HOW TO MAKE A Corncob Pipe

Well not a bent stem Churchwarden, but a long stem.

Tired of snapping the stem on your pipe. Want something durable and inexpensive? Corncob pipes are only documented to the 19th century due to artwork, and perhaps some journals, but the materials were available in the 18th and 17th century, and farther back so...,

Get some of the small, Missouri Meerschaum pipes, that I guess the pot-heads like to sometimes use. These are small by comparison to other corncobs used for pipes BUT over time the size of the cob has been increased by selective breeding, so this size is historically right...



Cut off the stem at the corncob. I used the saw blade on my Swiss Army Knife. Be gentle and let the blade do the work.



Once the stem is off you need to enlarge the hole for the stem using the leather awl. Do Not remove the wooden piece glued into the pipe, just enlarge the hole in that piece. IF it comes loose, a little Titebond Wood Glue will glue it back, let it dry for 24 hours, and continue.



Now get a stem. Unpainted, natural reeds for tomato stakes are fine. Get them on Amazon if you can't find them this late in the year from the hardware store. You need to cut a piece between the reed "knuckles" and then use a coat hanger to push out the pith to get a hollow tube...



Using your knife, or perhaps with a hand-held pencil sharpener and the knife, sharpen one end into a point...



Now insert the point and push and twist slightly for it to grab onto the corncob. Put the stem into your mouth and cover the bowl to test for seal. Fill, light, and smoke. No it's not as long a smoke as you'd get from a clay, and the bowl doesn't get hot like a clay. However, you will burn out the bowl through regular use (so buy several of the foundation pipes to make replacements). Disassemble the pipe when not in use, and you will never snap the stem and ruin the pipe.



ENJOY FOLKS

LD

When taking my fall walks I used to grab an ear of corn, cut it to length, hollow out the pith to depth, break off a hollow stem of golden rod bore a hole in the cob, stick the stem in there and complete my walk with a soothing smoke.
Robin

I miss my pipe smoking it was relaxing. A heart attack ended it for me.

I never did get on with meditation. But smoking a pipe serves as a good substitute, I believe.

Cruzatte said:

I never did get on with meditation. But smoking a pipe serves as a good substitute, I believe.

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Agreed

LD

Thanks for the post Dave. That helps me out of a small predicament. Craft show season is on us and, just the other day, I was toying with the idea of adding a loop or pocket to the leather tobacco pouches I make and adding a pipe. Thought folks might like that. Found where to buy these little pipes by the dozen at a reasonable price. Just couldn't get passed the plastic stem. Gonna follow your directions on this and give it a shot.

Hermit Tim said:

Thanks for the post Dave. That helps me out of a small predicament. Craft show season is on us and, just the other day, I was toying with the idea of adding a loop or pocket to the leather tobacco pouches I make and adding a pipe. Thought folks might like that. Found where to buy these little pipes by the dozen at a reasonable price. Just couldn't get passed the plastic stem. Gonna follow your directions on this and give it a shot.

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GREAT
They are very easy to do once you get the first one done, and yes I buy mine in lots of 5 or ten, they are so inexpensive.

Share some photos of you with the pipe at a show and the craft(s) that you demonstrate. I'm "stuck" in my house at my desk for a while doing busy work, that I can only de-stress by seeing and reading about folks out at events and in the woods.

LD