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ELLIOTT PIPE MAKING PROCESS
These are a few photos that were
taken while I was in my workshop behind my house in Maylene, Alabama.
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Just a few of the many blocks of
briar in the shop. |
Skip draws a rough draft on the
briar to see how the pipe he has in mind will look and fit on that block of
briar.
In this photo he is cutting out
the shape. |
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This is a block of briar in the
chuck on the lathe. |
 This
is a block of briar clamped in the lathe. He has to make sure this is
clamped securely. If not, better run and hide. |
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Now that the briar is secure,
Skip is using a spade bit to bore the smoking chamber. |
This is briar spinning on lathe. |
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Cutting a piece of briar.
Skip gives a lot of thought and planning before he starts cutting.
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 Skip is using a cutting tool on
the briar while it is attached to lathe. |
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Now he is filing the block of
briar. |
 Using
a rasp on the briar. Doesn't look to happy with this particular piece
of briar. Maybe things will improve. |
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I believe he is removing chunks
of briar. Not the small stuff but larger pieces of briar. |
Much happier now!
Sometimes sand spots in briar can
be totally removed with just a little elbow grease. |
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Not quite satisfied yet. I think
he will work just a little bit longer on this piece. |
And I bet you though he was almost finished.
But No!
It has to be as perfect as
possible. And as many of you know, that might take many more days, a
few more weeks or perhaps another month or two before his Elliott Pipe is finished. |
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Eventually it will all be worth
it. Skip will have enjoyed making the pipe (usually several blocks of
briar are required)
making the stem for the pipe (usually he makes several stems for each pipe). A few don't measure up his
liking or he thinks the color is wrong or sometimes it is just not perfect
enough for him, and these will hit the trash. After all this, he will
eventually get one pipe that he deems useful. Eventually someone will
buy and love their new pipe. As I said it will all be worth it,
because Skip actually enjoys making pipes. "NO
PIPE BEFORE ITS TIME".
This is the finished product. |
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