Like many pipers, I kept most of my pipes in a drawer. I could never find a pipe rack with the right amount of spaces, or find multiple pipe racks that matched. I'll admit I'm a little OCD and most people probably don't have this problem.
One of the things I love most about pipes is how they're functional pieces of art. I wanted to find a way to honor them, keep the focus on the pipe, be flexible/expandable and not be clunky/overbearing. Something where I could display the whole arsenal, like a finished work that looks complete but still has plenty of room to grow -- and when I felt like a pipe, walk up to it and pluck one off the vine.
My girlfriend and I recently moved into a home that had a triangular sliver of wall just below the stairs. It was a neat canvas calling out for something that could run parallel to the steps and the railing.
I used curtain rods and fishing pole clips to make a flexible installation, and am happy with the way it turned out! One friend described it as "birds on a wire."
One day, I may build one using acrylic rods and mount an LED at one end, so the pipes look like they're suspended on a beam of light, and call it a "Pipesaber!"
Note: There are no cats or small children running around the house. Something tells me The Pipe Pipe wouldn't last very long if there were!
Pipes displayed include Iwan Ries, Barclay Rex, Barling, Charatan, Comoy's, Digby, Dr. Grabow, Dunhill, Ehrlich, Kaywoodie, L.J. Peretti, Nording, Parker, Peterson, Stanwell, Wally Frank, The Tinder Box and a few unknowns. Most were given to me by my father, and I've been restoring them over the last several years. This Comoy's Sunrise was my restoration project for International Pipe Smoking Day, and I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out!
If you'd like to build your own, below is a listing of the parts I used. I spent some time experimenting with different curtain rod diameters for these particular clips. 3/4" is the sweet spot. The style of rod I chose has a roughened matte finish, which helps the clips stay in place and not slide off or around. Of course I chose rods that looked like pipe fixtures, and called it my "Pipe Pipe."
(Originally posted as a reply on a thread about pipe racks, but wanted to make a full post under the proper header!)
"The Pipe Pipe" Components:
3/4" pipe fixture style curtain rods:
"Sun Zero SN Bronn Wrap Around Room Darkening Curtain Rod, 36-66", Matte Black"
Amazon.com - https://amzn.to/3KcCTxB
Fishing pole clips:
"60 Original Replacement Fishing pole rack clip organizer storage Holders W/Screw"
60 Original Replacement Fishing pole rack clip organizer storage Holders W/Screw | eBay - https://ebay.to/3trPg2V
Beefier screws to bite into rubber clips and adjust for shank size:
"Hard-to-Find Fastener 014973291457 Phillips Flat TwinFast Wood Screws, 6 x 1-Inch, 100-Piece"
Amazon.com - https://amzn.to/3ntKle5
Dremel for trimming screws:
"3000 Series 1.2 Amp Variable Speed Corded Rotary Tool Kit with 25 Accessories and Carrying Case"
Dremel 3000 Series 1.2 Amp Variable Speed Corded Rotary Tool Kit with 25 Accessories and Carrying Case 3000-1/25H - The Home Depot - http://goo.gl/C25NSs
Hot glue gun to dab on screw heads and avoid scratching the briar:
"H-195F Specialty Series 20 Watt Mini Size High Temperature Detail Hot Glue Gun"
Amazon.com - https://amzn.to/3qtuEW3
One of the things I love most about pipes is how they're functional pieces of art. I wanted to find a way to honor them, keep the focus on the pipe, be flexible/expandable and not be clunky/overbearing. Something where I could display the whole arsenal, like a finished work that looks complete but still has plenty of room to grow -- and when I felt like a pipe, walk up to it and pluck one off the vine.
My girlfriend and I recently moved into a home that had a triangular sliver of wall just below the stairs. It was a neat canvas calling out for something that could run parallel to the steps and the railing.
I used curtain rods and fishing pole clips to make a flexible installation, and am happy with the way it turned out! One friend described it as "birds on a wire."
One day, I may build one using acrylic rods and mount an LED at one end, so the pipes look like they're suspended on a beam of light, and call it a "Pipesaber!"
Note: There are no cats or small children running around the house. Something tells me The Pipe Pipe wouldn't last very long if there were!
Pipes displayed include Iwan Ries, Barclay Rex, Barling, Charatan, Comoy's, Digby, Dr. Grabow, Dunhill, Ehrlich, Kaywoodie, L.J. Peretti, Nording, Parker, Peterson, Stanwell, Wally Frank, The Tinder Box and a few unknowns. Most were given to me by my father, and I've been restoring them over the last several years. This Comoy's Sunrise was my restoration project for International Pipe Smoking Day, and I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out!
If you'd like to build your own, below is a listing of the parts I used. I spent some time experimenting with different curtain rod diameters for these particular clips. 3/4" is the sweet spot. The style of rod I chose has a roughened matte finish, which helps the clips stay in place and not slide off or around. Of course I chose rods that looked like pipe fixtures, and called it my "Pipe Pipe."
(Originally posted as a reply on a thread about pipe racks, but wanted to make a full post under the proper header!)
"The Pipe Pipe" Components:
3/4" pipe fixture style curtain rods:
"Sun Zero SN Bronn Wrap Around Room Darkening Curtain Rod, 36-66", Matte Black"
Amazon.com - https://amzn.to/3KcCTxB
Fishing pole clips:
"60 Original Replacement Fishing pole rack clip organizer storage Holders W/Screw"
60 Original Replacement Fishing pole rack clip organizer storage Holders W/Screw | eBay - https://ebay.to/3trPg2V
Beefier screws to bite into rubber clips and adjust for shank size:
"Hard-to-Find Fastener 014973291457 Phillips Flat TwinFast Wood Screws, 6 x 1-Inch, 100-Piece"
Amazon.com - https://amzn.to/3ntKle5
Dremel for trimming screws:
"3000 Series 1.2 Amp Variable Speed Corded Rotary Tool Kit with 25 Accessories and Carrying Case"
Dremel 3000 Series 1.2 Amp Variable Speed Corded Rotary Tool Kit with 25 Accessories and Carrying Case 3000-1/25H - The Home Depot - http://goo.gl/C25NSs
Hot glue gun to dab on screw heads and avoid scratching the briar:
"H-195F Specialty Series 20 Watt Mini Size High Temperature Detail Hot Glue Gun"
Amazon.com - https://amzn.to/3qtuEW3
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