Operation Clay Pipe

Operation Clay Pipe has been underway for the last few days. The pipe is based off some archeological pipes pictured on the interwebs, but only working from pictures I would not call this a reproduction. I think the bowl is on the small side, but on par with many I have seen. I'm still not sure if I will be able to pull this off, but going through my pre-project checklist: ill-conceived, poorly planned, rushed, done in a frenzy, unsafe… it meets all those criteria, well maybe not the last one, so it must be OK… here are a few pictures, the rest are on my blog (http://vulcanitestem.blogspot.com/2011/05/operation-clay-pipe.html).


Narrowed down to 4, these are all solid currently, yes the top one has a bad stem.....


I picked the one on the bottom, this one is ready to make to have the first half of the mold poured.

Right now I'm waiting for the plaster to set.... The final pipe, if I get far will be in a white clay...
-David

There will be more details, I just poured the 2nd half of the mold. The hard part now is going to be letting the plaster dry, after its set I can remove it right away, but there is still lots of moisture left in it. The first attempt at casting will be with a liquid clay (slip) (white stoneware cone 5/6). When it gets poured into the mold the plaster sucks the moisture out and leaves a film of clay, the thickness based on how long you let it sit/how dry the plaster is. The advantage of the slip will be that it leaves an open airway in the stem. If that fails, I will have to jam clay in the mold and poke an airway and for the bowl opening... Here are two videos I found on making clay pipes, I know one of them has been posted here before. http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=47138 and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5G3nuBgnSDI

Here is the pipe in the first half of the plaster mold, ready to pour the 2nd half...


-David

Looks like it's made out of chocolate!

They still sell them...problem is, no kid wants them because licorice isn't a top ten favorite like the other artificially flavored monstrosities. My sorta local farmers market had a stand that carries them. Same with candy cigarettes....bubble gum cigars...


David...good luck! If you're successful, there just may be a lucrative career awaiting you in the booming clay pipe market!
OK, I'm kidding, but still, not too many attempt this, so I'm applauding your gumption in trying. I'm looking forward to the outcome...( I Don't own a clay.)

Well, the mold is done and and plaster drying. I'm not sure I will be able to wait for the plaster to completely dry (its fully set) before trying a pour.... here is the mold opened after the 2nd plaster pour, and the finished mold as I trim the edges. -David

There was some more progress, this might work. (If you want all the photos, click here.) To test the liquid clay I poured it in my Labrador Retriever tiles mold that I made, it worked.


The first pour in the pipe was not perfect, the stem did not get totally covered in clay, but I can fix that. It comes out of the mold "leather hard" so the stem can be bent and other imperfections worked out. The airway stayed clear, and it came out of the mold OK. Based on the first go, there is hope...




The pipe at this point is soft enough that the mold lines and other issues can me smoothed out. -David

If I pull it off, pipes will be free, maybe some help with shipping.... I think the chamber on this will be very small, and not worth smoking.... -David

I hadn't thought about that, is that commonly done? It would be easy to do, I suppose I could also buff some carnauba wax on the tip.
-David