Understanding Briar for Pipemaking
Have you ever wondered where the briar in your pipe comes from or how the maker selects it for that pipe that you love? In this video, I explain what pipe makers look for when they are selecting briar for pipes. It discusses the various shapes and qualities of briar that is available for purchase, while also sharing some of the common warning signs of problems with the material that can be avoided.
I hope that the content is informative and useful to you all.
As always, please visit my links to see what I'm up to currently, buy pipes, gear, or to learn pipemaking from me in person: linktr.ee/jalanpipes
Пікірлер: 94
Fantastic info! The plateau signaling what to expect with the grain has helped me narrow down some ideas on a couple blocks I’ve been playing around with. Thank you for the video, definitely looking forward to seeing more!
@jalanpipes
6 жыл бұрын
Glad to hear it. Every little piece of information helps.
Excellent informative information man. Thank you for the video.
@jalanpipes
Жыл бұрын
sure thing
I missed your videos, thanks for sharing!
Very informative. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks , Im learned a lot. cheers from Thailand 🇹🇭
I'm glad I found your channel! I'm thinking of making a pipe for my brother or just saying "screw it" and buying one from you!
@jalanpipes
2 жыл бұрын
Glad you liked it!
Good explanation of the basics in considering a suitable briar block. Well done, Jeff!
@jalanpipes
7 ай бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
Heyyyy - you guys are back. Excited :D
Great video! Keep making these! Would love to see someVLOG style videos as well while you're working in the shop. Thanks!
Very interesting. Thanks for sharing your expertise. You make some great pipes! -Luke
@jalanpipes
6 жыл бұрын
My pleasure. Glad to know you enjoyed it.
Good information. Thanks for sharing!
Been awhile. I would love to see more start to finish videos. On a variety of different pipe configurations.
@jalanpipes
6 жыл бұрын
lomoDaniel I’ll see what I can do...
@RedBiirdy
6 жыл бұрын
That makes two of us! :-)
@JurasPriest
6 жыл бұрын
Now it's three. ;)
Great video, thanks so much for this and describing what you look for in blocks...I hope to begin my pipemaking journey very shortly and am about to make my first order of briar😊 I look forward to learning from your channel
@jalanpipes
7 ай бұрын
Glad to know it was helpful!
Thanks Jeff ! I indeed learned a lot 😊 peace from Welland Ontario Canada 🇨🇦
@jalanpipes
6 жыл бұрын
Glad to hear it was helpful
Good information. Thanks for sharing. Love and peace from India.
@jalanpipes
4 жыл бұрын
It's a pleasure
Great video, thank you!
Excellent Presentation, Jeff.Steve (Bell Canyon, CA)
@jalanpipes
6 жыл бұрын
Thanks, Steve!
hi, cool video. Cheers from italy.
Very informative and interesting 👍👍
@jalanpipes
2 жыл бұрын
Glad you think so!
Great video Jeff! I really also love the start to finish videos. Really great walkthroughs! Is it maybe possible for you to show the world how to prepare bamboo and maybe how to choose the right piece?
@jalanpipes
6 жыл бұрын
Kasper Bunk thanks! I’m glad to know that you enjoy the videos. I’ll see about doing one with bamboo in the future.
Great video
@jalanpipes
2 жыл бұрын
thanks!
Sweet video bud!!!!
@jalanpipes
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks!
great information - not as easy as I thought
@jalanpipes
2 жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
Cool. Thank you!
@jalanpipes
2 жыл бұрын
No problem!
Very informative
@jalanpipes
2 жыл бұрын
Glad you think so!
grate, i iove it. thank you!🤩
@jalanpipes
7 ай бұрын
welcome
I hope I'll be able to utilize this information when my friend drops off a few blackberry burls in a few days.
@jalanpipes
7 ай бұрын
good luck!
Thanks!
@jalanpipes
4 жыл бұрын
You're welcome
awesome
@jalanpipes
2 жыл бұрын
Glad you liked it.
Life is like a block of briar that is handed to you and you just have to cut around those imperfections to create that beautiful and unique pipe that will be your legacy.
@jalanpipes
3 жыл бұрын
Well said!
great information what other woods are good for pipe making
@jalanpipes
4 жыл бұрын
lots of people use morta (bog oak), olive wood, and strawberry wood. I wouldn't stray too far from those and briar.
Thx
Thinking about upgrading my lathe. Would like it to have a compound slide. Any suggestions for a budget bench top?
@jalanpipes
4 жыл бұрын
'Budget' is relative. Some lathes are too small for turning bowls, but most small bench lathes can turn out mouthpieces with a little effort.
it would be nice to see you make an original vesta pipe please from a block of briar
@jalanpipes
2 жыл бұрын
I don’t make those
Do you have any Briar from 2012 you could make a pipe out of? That’s the year my daughter was born.
@jalanpipes
2 жыл бұрын
Possibly. Drop me an email and we can have a look.
I have a question, would you be able to grow this type of bush in America and use your own briar from those roots? Or do you have to get it from areas where briar grows naturally? I am just curious, I think some day it would be really cool to make my own pipes. Also, how much does one of those blocks cost depending on the quality?
@jalanpipes
4 жыл бұрын
I suppose one could grow it. It's similar to manzanita here in California. But, you'd need the proper climate for it to grow well--and about 40 years to wait for it to be big enough to use.
@marcwilhelm1300
4 жыл бұрын
@@jalanpipes most briar are a lot older than that when harvested. You didn't mention that usually, the manufacturer will have to dry the wood for years before it's usable. Also, there is a special way of preparing the briar after harvesting it. There's a pretty lengthy video by mimmo online where you can see many of the steps it takes to harvest and prepare briar blocks. So: yes, in the right climate, it can be done. you need to be aware of the fact that you won't live long enough to use the briar you planted.
@jalanpipes
4 жыл бұрын
Marc Wilhelm Yep. Mimmo is a friend of mine. The point of my comment is that Briar takes decades to grow for use in pipes. 40 years is the minimum age, most are older. It usually takes a few months before they cut briar after it arrives, but I don’t know any cutter who ages wood for years, not even Mimmo.
Hi there Jeff...I see that you've got a number of pipes on the go at once, sitting on the shelf in your shop. Can you explain this for us please? Is there a process involved here that I'm not aware of, such as in bowl turning...turn...let wood dry and settle...turn to finished form or shape later????? Thanks so much. Jason "OCHO" Ochoski
@jalanpipes
4 жыл бұрын
Sometimes I’m working one more than one pipe for a single client, other times a pipe’s finish is curing and I’m working on others as that happens.
Nice and thanks for sharing!!!Looks like you are working out again???
@jalanpipes
6 жыл бұрын
john fordham I’m glad you liked it. Always trying to stay healthy. Mostly cycling these days. :-)
Wouldn’t San Diego be the one place in the world where wood wouldn’t swell and shrink with the seasons (because it’s always 78 and sunny)? Do you notice this happening less than other places?
@jalanpipes
2 жыл бұрын
72 and sunny. ;-) Yes, the climate stability does reduce my material woes.
Any suggestions as where I can purchase brair directly? Website or local? I live in Chicago
@jalanpipes
3 жыл бұрын
Google is your friend. :)
What would you recommend for wood when it comes to someone just starting out? Buying brier and letting it age a few years just doesn't seem appealing.
@jalanpipes
6 жыл бұрын
gedion4000 I’d recommend briar. You can buy more affordable grades to work with. That way you become familiar with the material and have a usable pipe when you’re done.
@gedion4000
6 жыл бұрын
Hey, thanks for getting back to me. I absolutely plan on using brier, it was the aging bit I'm scared of. Any suggestions for resources for cheap? id really only be interested in making one pipe. if it works out i want to make a couple to span the week. The big pipe shows are out of my reach for just being curious about making my own pipe. Cheers!
@jalanpipes
5 жыл бұрын
gedion4000 as long as it’s dry, you should be fine. And I’ve not yet found a retailer who sells wet briar. I’d say just get briar and have fun.
nice mackie bt studio monitors
@jalanpipes
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks!
Hi Alan. could you give me information on how i can import briar to brazil? Briar to making pipes. Names of Distributors to contact and see this possibility. Thanks a lot.
@jalanpipes
3 жыл бұрын
It's best to contact a briar mill or retailer of pipe making supplies
Can other woods be used other than briar?
@bveracka
11 ай бұрын
Olivewood and morta are basically the only other wood materials that pipemakers use, and they probably make up ≤1% of all pipes sold. Briar doesn't burn, it doesn't crack, and it doesn't absorb moisture like other wood. The reason why briar is used so heavily is because its density and hardness allow it to withstand all of the torture that us pipe smokers put our pipes through.
@jalanpipes
7 ай бұрын
They can, but they're inferior for all the reasons stated by the other commentator. You can try strawberry wood burl (very similar to briar) as well.
When you started making pipes, you didn't do any preparatory research?
@jalanpipes
4 жыл бұрын
eqlzr2 I’m not sure I understand what the question is referring to. Were you responding to a particular part of the video?
@eqlzr2
4 жыл бұрын
@@jalanpipes At the beginning of the video, thx.
@jalanpipes
4 жыл бұрын
eqlzr2 yes, of course I did research when I began. But at that time there was very little information available online (2003) and I had only one book. So I learned as I went along. Hopefully this video will provide a good starting place for those who want to know more.
@eqlzr2
4 жыл бұрын
@@jalanpipes I figured as much. Many thanks for your efforts.
Saya sangat menginginkan satu mister saya orang indonesia...ingin beli tidak mampu tolong kirim saya satu walaupun bekas saya mau...saya sangat suka sekali dengan pipa rokok...