Corn Stalk Sitter Pipe
How rough can times be, if I'm trying to smoke a corn stalk? This pipe began when I was cutting down the corn plants in 2017. I noticed how seemingly solid the lower stalks were on those hefty, giant corn varieties. So I saved sections of stalk from 3 plants, and allowed them to dry.
There are two structural problems with the stalks. First, as the stalks dried, they became less round in cross-section, and more oval. The second issue is that, unlike bamboo, which has a solid partition that fully blocks one node from the next, the node partitions in a cornstalk are only partial, and are insubstantial.
After removing the soft pulp, I was left with a lopsided tube, open at both ends. The bottom opening was fairly round, so I inserted a section of bamboo (untreated tomato stake) into it, and then filled the interior of the bamboo with a whittled section of a maple twig from my yard. This was not air-tight. I applied a thick spackling of Shoe Goo adhesive to the exterior of the bottom, and smoothed it with a Popsicle stick.
Looking into the tobacco hole, there are gaps and crevices surrounding the bamboo and wood plugs. My thought is to make a paste of molasses and tobacco ash, and pack it down in there.
The stem is another section of bamboo, with a Tygon tubing bit. The joint is sealed with more Shoe Goo. I've used Shoe Goo on 3 other pipes that I've smoked enough to feel confident that, so long as the glue is not in a burn area, it holds up well to moisture and the exterior heat of a hot pipe bowl.
The real question is whether this is a smokable pipe, or just a clever, decorative, pipe-like sculpture. I'm not certain that it won't burst into flame, like a Tiki torch, at the first touch of a lighter.
I'll let the Shoe Goo cure for a few days, pack in the molasses and ash to line the bottom of the bowl, probably coat the interior walls of the stalk with molasses, then see how she sails.
Bob
How rough can times be, if I'm trying to smoke a corn stalk? This pipe began when I was cutting down the corn plants in 2017. I noticed how seemingly solid the lower stalks were on those hefty, giant corn varieties. So I saved sections of stalk from 3 plants, and allowed them to dry.
There are two structural problems with the stalks. First, as the stalks dried, they became less round in cross-section, and more oval. The second issue is that, unlike bamboo, which has a solid partition that fully blocks one node from the next, the node partitions in a cornstalk are only partial, and are insubstantial.
After removing the soft pulp, I was left with a lopsided tube, open at both ends. The bottom opening was fairly round, so I inserted a section of bamboo (untreated tomato stake) into it, and then filled the interior of the bamboo with a whittled section of a maple twig from my yard. This was not air-tight. I applied a thick spackling of Shoe Goo adhesive to the exterior of the bottom, and smoothed it with a Popsicle stick.
Looking into the tobacco hole, there are gaps and crevices surrounding the bamboo and wood plugs. My thought is to make a paste of molasses and tobacco ash, and pack it down in there.
The stem is another section of bamboo, with a Tygon tubing bit. The joint is sealed with more Shoe Goo. I've used Shoe Goo on 3 other pipes that I've smoked enough to feel confident that, so long as the glue is not in a burn area, it holds up well to moisture and the exterior heat of a hot pipe bowl.
The real question is whether this is a smokable pipe, or just a clever, decorative, pipe-like sculpture. I'm not certain that it won't burst into flame, like a Tiki torch, at the first touch of a lighter.
I'll let the Shoe Goo cure for a few days, pack in the molasses and ash to line the bottom of the bowl, probably coat the interior walls of the stalk with molasses, then see how she sails.
Bob