Thoughts on bamboo shank pipes?

[andya27]

In a week or so I may purchase a new pipe. Something I don't have is a bamboo pipe. For those of you who have them, I'd appreciate your thoughts on a few variables:

* How durable/fragile is bamboo compared with briar?

* Do they smoke differently from pipes with briar shanks?

* Any special care required?
Thanks!

 

[fishnbanjo]

Bamboo is far from fragile, any Canadian, Pencil or long Lovat shank is far more fragile than any made from bamboo. As far as smokability vs all briar shank I'd say you probably break in a bamboo shank quicker, IMHO that is, compared to an all briar. The basic care is like any other good pipe keep it out of direct sunlight.
Bamboo is a grass and IIRC there are over 14,000 species, they all share a common point being their outside layer is coated with what is referred to as enamel and the nodes (those little protrusions that they refer to as knuckles) are from where the leaf growth occurred.
In bamboo used for fly rod building they use the genus Tsing Li (the Lovely Reed) also referred to as Tonkin Cane as it has properties that have proven itself most durable for over 100 years and there are rods that old still being fished. Enjoy your new pipe once you find what fits you. Regards............

banjo

 

[andya27]

Excellent. Thanks for the info. I'm fairly careful with my pipes, but I also don't want something that is by nature any more brittle than briar (I'm staying away from meerschaum).
An added bonus that I'm seeing from the bamboos I'm looking at is that they tend to be very lightweight. Perhaps just the ones I'm seeing, but still - these are under an ounce.

 

[fishnbanjo]

I didn't state that in my original post but you are correct andya27 nearly all bamboo shanked pipes are lighter than their briar counterparts, I have an Olive Wood Bowl pipe with a bamboo shank that weigh less than a corn cob with a reed stem, Strawberry Wood is probably the lightest of them all and if ever the day presents itself I'm hoping to find me a Strawberry Wood Bowl with a bamboo shank, best of luck in your search sir! If I can be of assist just send me a private message.

banjo

 

[mso489]

I think bamboo shanks are one of the most demanding exotic materials in pipe making. They can

make or break the design of a pipe. They can look entirely patched in, like an afterthought, or they

can make a pipe's appearance. When it works, it really works, but it's not easy to accomplish.

 

[virginiacob]

When my brother and I decided to start Old Dominion Pipe Co. we chose to make our cob pipes in a traditional style featuring bamboo stems. The feedback that we've gotten from customers has been overwhelmingly positive as folks seem to like not only the traditional look, but the fact that the bamboo stems clench well and are extremely durable. From manufacturer's standpoint, bamboo stems are also very economical and allow us to keep the cost down on our pipes while offering our customers an extremely functional and durable pipe stem. I believe that's why bamboo stems remained a mainstay for the cob pipe industry for many decades even after more modern shanks and bits were available.