My Latest, the Tiger Fish

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squashed tomato

this is my latest pipe

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so here are three of my new ones

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Inspiring Pipe Makers part 4 (Grant Batson)

This guy has been making pipes for just a little bit longer than I have.  But he does have the luxury of one of the best mentors in the world, and a base of skills that would leave any wood worker envious.

Grant started his love affair with wood by making custom guitars.  I have seen and heard one of his guitars and... oh my, amazing.  A little over a year ago, maybe more I am not exactly sure he left his guitar business, and began to make pipes, and from his first pipe he has been making a ruckus.  This man is in every sense of the word a prodigy.  But what makes Grant so cool, is his helpfulness, and humility, and his joy for life.  Grant seems to be incredibly at home in his skin, and thankful to make use of his talent in ways that give joy and inspiration to others.

I think that his future in the pipe making world is incredibly bright, and my biggest hope is I can buy one of his pipes before they get too expensive for me to own.  Take a look for yourself:

check out his site at

http://www.gbatsonpipes.com/

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Pipemakers I really like part 3

Well this guy has such a whimsical way with briar that I hope to meet him someday soon.  Nobody who calls his company blue lobster pipes, and makes these crazy creations could possibly be a grumpy old codger like myself :)  The man is Wallenstein, and the pipes he makes... are out of this world.

Here are some pictures of his work, I will let it speak for itself:

these two are called jezebel and lucille

and they showcase Walle's playfulness 


These are some of my favorites:

And here is Walle just getting his weird out

Hope you enjoy this brief segment of Welle's world

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Another pipe maker I admire

Okay, I know I said I would post a few each day, that was stupid.  I will post one every few days is what I should have said.  This post is for a pipe maker that I admire in many ways, and least of those is his ability to make a stunning, perfectly smoking pipe.

Tyler Lane Beard is a pastor, a father, a teacher, and a pipe maker.  Its amazing how well he keeps all of those in balance.  Whether he is being paid for caring for people, and investing in their spiritual health or not, he does it with courage, conviction and love.  When he felt like too much of his time was being taken from more important things he stopped making pipes.

 When I had some questions about my pipes, Tyler told me to call him up.  He spent an hour with me, not only explaining how to improve, but also on how to grow as a pipe maker.  Another phone call we just preached to each other for an hour or so.  It was like the old time gospel hour, only we aren't old timers, maybe the middle aged gospel hour

This guy is quality, and he is probably mad for me saying so... publicly.

It is no wonder that a man of this strength of character would make great pipes.  You could guess he won't let one out of his studio unless its as good as he is capable of making.  This year I received one of his pipes as a Christmas gift, and I can tell you, it made me giddy.  In fact, my wife got a little annoyed because she wanted to get me something that would make me squeal with joy like Tyler's pipe did.  I was going to tell her victoria's secret, but I thought that might not end well.

Any ways, Tyler makes beautiful pipes, and is a beautiful person, I am a better man and pipemaker for knowing him.  Here are a few of his beauties:

Go check out his website and tell him rev sent you http://tylerlanepipes.com/

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the first pipe I ever carved

I began smoking a pipe because it was cheaper than smoking a cigar, and to be honest, I thought pipes were cool.  They looked cool, and they smelled good, and they were cheaper than cigars.  Whats not to love. 

I bought some used pipes, cleaned a few and started smoking, but as I was looking for pipes on Ebay I kept running into this shape that I just loved.  I call it the Danish Fan.  I think I have heard others refer to it as that, but maybe not.  I love it.  It is big, and bold, and is made to be grabbed in the hands of a constructions worker.  I wanted one, but... they were a bit expensive.  I paid 17 dollars for six pipes and a pipe holder, and these were selling for 100-300 dollars.  That wasn't happening.

But then I heard you could make your own pipes by ordering a kit.  I bugged my wife about it and she emailed Mark Tinsky from American tobacco pipe company and bought me a premade  kit for Christmas.  It already had the holes drilled and the stem in it, all I had to do was turn it into my Danish fan pipe.

and I did

This is the first pipe I carved. 

others saw this pipe and asked me to make them a pipe... I made six pipes from kits without having any teaching, any input from any pipemakers.  But by then I was bitten, I started to really learn at that point, and now... I will not stop til I am among those that are called professionals

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