Chicago Pipe Making Seminar Outline

Chicagoland Show Pipe Finishing Seminar, Outline

Received from J. Rex Poggenpohl, Show Officer in Charge

Instructors

• Lee Erck, Negaunee, MI (upper), Seminar Founder
• Michael Butera, Houston, TX, Lead Instructor
• Jeff Alan Burt-Gracik, San Diego
• Andy Peterson, Seminar Graduate
• Ernie Markle, Seminar Graduate
• Rex Poggenpohl, Show Officer in Charge
• Hans Hansen, Show Officer, Equipment, Set-up
• Allan Boyd, Show Officer, Equipment, Set-up, Medic
• Mike Gaffney, Medic
• Steve Leaders, Medic

Outline

Finishing a pre drilled briar block with fitted vulcanite stem (donated by Mimmo Domenico, Italy)

Topics for a more comprehensive course

• Purpose: provide appreciation for the process of making pipes by hand and teach some basic skills for pipe making.
• Introductions: instructors, students.
• Safety, general ( specific safety will also be mentioned with each demo).
• Theory vs. Demos
• History

Function vs. Aesthetics

• Pipe mechanics, dimensions: Tobacco burning, tobacco chamber.
  • Air hole, steam, condensation.
  • Stem/shank mortise, tenon.
• Pipe materials:
  • Briar
  • Vulcanite, acrylic.
  • Shank extensions.
• Pipe design:
  • Practicalities
  • Classic: French, English.
  • Freehand, following grain.

Drilling

• Drill press vs. lathe
• Before shaping.
• After shaping.
• Tobacco chamber
  • Drill bits: spade bits, spoon bits.
• Air hole, mortise.
• Stems
• Tenons

Shaping

• Disc sander, belt sander, knife carving, filing.
• Sanding: belt sander, hand sanding.
• Sandblasting
• Buffing

Finishing

• Staining: stains, one color, two tone contrast.
• Finishes
• Bowl coating.
• Nomenclature, stamping.
• Polishing

Presentation

Sleeve, box

See the show flyer on the website: http://www.chicagopipeshow.com/2018-pipe-tobacciana-show-flyer/