What Are Some Unusual Pipe Materials?

[loadclear]

Not in the same realm, but I have a few acquaintances who smoke other naturally occurring plants besides tobacco. I was impressed at some of the ingenuity involved.
One fashioned a makeshift pipe from a high brass shotgun shell base with the primer popped out, and a brass tube cleaning rod as the stem. He had to wear gloves when using it.
Another time, he drilled a pine 2x2" block with a 5/8 drill bit, side drilled a 1/4 inch stem hole. He then lined the bowl with aluminum foil, and used a old style waxed paper soda straw for the stem.

 

[artificialme]

I've seen a number of antler pipes.

Some Pipe maker from Indonesia, used deer antler from the stem material. But, it seems to develop weird smell if not properly taken care of. The weirdest material I ever seen was plastic. Gosh, who will smoke em :crying:

 

[erkpik]

I'm a big fan of meer, but porcelain always seemed odd to me.

 

[mso489]

Most porcelain pipes I've seen look decorative and not intended for smoking. The bowl would heat up, too hot to handle, if it didn't crack outright. There's a reason it is used so little. I think it is mostly for decorative pipes that hang on the wall. Also, there's a reason the designs are frequently pastel and sentimental, pitched to interior decoration and not pipe smokers.

 

[mikethompson]

True enough Tom.
I had an old (1920s) Bakelite style pipe. I was afraid to use it as I thought it would melt away!