1st attempt Camp Pipe

[chiefs50]

NICE! How long did you dry/season the wood?

[JimBow]

Looks cool. Do you have to bore out the stem? If so, how do you do that?

Yes I still have the stem to bore...I'm think I'm going to heat the tip of flexible wire & burning it through...doing one end half through then into the other,,,,,,anyone else have a better way? I'm totally interested in learning if you do....

[JimBow]

NICE! How long did you dry/season the wood?

Thanks Chief...I've had that Alder for a quite a while...not really sure how long though...I find plenty of it in the woods near a park by the house....the park folks trim it up quite often....when that happens I usally gather up branches, store them in the garage and rotate through as needed. I've crafted a few Atlatl's & other things using it as well....it's what I had lying around when I decided to craft this pipe....

[TedPalmer]

I don't believe the alder has a pithy stem so this method will not work, but for wood like maple that does have a pithy stem this is magic:
take an electric or manual drill and put a wire that is a little lighter than an old wire coat hanger, I use fencing wire, in the chuck and if your stem is seasoned enough the wire will follow the pith and not go through the wood giving a perfectly drilled out stem even if it is curved.
Jimbow if ya need some maple stem let me know and I will fix ya up!
hope this helps!
ted

[JimBow]

I don't believe the alder has a pithy stem so this method will not work, but for wood like maple that does have a pithy stem this is magic:
take an electric or manual drill and put a wire that is a little lighter than an old wire coat hanger, I use fencing wire, in the chuck and if your stem is seasoned enough the wire will follow the pith and not go through the wood giving a perfectly drilled out stem even if it is curved.
Jimbow if ya need some maple stem let me know and I will fix ya up!
hope this helps!
ted

Helps a lot....Thanks Ted...I would love to get some maple stem material from ya too. Maybe we can trade? Do you do any flintknappin'? I have Georgetown flint that I'd be willing to trade off....
Lemme know when ya have a moment...
Thanks again...
Jim

[SkogKniv]

Not spamming or anything, but I got asked so many times on how to hollow out stems I just made a video,

[GA_MTN_MAN]

Good stuff there. Good looking pipe JimBow and then a great video from SkogKniv.

[JimBow]

Not spamming or anything, but I got asked so many times on how to hollow out stems I just made a video,

GREAT video SknogKiniv! Thanks a million for postin' it up...very healpful indeed!

[MysticFlight]

I love it! Very rustickly beautiful

[mongo]

Does it matter which kind of maple you use? I have easy access to King Crimson, Sugar and Silver.... all three are in my back yard!