Beginner With Strong Interest in Wood Carving

[Jabilac]

First off Howdy Everybody.

Secondly, I am very interested in wood carving and have been for quite some time. I have read some of the posts here, and I have been unable to locate any questions like mine.

I want to carve tobacco pipes, and other similar things, but mainly I would like to carve tobacco pipes. I have design idea's in mind for what it is I want to do but I am still at a loss for what tools I will need to accomplish what I want to do. I have also located several different methods of bending wood, but I am very interested in knowing what everyone here would recommend, Please keep in mind that I am talking about bending the stems of pipes to produce pipes with more of a fantasy look. I look forward to all your opinions on tools I would need, wood bending techniques, and of course any opinions on types of woods best for my projects. Also if any of you have carved pipes and don't mind sharing what you have found out I would love to hear.

Jabilac

[carver6]

Just read your post and am personally at a loss to give any direction but would be willing to bet someone will come up with an answer. Wanted to welcome you the board and don't be a stranger. Carve safe.

[Kenny_S]

Bending wood for stems? Why not carve them in the shapes you want. Guess using steam for bending but the hole in the middle of the stem would have to be drilled first and in the bending process, I don't know if the true roundness of the hole would still be there. Most pipe bowls are burl type woods and may be best carved with power or soap stone. As a beginner, You make look at sharpening tools the correct way before undertaking carving pipes. But then, using rotoary power tools would eliminate that process.


I am like carver6, I am kind of at a loss on what to tell you.

However, Welcome to the fantastic world of carving.

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

Issue #13 (Holiday 2000) of Wood Carving Illustrated has an extensive article on pipe carving. Includes suggested tools and equipment. Is available as a back issue just clike on "Back Issues" to your left.

[Sam]

I carved a meerschaum pipe - very easy material to carve - you just keep it damp. Supposedly, it is one of the best materials for pipes. I suppose you could find out about its availablity on the Internet. Otherwise, the only other pipe material I have heard of is clay, porcelain, and Mediterranean Briar burl. The briar is carved - don't know if they keep it wet or what - very hard. That's why it is so slow burning up! Oops, forgot about the corn cob pipes - you could do some carving in a cob.

[Clifford_Parker]

Many hardwoods can be used for pipes with briar and fruit woods seemingly the most common. Most, if not all, pipecarvers use bandsaws to cut the blanks and rotary tools to shape the stummel and stem. Lucite and ebonite are the most common stem materials and can be heated and bent. There is a lot of information to be found at http://smokersforums.org/

[Donna_T]

Welcome...sounds like you've got some carving fun in store for your future. Fox Chapel Publishing sells a book that includes pipe carving techniques:
Fantastic Book of Canes, Pipes & Walking Sticks
Author: Harry Ameredes
Product Code: 1309
ISBN: 1-56523-130-9
Pages: 126
Binding Information: Soft Cover
Size: 8.5" X 11"
Availability: In stock.
Price: $12.95

Glad to have you join our message board. Let us know how the first pipe carving project turns out.

Donna T

[rgbonehead]

Hi welcome to the wonderful world of wood carving.
I have carved a few peace pipes(calumet).
and I carved one from alibaster and one from blood stone
blood stone is the original stone the indians used.
I used power tools on it.Carved one from black walnut
works real well. good luck on you adventure.
Ron

[macktruck]

I have carved a meersham pipe also, found mine at a specailty tobacco shop.
it was already drilled and came with the stem and a bag of beads that you heated up and sealed the stone after your done carving.
it carves nicely just keep it wet.
Smokes nice also. oh yeah welcome to our carving habit.
macktruck