See how the pipes are made

The pipe stems are made from the Elder tree. The soft center is perfectly suited to be hollowed out. It is the dead branches that are used.

I Look for a shape that is pleasing and functional. This shape makes the hobbit pipe.

Even though all these sticks have been carefully selected,Only a small number  make it all the way to becoming a pipe

All the potentials are gathered to together and cut into obvious shapes.They spend nights in front of the fire to toughen up, A red hot rod from the fire hollows out the centers


Here is the rough shape of the pipe. It is now a three way tube.  Dowels are used to block the underneath hole. The bail is drilled out and the draw gap is shaped for a smooth flow



It then  under goes the rough file then grades of sandpaper. It gets soaked and let to dry and sanded again. Given a very light waxing so that it stays clean and finally a gause is put in


nicdetec 2014