Recent Turnings

Here is a few photographs of my latest wood turnings I have produced since warm weather has allowed me back into my workshop.  These diminutive spindles are pipe tampers.  A tamper is a smoking accessory that allows the ash and unburnt tobacco that clings to the walls of a pipe bowl to be gently compressed and pushed into the ember keeping it lit and smoking.

This tamp made from an unknown species of tropical wood is a shape I call the "Classic" based on the tradition beads and coves cut into the wood.  I like to use one of my wooden tampers when I smoke my meerschaum pipe instead of a regular metal pipe nail just to be certain that the tool won't scratch the delicate surface of the white mineral my pipe is made of.

Because wood is a natural material and trees come in many different species the characteristics of grain, color and hardness can vary greatly.  To me one of the most rewarding aspects of woodworking is experimenting and learning about the various kinds of wood available.  On the lathe I've found that generally the more dense and hard a wood is the better it turns. 

In continuation from my last post this is the piece of African Blackwood that I had just begun to work as it nears completion. While it is considered one of the hardest woods in the world with care and patience it yields a beautiful turning with crisp sharp edges and a deep ebony-like hue.  

This is an interesting note from my favorite online resource about wood: www.wood-database

 "To be considered the original ebony, African Blackwood was imported and used in Ancient Egypt thousands of years ago. Even the name “ebony” has an Egyptian derivation as “hbny”—which has been shown to refer to primarily toDalbergia melanoxylon, rather than the species which are considered to be ebony today: such as those in the Diospyros genus."

The wood lathe is unique because often work piece is cut not only along the grain but often transitional cuts expose the end grain and by nature because the stock is spinning and becomes round the growth rings or layers will appear concentric and interesting.  

Another wood which I do have a little experience with is Osage Orange (Maclura pomifera), also known by it's aliases Hedge Apple and Bois d' arc.  The French term Bois d' arc translates to "bow wood" and I can testify that it does indeed make a good bow.

Although I've used Osage before this is the first time I've spun a piece on the lathe. It works as well for turning as it does on the archery range.  Over time and with exposure to UV light the lemon yellow will give way to deeper oranges and honey browns.

International Pipe-Smoking Day

 In celebration of International Pipe-Smoking Day I'll be enjoying a bowl of fine Mac Baren Vanilla Cream Flakes in this Dunhill Shell Briar.

This latest addition to my small rotation sports an expertly done sandblast finish and is a classic shape known as a "Canadian".  The style is defined by a long oval shank of briar and short tapered bit. It is a group 3 size which is a medium sized tobacco chamber.  The walls of the bowl are thick and keep the pipe cool while smoking my favorite flake cut tobaccos.

Pipes -- Peterson's System 303

One or two of my long time readers might remember I am a pipe smoker.  Pipes are one of my hobbies and as such something I don't get to enjoy as often as would like.  Moderation is key so I guess in this case it's not such a bad thing.  Over the past year I have determined that my favorite tobacco bowl is the Peterson's System Pipe 303.

This Premier grade System 303 is the latest addition to my small rotation.  I love the lighter stain and low gloss finish of this pipe.  The left side of the bowl and shank have beautiful straight grain brought out in dramatic fashion by a late August sun.

I have enjoyed a few half bowls in the pipe smoking slowly to gradually expose the briar to higher temperatures.  I don't have a set in stone method for breaking in a new pipe but for this classic Pete I am alternating between a favorite aromatic mixture and a brighter naturally sweet red Virginia and Turkish Izmir blend.

Un-Smoked!

The Peterson System pipe is a design over one hundred years old and still being produced and sold by the by the same company.  Amazing!  Just like my other 303's this one is a good smoker and a beautiful chunk of briar.   

Lastly the following pictures show close ups of the right side of the bowl.  This side of the pipe has birdseye and interesting character.

 

Pipes

 It was a beautiful fall Sunday afternoon and I was enjoying a respite on the patio smoking some Peterson "Old Dublin" English style blend when the inspiration came to take some some photographs of my homemade briarwood pipe.

This pipe I made about 12 years ago from genuine Mediterranean briarwood.  One of my many interests is wood working and I have found that I often use my woodworking tools to fabricate items used in other hobbies.  Because I have always been a pipe smoker one day I thought I can make a pipe so I found a supplier of pipe making materials and jumped right in.

At the hardware store I purchased some standard high speed steel spade bits used mainly in construction for drilling holes through 2 x 4 studs for wiring and plumbing.  I used my Dremel rotary tool to slowly grind the rounded profile of a bowl into the spade bit careful to not heat up the steel enough to cause it to lose it's temper.  On a second spade bit I grounded a chamfer which you can see once mounted in the drill press cut a perfect chamfer on the inside edge at the top of the bowl.  Other than the drill press work the majority of time was spent slowly shaping the pipe using the Dremel with an abrasive drum sander.  I am a pipe "holder" and not a "clencher".  I like to hold my pipe and only put it to my mouth when puffing.  For this reason I like a big heavy pipe.  Living in Ohio and being an outdoor smoker only means that a good portion of the year it's cold.  On cool windy days a pipe will burn fast and get very hot.  I intentionally made this pipe a nice rounded shape that fills my hand and has thick walls that slowly absorb the heat from buring tobacco.

I finished the pipe naturally using only a Carnuba/beeswax coating and lots of buffing using a cotton polishing wheel attached to the Dremel.  The color of the briar has darkened much over the years to the the nice deep orange color shown in these photos taken in direct sunlight.



Pipes

Peterson Aran XL02

Another of my more eccentric pursuits (by today's standards) is relaxing on the patio with a tobacco pipe.  I have been an occasional pipe smoker for the past twenty years.  What that means is weeks, months and even years elapse between my smoking sessions.  I bought my first pipe from a tobacconist and have always liked procuring my blends from a brick and mortar tobacconist's shop.

First a little history.  I smoked cigarettes for a few years in high school and while in the military.  I gave them up for three reasons.  I had recently met a nice girl who would become my wife and she was not keen on the habit.  The second reason is kind of humorous now looking back at it.  While in the Air Force I had shifted my focus away from running and began to do more cycling.  Running was starting to bother my knees.  After a 5K road race one day I decided that was it and I never ran again except for occasional physical fitness activities required by the military.  From that point on I began riding more and more.  Rail trails, road rides and of course mountain biking as I was stationed in eastern Washington State on the edge of the Rocky Mountains.  Stopping in the middle of a bike ride for a smoke break is rather counter-productive.  In time my lungs cleaned out and I noticed that my ability to ride my bike improved dramatically.  The resulting performance boost realized so quickly made it easy to give them up for good.  Thirdly and most obviously cigarettes really are vile!

Perhaps the most insidious nicotine demon I had to wrestle from my back and cast aside was the smokeless kind.  I believe my use of smokeless tobacco started around junior high and continued for many years.  The high school I attended was a rural school.  Lots of farm boys and Skoal rings worn into the back pocket of Levi's. Smokeless really facilitated covert use, sneaking around teachers and coach, granted once you learned to swallow the juice.  Later in the Air Force while working on jet planes a pinch of Skoal or Copenhagen would hit the spot.  Cigarettes simply have no place around jet fuel!  I tried many times to quit over a five year period and finally put this most disgusting method of delivery behind me about eight years ago.

I am well aware of the health risks involved with the use of tobacco.  My wife has been a respiratory Therapist for fourteen years.  Her specialty is the lungs.  Believe me I have heard many stories about COPD (Cardiopulmonary Disease), Ventilators and breathing treatments.  Imagine spending your last days as an invalid with a machine breathing for you and daily removal of accumulated brown mucous via a suction catheter down the old windpipe. That is if the cancer doesn't get you first.  If you smoke cigarettes you really should quit.  That said I am also a staunch supporter of freedom of choice so smoke 'em if you got em and I won't look down on anyone who does.

Over the past few years I have noticed  that I can put the pipe down for weeks or months at time.  For this reason I don't feel guilty about rewarding myself with a relaxing and contemplative smoke once in a while.  I think about the day or just stare up at the stars above and ponder nothing at all while savoring the sweet aromatic scent of my pipe.  I take care not to inhale any of the smoke. Just little puffs to keep the ember burning.  So after a six month period of not a single smoke I realized my little bit of old tobacco had gone dry and I should probably purchase some fresh.  Might as well a new pipe too.  My old pipe is a fine briar I have had for about ten years.  I made it myself from a block of Italian briar.  I'll discuss that pipe later.

My new pipe is a great Peterson from Dublin Ireland.  This bent pipe has a matte finish on the large bowl that looks great and  smokes cool.  The band is polished nickel. The tobacco tin was vacuum packed and very fresh when I opened it.  Sunset Breeze is a made for Peterson blend of Virginia, Burley and Black Cavendish.  The yellow and brown leaf is the virginia and burley and the black well you get it.  This tobacco smells great. 
Pipes can be made from a corncob or be fine piece of art as unique and colorful as the owner who smokes it.  Like the cigar popularity growth in the 1990's there is a small group of younger men and women who are taking on the old tradition of the pipe.  Just remember as with everything in life moderation is the key.