Understanding Briar for Pipemaking

[@drdavey9646]

Excellent informative information man. Thank you for the video.

[@jalanpipes]

sure thing

[@NomDeTube]

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]

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

[@pemirsa2]

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

[@jalanpipes]

Glad it was helpful!

[@hizo64HH]

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]

Glad you liked it!

[@lomoDaniel]

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

[@jalanpipes]

lomoDaniel I’ll see what I can do...

[@RedBiirdy]

That makes two of us! :-)

[@JurasPriest]

Now it's three. ;)

[@ravindraadkhale9695]

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

[@jalanpipes]

It's a pleasure

[@EmeraldXV]

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

[@TheDeviusPiper]

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]

Glad to know it was helpful!

[@Mahalarbknives]

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

[@Sfolden85]

I missed your videos, thanks for sharing!

[@etchmfg]

Heyyyy - you guys are back. Excited :D

[@whitefordpipeshandmadebymi7238]

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

[@jalanpipes]

Glad to hear it was helpful

[@LukeTheDuke93]

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

[@jalanpipes]

My pleasure. Glad to know you enjoyed it.

[@robertlbaker4627]

great information - not as easy as I thought

[@jalanpipes]

Glad it was helpful!

[@robertblanks9602]

Very informative and interesting 👍👍

[@jalanpipes]

Glad you think so!

[@stevenpricela]

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

[@jalanpipes]

Thanks, Steve!

[@gulfmedic1]

great information what other woods are good for pipe making

[@jalanpipes]

lots of people use morta (bog oak), olive wood, and strawberry wood. I wouldn't stray too far from those and briar.

[@kasperbunk9104]

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]

Kasper Bunk thanks! I’m glad to know that you enjoy the videos. I’ll see about doing one with bamboo in the future.

[@mokgable]

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]

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]

@@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]

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.

[@paulmathews4087]

Very informative. Thanks for sharing!

[@jasonochoochoski7442]

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]

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.

[@bobkrause0103]

Great video

[@jalanpipes]

thanks!

[@geemeff]

Sweet video bud!!!!

[@jalanpipes]

Thanks!

[@lomoDaniel]

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

[@jalanpipes]

'Budget' is relative. Some lathes are too small for turning bowls, but most small bench lathes can turn out mouthpieces with a little effort.

[@yuri.frolov]

Cool. Thank you!

[@jalanpipes]

No problem!

[@podpunk]

hi, cool video. Cheers from italy.

[@squiremuldoon5462]

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]

Well said!

[@claudecharland5091]

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

[@jalanpipes]

I don’t make those

[@epsb5864]

Good information. Thanks for sharing!

[@Benjalina666]

Great video, thank you!

[@jalanpipes]

Glad you liked it!

[@nonobrochacho240]

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]

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

[@suspiciousninja1220]

Very informative

[@jalanpipes]

Glad you think so!

[@Cootsie]

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

[@jalanpipes]

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

[@southpawwww]

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

[@jalanpipes]

Google is your friend. :)

[@thevandertramp]

Can other woods be used other than briar?

[@bveracka]

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]

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.

[@dunderfuss]

What about osage orange?

[@gedion4000]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[@emilianoqueiroz]

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]

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

[@johnfordham9791]

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

[@jalanpipes]

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

[@RockinChairGoblin]

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

[@jalanpipes]

good luck!

[@VladArov]

grate, i iove it. thank you!🤩

[@jalanpipes]

welcome

[@karnash]

Thanks!

[@jalanpipes]

You're welcome

[@samshahrokhi5635]

awesome

[@jalanpipes]

Glad you liked it.

[@jkbk121]

nice mackie bt studio monitors

[@jalanpipes]

Thanks!

[@gklein4054]

Thx

[@eqlzr2]

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

[@jalanpipes]

eqlzr2 I’m not sure I understand what the question is referring to. Were you responding to a particular part of the video?

[@eqlzr2]

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

[@jalanpipes]

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]

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

[@muhammadsuyuti4471]

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...