Reproducing and Creating New Unique Designs
Puzzle Tobacco Pipes
Clay Tobacco Pipes Proudly Supplied By Southern Cross Pipes
Before you take ownership of your first clay pipe, you should acquire some knowledge about them. The different types of clay tobacco pipes are know as Slip Cast pipes and Press cast pipes. At Southern Cross Pipes we use the slip cast method to produce our fantastic range of Quality clay Tobacco pipes.
First we make a mold of the Pipe in Plaster of Paris.
The clay pipes are made with a product called SLIP. What is slip you ask?
It’s a very liquid clay and water mixture. The slip is pored into a Plaster of Paris mold of your pipe. A wire is carefully placed down the length of the stem until it reaches the bowl.The mold absorbs moisture from the slip for about 10 minutes. Then we can empty the remaining slip from the mold. As the moisture is absorbed by the mold the clay is left clinging to the inside.
The mold and contents are left to harden for a few hours. Then the wire is carefully removed and the mold is cracked open revealing your pipe. The clay pipe is still very damp and at this stage it is said to be in a leather hard state. You can trim any Imperfections at this point easily.
The pipes are dried further until no moisture is present and then fired in a kiln at 1000°C. The clay pipes are now ready to be used as clean skins or ready for decorating with a colour and or clear glaze. When the painting has been completed the pipe is fired in the kiln again at 1000°C. Then you can apply the glaze and refire the pipe one more time at 1000°C. Now your lovely decorated clay pipes are ready to be used or put on display.
Clay pipes that are clearly intended as a display piece will probably not smoke very well, and may suffer when you attempt to do any comprehensive cleaning. (Puzzle Pipe)
A clay pipe that is very decorative, but appears to have been designed for actual use will probably smoke as well as any other clay pipe and will not pose any problems when cleaning it.
At Southern Cross Pipes we Research, Plan, Design, Test and Produce the Most Diverse Range of Clay Pipes. We have Calabash, Wedgwood, Masonic to name but a few.
Our hand crafted and painted pipes are of the highest quality.
Our attention to detail shows through our range.
With Over 20 Years of Experience we can Reproduce almost any Antique Pipe. We have many new unique pipe designs for the modern era on display.
We have a new Pipes 3D Picture Gallery for your viewing pleasure.
These Pipes remind us of our Past and would make a great Present as a Collectors item. They are great conversation starters full of history and mystery.
If you would like a Pipe Reproduced or Made to Order Please Don’t Hesitate to Contact Us. Our prices are very reasonable for the amount of work that is involved. You can view how they are Reproduced in our Making a Pipe Page.
HEY !!! Before you go…. have a look at our 3D Gallery. It won’t take long.
Just long enough to smoke a Pipe, so go and pack one NOW!!!
Hunt a Bargain !!!! Find Some Clay Tobacco Pipes For Sale at our ebay Store.
Follow the ebay link below.
Ebay Store
Ebay Store
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Ringmaster – R. Emerick
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