What Kind of Clay to Use?

[beardedavenger]

I'm wanting to build an english clay pipe and was wondering what type of clay I would use? Also do I need a bowl insert (non-clay) or a separate material for the mouth peice?

 

[cleidophoros]

I don't know what kind of clay you would need but you use only clay for a clay pipe; bowl, mouth piece and all. You might glaze the tip of the stem (mouth piece) but that's about it.

 

[hans]

i always thought it would be fun to put a wood tip from a Black and Mild on the end of a clay pipe.

 

[uberam3rica]

i always thought it would be fun to put a wood tip from a Black and Mild on the end of a clay pipe

Thats actually a really good idea. It would greatly improve the mouth feel of the pipe.

 

[locopony]

If you intend to make your own you can have some fun and make it with a mortise and fit what ever stem you want. You may have to make the hole a bit smaller and ream it with a dremel to fit after firing it. Some times clay will distort a bit in the kiln. A clay bowl with a reed stem might be cool. As for what clay to use the grey stuff for making ceramic plates, and coffee cups is what they normally use. Terracotta would probably be fine but its not as strong. Do not use that home bake in the oven stuff like femo. There is a reason they state on the package not for making items to contain consumables.

 

[joshwolftree]

heck I used the air dry ola non toxic and fitted it with a read stem I've only tried one bowl out of it and it had pretty thick walls but thus far no cracking

But then I now have pretty limitless access to a kiln so...

 

[locopony]

There are places where you can have your work fired for ya.

 

[rev413]

I don't know what kind of clay you would need but you use only clay for a clay pipe; bowl, mouth piece and all. You might glaze the tip of the stem (mouth piece) but that's about it.

why only the tip of the stem and not the whole thing?

 

[cleidophoros]

Because you want the pipe to breathe. Part of the charm with a clay is that it absorbs moisture well. It's a bad idea to seal it by glazing the whole thing.

 

[pstlpkr]

If you want to use a removable tip, just remember that clay shrinks when it dries or is fired.

 

[jbbaldwin]

All of the high schools in our area have kilns. Wonder what they'd say if you took a pipe in and asked them to fire it when they were doing all the students' pinch pots.