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Elegance Through Fungus: Spalted Wood Accents

June 4, 2021 by Chuck Stanion

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Accents can certainly add much to the handsomeness of a pipe, offering contrast of color and texture while elevating particular compositions by using rare and attractive materials. They are jewelry for pipes, and in many cases they could easily be mistaken for jewelry. Larry Roush, for example, is a jeweler who applies his expertise with precious metals to his craft of pipe making, adding ... Read More

A Farewell To Bruce

July 30, 2019 by Andrew Wike

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Bruce Weaver passed away in his sleep on July 26th, 2019 at the age of 68. He was known all over the world for his laid-back, affable demeanor and unique, finely textured sandblasts. ... Read More

Modern Sandblasting

September 28, 2018 by Chuck Stanion

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Except for the beginning of pipe sandblasting more than 100 years ago, when curing techniques, softer Algerian briar (if that story is not a fable) and early, unsophisticated procedures launched deeply craggy sandblasts, sandblasted pipes have been mainly low profile in texture. Even today, in Denmark, the heart of artisan pipemaking ... Read More

The Art of Bamboo in American Pipe Making

July 15, 2015 by Eric Squires

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Once upon a time the warriors, and other elites, of certain societies displayed their prestige by wearing jewelry made of iron. Far more recently in human history, aluminum was once as valuable as silver — which was what led to the pointy end of the Washington Monument being made out of it. ... Read More

Dressed for the Occasion

November 18, 2014 by Andrew Wike

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Formal occasions call for formal dress. Whether it's a slim tuxedo or just a simple nice shirt and tie, there's a variety of options for such gatherings. While choosing your attire can be a daunting task on its own, I struggled with another decision this past weekend when I prepared to attend a friend's wedding. The question, simply, was this: "Which pipe do I bring?" ... Read More

11 Secrets of a Bruce Weaver Sandblast

August 14, 2014 by Andrew Wike

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A couple of weeks ago, master blaster Bruce Weaver was here visiting the shop. We're all quite familiar with the quality of his ultra-fine sandblasts. He aggressively attacks the briar to reveal the briar's intricate growth rings for a finish unlike anything else out there. Affable as can be, he gladly agreed to share some of his secrets in this exclusive interview. So here they are: 11 secrets behind Bruce Weaver and his one of a kind sandblasts.