is? 615s seem much more rare. Looks like they might have been discontinued?

 

[Winnipeger]

Smoke them just as you would any other pipe. They'll be fine.

View attachment 184727

I've seen these posted before but I don't remember who made them. Also, what's the shape called? Beautiful pipes! They look like they'd be super comfortable to hold.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

Those are pretty cool. Does the MM have a vulcanite stem? I thought the Sav was a 614 but it's a 615! Any idea what the difference is? 615s seem much more rare. Looks like they might have been discontinued?

I’m not sure of the material on the MM. Probably nylon. It hasn’t oxidized.

I’ve seen the 615 issued as a Nonpareil, which would be maybe ’70s. I’m not sure that shape was used after that. Mine could be after that, though.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I've seen these posted before but I don't remember who made them. Also, what's the shape called? Beautiful pipes! They look like they'd be super comfortable to hold.

They're tulips by Andrey Kharitonov.

 

[Toast]

Love it! I've quite a few with bamboo & I do prefer it lined (though that adds to the weight). That's mainly because unlined bamboo seems to collect fluff from pipe cleaners & that gets horrible pretty quickly. I use a straw cleaner to get that out. Otherwise I treat them exactly the same.

 

[PipeIT]

The higher quality pipemakers line the interior of the bamboo with a surgical steel tube.

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.

 

[georged]

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.

 

[georged]

Speaking of bamboo, here's my all-time favorite example of a traditional Britshape that uses the stuff in a conservative way. Simple and elegant. The proportions are just right, and the execution first rate.

As for sleeved or not, it isn't. The smoke travels through raw bamboo. No joint glue failure worries, either, because the bowl and shank are mechanically connected with rivets.

You know what engineering schools have said for decades, right? "If riveting is good enough for thousand foot skyscrapers, it's good enough for 30 gram pipes."