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

  • @NomDeTube
    @NomDeTube6 жыл бұрын

    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

    @jalanpipes

    6 жыл бұрын

    Glad to hear it. Every little piece of information helps.

  • @drdavey9646
    @drdavey9646 Жыл бұрын

    Excellent informative information man. Thank you for the video.

  • @jalanpipes

    @jalanpipes

    Жыл бұрын

    sure thing

  • @Sfolden85
    @Sfolden856 жыл бұрын

    I missed your videos, thanks for sharing!

  • @paulmathews4087
    @paulmathews40876 жыл бұрын

    Very informative. Thanks for sharing!

  • @Mahalarbknives
    @Mahalarbknives5 жыл бұрын

    Thanks , Im learned a lot. cheers from Thailand 🇹🇭

  • @hizo64HH
    @hizo64HH3 жыл бұрын

    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

    @jalanpipes

    2 жыл бұрын

    Glad you liked it!

  • @pemirsa2
    @pemirsa28 ай бұрын

    Good explanation of the basics in considering a suitable briar block. Well done, Jeff!

  • @jalanpipes

    @jalanpipes

    7 ай бұрын

    Glad it was helpful!

  • @AaronHarlow
    @AaronHarlow6 жыл бұрын

    Heyyyy - you guys are back. Excited :D

  • @EmeraldXV
    @EmeraldXV6 жыл бұрын

    Great video! Keep making these! Would love to see someVLOG style videos as well while you're working in the shop. Thanks!

  • @LukeTheDuke93
    @LukeTheDuke936 жыл бұрын

    Very interesting. Thanks for sharing your expertise. You make some great pipes! -Luke

  • @jalanpipes

    @jalanpipes

    6 жыл бұрын

    My pleasure. Glad to know you enjoyed it.

  • @epsb5864
    @epsb58646 жыл бұрын

    Good information. Thanks for sharing!

  • @lomoDaniel
    @lomoDaniel6 жыл бұрын

    Been awhile. I would love to see more start to finish videos. On a variety of different pipe configurations.

  • @jalanpipes

    @jalanpipes

    6 жыл бұрын

    lomoDaniel I’ll see what I can do...

  • @RedBiirdy

    @RedBiirdy

    6 жыл бұрын

    That makes two of us! :-)

  • @JurasPriest

    @JurasPriest

    6 жыл бұрын

    Now it's three. ;)

  • @TheDeviusPiper
    @TheDeviusPiper9 ай бұрын

    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

    @jalanpipes

    7 ай бұрын

    Glad to know it was helpful!

  • @whitefordpipeshandmadebymi7238
    @whitefordpipeshandmadebymi72386 жыл бұрын

    Thanks Jeff ! I indeed learned a lot 😊 peace from Welland Ontario Canada 🇨🇦

  • @jalanpipes

    @jalanpipes

    6 жыл бұрын

    Glad to hear it was helpful

  • @ravindraadkhale9695
    @ravindraadkhale96955 жыл бұрын

    Good information. Thanks for sharing. Love and peace from India.

  • @jalanpipes

    @jalanpipes

    4 жыл бұрын

    It's a pleasure

  • @Benjalina666
    @Benjalina6665 ай бұрын

    Great video, thank you!

  • @stevenpricela
    @stevenpricela6 жыл бұрын

    Excellent Presentation, Jeff.Steve (Bell Canyon, CA)

  • @jalanpipes

    @jalanpipes

    6 жыл бұрын

    Thanks, Steve!

  • @podpunk
    @podpunk5 жыл бұрын

    hi, cool video. Cheers from italy.

  • @robertblanks9602
    @robertblanks96022 жыл бұрын

    Very informative and interesting 👍👍

  • @jalanpipes

    @jalanpipes

    2 жыл бұрын

    Glad you think so!

  • @kasperbunk9104
    @kasperbunk91046 жыл бұрын

    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

    @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.

  • @bobkrause0103
    @bobkrause01032 жыл бұрын

    Great video

  • @jalanpipes

    @jalanpipes

    2 жыл бұрын

    thanks!

  • @geemeff
    @geemeff2 жыл бұрын

    Sweet video bud!!!!

  • @jalanpipes

    @jalanpipes

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thanks!

  • @robertlbaker4627
    @robertlbaker46272 жыл бұрын

    great information - not as easy as I thought

  • @jalanpipes

    @jalanpipes

    2 жыл бұрын

    Glad it was helpful!

  • @yuri.frolov
    @yuri.frolov2 жыл бұрын

    Cool. Thank you!

  • @jalanpipes

    @jalanpipes

    2 жыл бұрын

    No problem!

  • @suspiciousninja1220
    @suspiciousninja12202 жыл бұрын

    Very informative

  • @jalanpipes

    @jalanpipes

    2 жыл бұрын

    Glad you think so!

  • @user-gy9ur6qt1g
    @user-gy9ur6qt1g Жыл бұрын

    grate, i iove it. thank you!🤩

  • @jalanpipes

    @jalanpipes

    7 ай бұрын

    welcome

  • @anubispup4760
    @anubispup47609 ай бұрын

    I hope I'll be able to utilize this information when my friend drops off a few blackberry burls in a few days.

  • @jalanpipes

    @jalanpipes

    7 ай бұрын

    good luck!

  • @karnash
    @karnash5 жыл бұрын

    Thanks!

  • @jalanpipes

    @jalanpipes

    4 жыл бұрын

    You're welcome

  • @samshahrokhi5635
    @samshahrokhi56352 жыл бұрын

    awesome

  • @jalanpipes

    @jalanpipes

    2 жыл бұрын

    Glad you liked it.

  • @squiremuldoon5462
    @squiremuldoon54624 жыл бұрын

    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

    @jalanpipes

    3 жыл бұрын

    Well said!

  • @gulfmedic1
    @gulfmedic16 жыл бұрын

    great information what other woods are good for pipe making

  • @jalanpipes

    @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.

  • @gklein4054
    @gklein40546 ай бұрын

    Thx

  • @lomoDaniel
    @lomoDaniel5 жыл бұрын

    Thinking about upgrading my lathe. Would like it to have a compound slide. Any suggestions for a budget bench top?

  • @jalanpipes

    @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.

  • @claudecharland5091
    @claudecharland50912 жыл бұрын

    it would be nice to see you make an original vesta pipe please from a block of briar

  • @jalanpipes

    @jalanpipes

    2 жыл бұрын

    I don’t make those

  • @Cootsie
    @Cootsie3 жыл бұрын

    Do you have any Briar from 2012 you could make a pipe out of? That’s the year my daughter was born.

  • @jalanpipes

    @jalanpipes

    2 жыл бұрын

    Possibly. Drop me an email and we can have a look.

  • @mokgable
    @mokgable5 жыл бұрын

    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

    @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

    @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

    @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.

  • @jasonochoochoski7442
    @jasonochoochoski74424 жыл бұрын

    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

    @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.

  • @johnfordham9791
    @johnfordham97916 жыл бұрын

    Nice and thanks for sharing!!!Looks like you are working out again???

  • @jalanpipes

    @jalanpipes

    6 жыл бұрын

    john fordham I’m glad you liked it. Always trying to stay healthy. Mostly cycling these days. :-)

  • @nonobrochacho240
    @nonobrochacho2403 жыл бұрын

    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

    @jalanpipes

    2 жыл бұрын

    72 and sunny. ;-) Yes, the climate stability does reduce my material woes.

  • @southpawwww
    @southpawwww4 жыл бұрын

    Any suggestions as where I can purchase brair directly? Website or local? I live in Chicago

  • @jalanpipes

    @jalanpipes

    3 жыл бұрын

    Google is your friend. :)

  • @gedion4000
    @gedion40006 жыл бұрын

    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

    @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

    @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

    @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.

  • @jkbk121
    @jkbk1214 жыл бұрын

    nice mackie bt studio monitors

  • @jalanpipes

    @jalanpipes

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thanks!

  • @emilianoqueiroz
    @emilianoqueiroz3 жыл бұрын

    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

    @jalanpipes

    3 жыл бұрын

    It's best to contact a briar mill or retailer of pipe making supplies

  • @thevandertramp
    @thevandertramp Жыл бұрын

    Can other woods be used other than briar?

  • @bveracka

    @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

    @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.

  • @eqlzr2
    @eqlzr24 жыл бұрын

    When you started making pipes, you didn't do any preparatory research?

  • @jalanpipes

    @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

    @eqlzr2

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@jalanpipes At the beginning of the video, thx.

  • @jalanpipes

    @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

    @eqlzr2

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@jalanpipes I figured as much. Many thanks for your efforts.

  • @muhammadsuyuti4471
    @muhammadsuyuti44713 жыл бұрын

    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...