carving a pipe?

[rickC]

Anybody ever carved a soapstone or catlinite item?? let me here the how-to's and dont's if you have some experiences?? :shocking:

 

[onefeather]

i made a plains style pipe out of some soap stone and you need a drill to drill first of all and a hack saw a knife files and sand paper and i stain it with melted bees wax in the oven but it goes fast but its soft so watch out what you are doing but it should be easy good luck

 

[Black Hand]

Both are easily worked with files and sandpaper. I would suggest drilling the holes on SLOW speed (I used traditional drill and wood spade bits) cleaning as you go. If you can find some-one with a wet saw it speeds up the roughing considerably. Both will shape to nice crisp, sharp edges if you take your time.

Catlinite seems to work better when fresh, as it seems to harder a bit with age and heat.

If you are using catlinite, work outside away from the house and make sure you clean yourself up well. If you don't you will be dragging red dust into the house and really annoying your significant other. You will find it regardless no matter what you do.

Don't plan on using the files for anything else afterwards as they will dull quickly.

Once done with the final sanding, warm up the pipe bowl and rub well with grease of beeswax. Polish with a piece of canvas, carve a stem and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Black Hand

 

[onefeather]

you could cut the rough shape with a band saw too i did that once i found that soap stone is better to work with but thats what i have used the most but yes dust will be everywhere

 

[scott fellows]

rough out the shape of your pipe then drill the bowl and the hole for your stem before you go any farther. i have broken several pipes by waiting until too late to drill the holes.
pieman

 

[rickC]

Thanks for the info! will give it a go and see what appears? :thanks:

 

[hawk]

If your not keen on the dust try corn cob.
works good , nice and light. :thumbsup:

 

1.) Paitence for a job well done.

2.) Hacksaw for rough cutting.

3.) Files for shaping.

4.) Sandpaper for smoothing and finishing.

5.) Awls and sharp finishing nails for fine detail.

6.) Beeswax for sealing and polishing.

And that's :m2c: on the subject.

 

[Henry]

Steatite ( soapstone ) is easy to find in artists
supplies store , still looking for catlinite .

The XVIII th so called " Micmac pipes "
( many of wich were made by french lock smiths of
Montr

 

[hawk]

I heard the size of the bowl was directly influenced by the availability(price) of tobacco.year to year?

 

[Henry]

I can not proove or contradict that theory , but if
I was making stone pipes for trade ( something I might
do in the future ) I would not change my tooling at every
movement of the market .

Also , stone is heavy . A big stone bowl is nice on a
peace calumet , held with both hands as a sign of respect
but for a common stone pipe , smaller/lighter is better.

 

[JohnnyO]

I know this is a late reply, but just to add my 2 cents is that I have read on some pipe forums bout warnings of soapstone possibly having naturally occuring asbestos within it and that possibly posing a danger when carving and smoking! :shocked2:

 

[elarges]

I looked on Ebay and found catlinite pretty reasonable. I bought two nice good-sized pieces from the same guy and he even threw in a third piece of scrap to practice on. Two good pieces should yield four pipes altogether. Good luck with the dust!
:v

 

[talbert]

I have made several pipes from red catlinite...
I was advised to soak the blank in water and
keep it soaked between breaks in working on it...
It did soften the stone quite a bit....seems
Blackhawk was documented as to carving a stone
pipe with a pocket knife in prison...the stone must have been fresh or "softened" for that to work very well in my opinion...just an idea that worked for me...
T.C.Albert

 

To keep catlinite soft bury it in the ground. Then when you have time to make your pipe it will be easier to work. Same with flint and soapstone.
:thumbsup:
Don

 

[tg]

I think the best finish for Catlinite is to gently squeeze your nose skin and rub with this oil.

 

[TexiKan]

Like you, I bought a drilled blank and started in with files. As previously recommended, I used nails and even a small knife for detail. Afterwards, I sanded it with various grades of sandpaper and finished the oak pipestem. It was my first pipe and it was a gift for a good friend. It has a few untraditional characteristics because of the symbolism. Last Sunday I gave it to him and he was very pleased.

The filing was relatively easy to work. It was hard enough to avoid major mistakes but soft enough to cut. Check your private message and I will be happy to show you my first effort.

TexiKan

 

[fatboy]

Can some of you guys that have made pipes post some pics ? or links to your pics

 

[Buffalo Bones]

I completed some catlinite pipes to
give as Christmas presents. The stone
was dug up over thirty years old. It
carved as nicely as if it was dug up
yesterday. I was at the quarry this past spring and can not see any difference when carving
my old stone and the new that I picked up.

 

[TANSTAAFL]

Odd you should bring up soapstone hazard. I was at a rock show over the weekend and a guy was power tool carving soapstone art work. No mask or naught for protection, I asked him wasn't he worried about the dust? (was everywhere) He said no, it is nothing but talcum powder and hadn't bothered him for the past 40 years. He was even selling small bags of the SS dust as a dry lubricate to customers, and they were buying it.