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[[Image:Bengt_Carlson.jpg|thumb|Bengt Carlson]] | |||
By | == By Jan Andersson (Written may 2002) == | ||
Many of us have probably considered making a pipe by ourselves. And certainly that pipe should be something special, “the pipe of our dreams”. Some of us have even found a block and got started. | Many of us have probably considered making a pipe by ourselves. And certainly that pipe should be something special, “the pipe of our dreams”. Some of us have even found a block and got started. | ||
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The first discovery probably is that it is much more difficult than expected. You grind a little here and a little there and before even noticing, you have been grinding too much. When you at last consider yourself ready, the pipe will probably not look as you had anticipated, but perhaps that does not matter. It may look nice anyway and it is much easier to overlook some imperfections knowing that you have made the pipe entirely by yourself. If then the pipe does not taste very well, you will blame the wood. There are briar-blocks that may have an unpleasant taste, but they are rare, very rare. A more accurate explanation is that you have not drilled the block correctly. The interior of a pipe is extremely important. The diameter of all channels must be correct, the tobacco chamber must be formed in a proper way, the tenon must fit correctly, yes, there are a lot of details to think about. | The first discovery probably is that it is much more difficult than expected. You grind a little here and a little there and before even noticing, you have been grinding too much. When you at last consider yourself ready, the pipe will probably not look as you had anticipated, but perhaps that does not matter. It may look nice anyway and it is much easier to overlook some imperfections knowing that you have made the pipe entirely by yourself. If then the pipe does not taste very well, you will blame the wood. There are briar-blocks that may have an unpleasant taste, but they are rare, very rare. A more accurate explanation is that you have not drilled the block correctly. The interior of a pipe is extremely important. The diameter of all channels must be correct, the tobacco chamber must be formed in a proper way, the tenon must fit correctly, yes, there are a lot of details to think about. | ||
But how can you learn to make all these details correctly? Many pipemakers have stated that the best way is to start with repairing. The late, famous pipemaker [[Sixten Ivarsson]] started his career this way. But a happy amateur cannot start repairing other people’s pipes, so he has to stick to his own. One advantage with this is that you do not have to stop by just replacing a broken tenon or putting a new stem on the pipe, you can also change the exterior of the pipe. If you find the shank a little too clumsy, make it a little thinner. And if the head is too chubby you can change that too. In that way you get experience and are developing your sense for proportions. | |||
In spring 1993 I got a letter containing the following passage''':''' | In spring 1993 I got a letter containing the following passage''':''' | ||
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=== Bengt meets [[Bo Nordh]] === | |||
[[Image:Bengt Carlson Pipe07.jpg|right]] | [[Image:Bengt Carlson Pipe07.jpg|right]] | ||
I reminded Bengt about the letter and he remembered the pipe, but it is no longer in his possession. “I have probably sold it at one of our auctions”, was his comment. Bengt was also surprised that he had made 8 panels; he thought that seemed too “square”. | I reminded Bengt about the letter and he remembered the pipe, but it is no longer in his possession. “I have probably sold it at one of our auctions”, was his comment. Bengt was also surprised that he had made 8 panels; he thought that seemed too “square”. | ||
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=== Good equipment is a must === | |||
But to make something first-class you must have suitable equipment. Bengt only had the ordinary tools most “do-it-yourself” people have in their cellars. So he had to invest in better machinery and first of all in a lathe. | But to make something first-class you must have suitable equipment. Bengt only had the ordinary tools most “do-it-yourself” people have in their cellars. So he had to invest in better machinery and first of all in a lathe. | ||
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=== Finishes and stamps === | |||
Bengt’s pipes are either plain or rusticated. So far he has not tried sandblasting. The rustication is made with a dentist’s drill and often looks like a sandblasted pipe with a ring-grain. The plain pipes are either nature-coloured (just oiled) or in a medium brown colour. Before they get their final colour, they are all stained with black, which is then grinded away. That is to make the grain more outstanding. | Bengt’s pipes are either plain or rusticated. So far he has not tried sandblasting. The rustication is made with a dentist’s drill and often looks like a sandblasted pipe with a ring-grain. The plain pipes are either nature-coloured (just oiled) or in a medium brown colour. Before they get their final colour, they are all stained with black, which is then grinded away. That is to make the grain more outstanding. | ||
All pipes are stamped “'''BC Sweden'''” and nothing else. Bengt has several times been asked to put more stamps on his pipes, the year the pipe was made, quality grading and so on, but has so far neglected to do so. The pressure has mainly come from the U.S. where a collector often wants many stamps on his pipe, the more the better. But I also think they respect individual pipemakers, like Bo Nordh and Bengt, who do not fall for this pressure. | All pipes are stamped “'''BC Sweden'''” and nothing else. Bengt has several times been asked to put more stamps on his pipes, the year the pipe was made, quality grading and so on, but has so far neglected to do so. The pressure has mainly come from the U.S. where a collector often wants many stamps on his pipe, the more the better. But I also think they respect individual pipemakers, like Bo Nordh and Bengt, who do not fall for this pressure. | ||
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=== Bamboo and Horn === | |||
When this is written Bengt is eagerly working with bamboo and horn, two materials he has not been using before. So this is a new challenge. By the way, bamboo is very hard to find nowadays and has become very expensive. You can not use any bamboo, the annual rings have to be close. One of the first pipes with bamboo Bengt made is an “Elephant Foot” and you can see that pipe here. | When this is written Bengt is eagerly working with bamboo and horn, two materials he has not been using before. So this is a new challenge. By the way, bamboo is very hard to find nowadays and has become very expensive. You can not use any bamboo, the annual rings have to be close. One of the first pipes with bamboo Bengt made is an “Elephant Foot” and you can see that pipe here. | ||
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=== Many hobbies, much to do === | |||
Bengt is today sharing his time between looking after his grand-children, playing golf, taking care of the family’s summer-house, serving his wife Inga-Lill who is still working and – of course - making pipes. Sometimes I take him away from all these duties with a lot of articles and pictures and then he has to start making a new issue of '''Rökringar''', the magazine for the '''Pipe Club of Sweden'''. I think the life as a retiree may be a little stressful sometimes, but it sounds like a really good life, no? | |||
Bengt | === [[Bo Nordh]] Replica Pipe === | ||
Bengt was entrusted with Bo Nordh's famously abused pipe to restore, and then replicated it in small quantity shortly after Bo's passing. | |||
<gallery widths=300 heights=225 caption="Repica of Bo's famous pipe, and article from Jan Anderson's book on Bo Norde referencing it, courtesy Hank Saatchi"> | |||
File:Carlson-BNReplica.JPG | |||
File:Carlson-BNReplica2.JPG | |||
File:Carlson-BNReplicaArticle.JPG | |||
</gallery> | |||
[[Category: Pipe makers by nationality]] | [[Category: Pipe makers by nationality]] | ||
[[Category: Sweden]] | [[Category: Sweden]] | ||