1. TPC-How long have you been smoking pipes?                                                                                                                                BB-Well, I actually have been smoking pipes for a few years now but I “started” smoking a pipe many years ago when I was much younger. I ended up moving to cigars and then to the infamous nails. I quit smoking cigarettes six years ago and I haven’t looked back but I was finally able to occasionally enjoy a pipe about two years ago without feeling like I needed the nicotine, but more so wanted the enjoyment and relaxation time that coincides with smoking a pipe.
   

TPC- Who or what got you interested in them?

BB- Pipes are a thing beauty; functional art if you will. There is something so sophisticated and classic about a pipe. This could have been part of the interest for me but it is hard to say. I became more interested in the pipe itself a few years back when I decided that I wanted to feel that enjoyment of the “me-time” that comes along with it.

TPC- How long have you been making pipes?
 
BB-I have been making pipes for about 2 years now but I have only started taking it seriously since May of 2012. This goes along with the point of me starting to smoke a pipe again. I decided that I would not smoke a pipe until I had made my own. I think that it is just my personality. I like to create; it is just something that has always been a part of me. I have always been an artistic person, whether it is writing or music or whatever canvas I have chosen. Making pipes allows me to express that creative side of me in a way that is also functional for use as well.


TPC-Did you have a mentor? Or someone you talk to about Pipe Making?

BB- I didn’t necessarily have a mentor when I began but I have definitely learned a lot from a lot of great people. Actually, you Mike have been a huge source of mentoring when it comes to my pipe making. Although you don’t make pipes yourself, you really encourage me to push myself further with the experience that you do have with the pipes that you own; thanks! Also, I have a great friend/client who really helps out a lot as well. He has smoked my pipes and he is a great source for critique. I am a never-ending learner, so when I get to sit with the amazing carvers that are out there I try to soak up all of the information that they tell me. To sum it all up, I appreciate all of the information and critique that everyone has given me.

TPC- Do you have any background, for example art classes or woodworking that has helped your pipe making?

BB- As I said before, I have always been an artist person so I do believe that that has helped. I took a few years of woodshop back in high school and it was always an enjoyable time for me. I had the basics down from the woodshop classes but there was (and is) still so much to learn. I am a firm believer that the best way to learn something is to dive in and get your hands dirty. But, I do want to stress the importance of also doing some research and ensuring safety as well.

TPC- What gives you inspiration or what process do you go through when thinking up new designs?

BB- This is a great question. I am a nature lover hence the brand name “Briar Bird.” I find inspiration in the things that we experience in our everyday lives yet maybe we take for granted. I love to brainstorm my take on classic shapes while using inspiration from nature. Sometimes I will use a certain wood as an accent on a pipe and then I will do some research on that tree which leads me to what types of birds like to make their homes or eat from that tree. This is one way I will come up with the bird name for a pipe, although I do not name every pipe. Inspiration is everywhere so I try to take note of that when I am creating a new pipe.

TPC- Who are some makers whose work you admire?

BB- This is another great question. I am fortunate enough to be able to see so many great carvers’ works thanks to social media. Some of the makers who really blow my mind with their quality and craftsmanship are guys like Nate King, Bill Shalosky, Giovanni from Gio Pipes. I love seeing Mark Balkovec and Chris Morgan’s work. There are really so many amazing carvers out there. I really do admire a lot of carver’s works.


TPC- What are some of your hobbies, other interests?

BB- I am a music junkie. I love listening to it and making it as well. I could probably sit around with my buddies and talk about music for days. I also love literature and movies and I have just recently become a big sports fan as well. It was never a big deal to me before but I now find myself yelling at the TV when my favorite teams are losing (which is often being an Ohio sports fan…).

TPC- You are constantly trying new designs, shapes, stem materials, is there any big ideas brewing in your head right now?

BB- I have been mentally designing my “Raven” pipe for months now. I have certain aspects of it solidified but it just has not come out the exact way I want it to when I do a preliminary drawing of it. I am trying to slowly get away from acrylic materials although I do still use them on occasion. When it comes to stems I just don’t think you can beat ebonite (vulcanite).


TPC- What are your long term goals at BriarBird pipes? Can we expect to see you around for a long time?

BB- I will be around as long as people want me around. I love making pipes; it really has become a passion of mine. I really try to make a great pipe at a great price as well. My goals are to learn new things about the engineering and artistic aspects of the pipe. I want to get better and better with each pipe I make. I am approaching pipe number 100 very soon and my goal is to make it something very special. Eventually I would like to make some higher grade pipes under my name but I always want to continue the Briar Bird brand as well. Thank you Mike for the chance to be the TPC spotlight.


I have been chatting with Jason for several months now, he is one of the nicest, humblest guys I have ever met, It has been a huge honor to get to know him and call him a friend, his following is growing at a steady rate, and so is the quality of his pipes, a young man with natural talent and a huge willingness to learn, the sky is the limit, I always look forward to seeing J’s latest creations on Instagram and Facebook, and have found another lifelong friend, keep up the great work J! Sweet Smokes- Mike TPC

TPC- How long have you been smoking pipes?

Alex- Ive been smoking pipes off and on since 2008. I dabbled with cigars since 2000. But always wanted to try pipes.


TPC- Who or what got you interested in them?

Alex- To me pipes are like snow flakes, no two are alike, there is something mystical about that. But l like most, my grandpa, and my uncle used to smoke pipes, and the aroma was amazing. One day at a BBQ at my sisters house, a friend of ours was smoking a pipe, the aroma brought back good memories. So the next day I got a pipe, and some tobacco... and the rest you know.


TPC- How long have you been making pipes?

Alex- I’ve bee making pipes since 2009. At first however it started as a hobby. I did not have any intention of selling pipes, I was just making them for myself. But a friend saw one of them and bought it, and I thought maybe other will like them too.

TPC- Did you have a mentor? Or someone you talk to about Pipe Making?

Alex- No. Picked up some tips here and there by watching some YouTube videos on pipe making and air flow dynamics, and by snooping around a few pipe making forums. But I learned “a lot” about pipe making mostly by trial and error. In 2009 there were not that many indie pipe makers on YouTube, it was mostly pipe factory videos, and some Italian pipe makers with few videos. And needless to say many pipe makers are like magicians, they don’t reveal any secrets, or any info really.


TPC- Do you have any background, for example art classes or woodworking that has helped your pipe making?

Alex- My background is graphic and industrial design, and sign fabrication. My sign and graphics business (which I closed last year) had basically all the tools I needed to make pipes. All I added was some wood and stem material.


TPC- What gives you inspiration or what process do you go through when thinking up new designs?

Alex- I get inspired by peoples reactions to my my pipes, its a great feeling. Everyday objects that I come in contact with give me ideas. Mugs, glasses, bottles, and then I try to imagine a stem on it. There are millions of pipe shapes out there already, I try read between the lines. I don’t want someone to look at my pipes and say “hey that looks alot like a pipe from such and such”. There are plenty of copy cats out there, I do not want to be one.


TPC- Your pipes are bold, big and you are not afraid to experiment with color, does this approach match your personality?

Alex- Very much so. My approach to life is “ Do it, or you will regret not doing it.” Since the meaning of life has not been revealed yet, there is no time to beat around the bush. I try to incorporate different colors in my pipes, instead of the few colors that many stick to.


TPC- You recently moved to the magical land of pipes..Denmark, do you feel a different inspiration? Are you experimenting with different “Danish” influenced styles?

Alex- Love it here! There is a big difference in what pipe shapes and sizes Europeans like, and what we like in the US. Although I love the work of Danish pipe makers, their style is subtle and quiet. I am an American, proud and loud. But since tobacco is sort of expensive here, I sometimes need to make smaller pipes for my European customers. I guess my big gas guzzling pipes are not economical in Europe.


TPC- Who are some makers whose work you admire?

Alex- Love the indie guys, Balkovec, Gio Pipes, Banisam, Hackert, there is a lot of talent there. The big commercial houses are getting boring, they copy each other too much, so there is not much admiration there.


TPC- What are your long term goals at FatBastard pipes? Can we expect to see you around for a long time?

Alex- I wish to improve my skills even further as I make more pipes, and to streamline my pipe making process. Luckily the way we live doesn’t cost much here, so aside from helping my wife in her business, I can almost be a full time pipe maker. Im not making pipes for the money however, because there is not much money to be made if you are a small operation, which I am. Most of what I make goes back to buying wood, and supplies. I just love making tobacco pipes. Making pipes in a small shop in the countryside is quite relaxing, and the end product is very rewarding to me. So, I’m pretty sure I will be making pipes until the end, or thereabouts. : )


We all hope so! Alex has garnered a very loyal following, a very generous talented man, has been a sponsor of every TPC contest we have put on, He has found a way to make popular shapes stick out of the crowd, as I said earlier he often pushes the envelope with design and colors, and that’s a big reason everyone wants a FatBastard Pipe! Keep up the great work Alex! Sweet Smokes- Mike Lancaster-Founder TPC

I started smoking a pipe in 2006 at the age of 19. Before that I had been a cigar smoker for almost 2 years. For a long time something about pipes intrigued me and I had wanted to try one for as long as I could remember. Not knowing anyone who smoked a pipe I looked to the internet for information and joined Smokers Forums. Here I learned about pipes and tobaccos and also about restoration of estate pipes. With a limited budget and little to offer in my local tobacconists I bought a few estate pipes on eBay and cleaned them up for my first smoke. Luckily I was fairly well equipped to do this as at the time my hobby was amateur silver smithing and much of the equipment and skills I had in that area were easily transferred to cleaning estate pipes. For my first pipe tobacco I traded with a cigar smoking friend in the US, I sent him a few hard to get cigars, he sent me a few tins of good quality pipe tobacco, McClelland’s I recall.

After my first smoke I was hooked and while I still enjoy the occasional cigar, the pipe is my primary method of enjoying tobacco.

With my first few restorations under my belt I improved my tooling a little and bought more estates from eBay and other sources. I posted my efforts on Smokers Forums and it wasn’t long before I had people sending me pipes to work on for them. I also started modifying pipes, for example taking a smooth pipe with fills and rusticating the surface, again I soon had orders for this work from others.

This continued for the best part of a year, my own collection increasing dramatically both in terms of pipes and tobacco.

In 2007 the UK held its last Pipe smoking competition and I was eager to attend but travel would be difficult. Through the kindness of members of the South West Pipe Club, whom I had never met save through some online correspondence, transport was arranged to and from the competition. At just 20 I am certain I was the youngest entrant however I held my own and managed to place midway in the timings.

The kindness of the SWPC members continued with offers of transport so I was able to attend club meetings. It was at one of these club meetings that I met Paul Hubartt of Larrysson Pipes. He was very interested in my restoration work and modifications of pipes and offered a visit to his workshop to have a go at making a pipe.

At the time I thought he was humouring an eager novice, but, sure enough a few weeks later I get a phone call saying he had some free time, of course I jumped at the chance!

Paul’s teaching method was simple, he made a simple pipe start to finish, then handed me a block of briar and a stem and said “Your turn”. I was turned loose on expensive tooling of which I had little knowledge, to say the experience was nerve wracking is an understatement! Paul was always on hand when needed and was helpful without being overbearing or patronising which set me at ease. By the end of that day I had a drilled block, rough shaped and with a stem fitted. I was sent home to finish the rest by hand.

When I showed Paul the completed pipe a few weeks later he said I had some talent and that he thought with practise I could be a good pipe maker one day and if I wanted to learn he was willing to teach me.

The only slight hitch is that Paul lives in a small fairly remote village about 40 mins away from me so the first major hurdle was learning to drive and buying a car. Luckily in the mean time there was a bus that got me most of the way and Paul would pick me up from the bus stop. Driving lessons were started right away, how is that for dedication to the craft! Pipe making lessons also began, one day every fortnight were spent at Paul’s workshop. At that time I had a full time job in retail management so those visits to his workshop were on my days off. Days when most people would relax, maybe have a lie in, I instead would get up even earlier than normal, walk to the bus stop, spend over an hour on the bus to a village in Cornwall where Paul would pick me up for a days pipe making, returning home later that evening. They were great times however and I learned a lot and made progress fast, very soon I was able to prepare a couple of pipes during that day for finishing at home. It wasn’t long before those same people that were sending me pipes for restoration and modification, now wanted to buy the pipes I was making. Of course these pipes were being made using Paul’s tools and materials so we came to a deal, Paul was happy for me to sell the pipes made in his workshop under my own name on the condition that all the profits were to be saved for buying my own tools and equipment, which he would help me to source. Since that day I have more or less sold every pipe I have made, at least the first couple of dozen pipes were made entirely at Paul’s workshop but he soon found me a good lathe and I started to work more at my own workshop. Of course Paul and I still met regularly to swap ideas, share tips and just generally hang out.

So with my own workshop slowly coming together and pipes selling well the next big change comes. In early 2009 the company I worked for “re-structured” and I was made redundant. With jobs scarce at the time due to the economy I just made pipes to pass the time more than anything else, it was my hobby that I enjoyed on my days off work, so with no work I now had a lot more time to make pipes. With all this extra time to make pipes obviously came extra sales and quickly I started to think, hey I might actually be able to do this full time. As of today (July 2012) I have been a full time pipe maker for over 3 years, my workshop in the garage of my house in Plymouth. It’s small and dark, cold in the winter and full of spiders which I hate, however I genuinely enjoy my job and going to work each day.

The method I use to make pipes is still essentially what Paul taught me almost 4 years ago, but my tooling is slightly different and over time I have evolved slightly different work practises that suit me. A lot of my tooling is either custom built by me or to my own design. Of course I use a lot of power tools, not only to cut down on time but also to save strain on my body, hand tools are fine for hobby work, but for full time production I need power! Although I do use power tools my pipes are still completely hand made, the tools don’t do any shaping for me, they just make things faster and more efficient. I don’t use pre-turned bowls or a fraising machine, I start from scratch with a whole block of briar and piece of rod stock to make my stems. The pipes are drilled on an engineering lathe, as is the rod stock, tenons are made of delrin. Shaping is done at a home made disc sander or belt sander with finishing touches by hand with files, rasps and sandpaper. I also sandblast in a home built set up that was a very costly setup but a necessary one to evolve as a pipe maker. I make my pipes mostly from briar and English Morta, but I have also used Olive wood in the past and regularly use Strawberry wood which is a material I really enjoy working as not only are the pipes great smokers but the blasts you can achieve are just stunning.

TPC- Where are you from? Can you tell us a little about it?

SK- I am from Elk Grove Village, Illinois. It is a suburb of Chicago and minutes from the Chicago pipe show. I was born and raised here and have lived here most of my life. It is a quiet little suburb for the most part.


TPC- How long have you been smoking pipes?

SK- I have been smoking a pipe for 3 years now.


TPC- How long have you been Making Pipes?

SK- I have been making pipes for about 2-1/2 years. Right after the 2010 Chicago show, but I have been working with wood since I was about 9 in some capacity.


TPC- I know you had an amazing mentor, tell us how that all came about?

SK- I met Alex Florov through my girlfriends father, and got lucky enough to be invited to learn to make pipes with him. He recognized that I was not a complete rookie as a craftsman, and that probably helped. I also worked very hard to not waste his time. LOL.


TPC- Your style is very high grade, your eye for detail is amazing, when starting a pipe, do you have a shape in mind or does the Briar help you decide?

SK- It is a little bit of both. A lot of times you start with a shape in mind, but cannot find a block for it. You end up re-working the shape, or chosing something completely different to compensate for what you have to work with. When you have a shape in mind, and a good block presents itself, and all goes "according to plan" that is a good day in pipe making.


TPC- What inspires you in your pipemaking?

SK- I would say I draw a lot of inspiration from every day life. Simple things like animals and flowers. But I have noticed that after a vacation or being somewhere very beautiful, I make something I am especially pleased with. So there is an obvious link between my ispiration and surroundings.


TPC- What kind of background did you have that helps you now as a pipemaker?

SK- Basically a lot of woodwork when I was a kid got me interested in being a craftsman, and I learned a lot of fine detail and how to really do nice work in H.S. Wood shop, and building construction.


TPC- how many pipes have you made this year?

SK- I dont keep exact count. somewhere around 45 or so. I typically work the most in the winter leading up to Christmas, when it gets cold out, I feel the most urge to work.


TPC- You are one of the young guns coming up putting out amazing pieces one after another, who are some other makers work you enjoy?

SK- I take a lot of inspiration from the guys out there who have been doing this for many years. pretty much everyone out there who works hard has something to teach me, I respect and value all of their opinions.


TPC- What are your long term goals, can we plan on seeing many more pipes coming from you for a long time?

SK- Oh absolutely! Long term whos know what will happen. I plan on making pipes as long as I can. I can already feel the arthritis setting in (long family history of very very bad arthritis) so I am hoping for some advancements in the medical field as well. But I plan to continue making pipes till I can't hold the knife. :)



Scott is a down to earth great guy, very blessed to have got to know him, he is making amazing pipes, and I am sure made his mentor very proud, I hope to see his pipes continue to be made for many years, he is one pipemaker that is on my short list of must haves. Thank you Scott for making beautiful works of art, and taking the time to do this- Sweet Smokes, Mike TPC

TPC:  First of all, tell us a little about your background.
Steve Liskey:  I am 28 years old. I live in Southern California.

TPC:  How did you get into pipes/pipe smoking? What was your first pipe?
SL: I started smoking a pipe when I was 18 years old or so. My first pipe was a Dr. Grabow bent billiard.

TPC:  When did you start making pipes? Did you study under another pipe maker?
SL:  I started making pipes when I was 21 years old as a hobby. I’ve been a part time professional carver for around three years. I have been lucky enough to work with Jeff Gracik of J. Alan pipes and Todd M. Johnson form The Briar Studio, as well as getting advice from many other makers such as, Bruce Weaver, Steve Morrisette, Grant Batson, Charles Cole, and Tyler Beard. All of which have been extremely helpful.

TPC:  I am impressed by the variety of shapes you produce and the flowing organic lines they tend to have. Even your more traditional shapes are executed in an artistic and original way. Where do you derive your inspiration? Do you have an artistic background? Are you involved in any other artistic endeavors?
SL:  It’s hard to have purely original thoughts with all of the variations from so many makers. I tend to carve pipes using lines that I find pleasing to my eye not necessarily following a fixed pattern. I try not to pull ideas from one source of inspiration. Instead I try to use everything that is around me. It might be the way someone used a line on a pipe I’ve seen or the way a fallen leaf might curve a certain way. The important thing I always try to remember is to make it my own, and that is not always an easy thing to do. I don’t have any formal background in art. I’ve always enjoyed drawing and wood working but experience by trial and error has been my only education.

TPC:  If I were you I would be seriously tempted to keep every single pipe on your website. Do you ever find it hard to part with them? How often do you keep one for personal use?
SL:  I don’t find it hard to part with pipe that I’ve made. I enjoy making them but the ultimate gratification is someone enjoying what I’ve made, not in the object itself. I’ve kept a few of my pipes for myself but only for testing out new ideas or pipes that are able to smoke but not sellable.

TPC:  As I understand from other pipe makers, briar can be a fickle mistress. How often do you come across a piece of briar with too many flaws to make a decent pipe?
SL:  I don’t sell any pipes that have large pits or voids. Because of that I try to pay attention to what the briar is showing me while I shape. As I get deeper into a piece of briar I look for voids and large pits. The more that show up gives me a clue to what the rest of the block will yield. Even if I manage to get a shape that fits without imperfections in it there are more than likely hidden ones so the piece is set aside as a non sellable piece.

TPC:  I’ve heard some pipe makers say that they have a shape planned out before they dig into a piece of briar. I’ve heard others say they merely “interpret” the briar, letting the briar sort of be their guide. Which way do you approach your work, or is it a little of both?
SL:  I tend to do both or a mixture of both to be more accurate. I look at what potential a block might have and sketch a rough shape on it. That rough shape might change two or three times during the shaping process depending on grain and imperfections.

TPC:  What do you consider to be the most difficult aspect of pipe making?
SL:  Getting a shape just right is the most difficult. I often finish a pipe only to take it to a wheel again and adjust something. I am still a young carver and sometimes you don’t notice what needs to be done in order to get a shape to “Flow” until it’s already finished or close to that. As I gain experience it happens less often but it’s still something that plagues me.

TPC: Who are a few other pipe makers you admire?
SL:  I love seeing other maker’s work but the work of Cornelius Maenz, Hiroyuki Tokutomi, Brad Pohlmann, Todd Johnson, Jeff Gracik, Lars Ivarsson, Bo Nordh, and Tom Eltang really stand out . They are some of the first carvers I was ever introduced to and a huge inspiration to me.

TPC:  What are a couple quick pieces of advice you’d give aspiring pipe makers?
SL:  For the new makers out there I think the hardest thing is for them to take constructive criticism. Listen to it, learn from it, and correct your mistakes. People are trying to help you, not put you down. If you listen your work will improve and reflect it.

TPC:  In conclusion, a few tobacco questions: If you had to choose your top five favorite tobacco blends, what would they be?
SL:  My top five blends would have to be Red Ribbon, Penzance, exotrique, Dunhill London Mix, Capstan.

TPC:  How many bowls a day do you smoke?
SL:  I normally smoke 3-5 bowls a day.

TPC:  Do you tend to like different tobaccos at different times of day?
SL:  I smoke the same blend for a few days or so before switching to a different one.

The world of indie pipemakers can be a super competitive, sometimes almost cutthroat place.  Steve Liskey is one of the rare guys you will never hear a negative word about.  Indeed, the consistent quality and beauty of his pipes speaks for itself.  Make sure to check out his stunning pipes at www.steveliskeypipes.com! Thank you, Steve, for giving us some insight into your process!  Keep the beautiful pipes coming my friend!

Adam Hansen  TPC
 

TPC-  Where are you From?   Can you tell us a little about it?

  Daniel- I was born in Germany and lived there for a year.. After that my parents moved to Croatia where I am living ever since… A big part of my family is German, some of it from Hungary and the rest I guess is Croatia and others :P … A mixed story J (sort of) J….

I am electronic engineer and was specialized for years in audio electronics – high end kind of gear that played music for the soul not for ears…

TPC- When did you start smoking a pipe? How were you introduced to pipe smoking?

Daniel-  Ever since I can remember I was fascinated with pipes, with people smoking them, with since of peace they had while doing that and the smell of them… Was really interesting for me my whole life.. Since my whole life I am searching for a peace in myself, with myself and the world around me, probably the logical thing for me to do was also to start smoking pipes out of pure pleasure…

Pipes were a bit to expensive for me, my family is non-smoking top to bottom (from what I knew at that time) so, I was attracted to it but never actually started to smoke… The last kick in the back gave me my cousin that was actually smoking a pipe for around 10 years at that time… He was visiting my family in Croatia and when he pulled his pipe from the pocket, that was the beginning of a new era for me… Everything started from that conversation with my pipe smoking/pipe making… We agreed that he will send me a predrilled block (since I am good with tools) that is far cheaper than a finished pipe and that I will make a pipe for myself.. As inpatient as I am, that never happen. I bought two blocks soon after that conversation and made a pipe for me and my wife. Also, around that time, I bought a pipe from a gentleman from Italy (cheap eBay stuff), got two more from a nice gentleman and a friend from Croatia, so, I started more to enjoy pipe smoking… At this time, I smoke only pipes that I made, they are simply the best thing I can afford to me – really expensive pipes I can’t afford to myself – even some of my pipes are to expensive or to nice for me to smoke them…

TPC- How long have you been making pipes?

Daniel- I made my first pipe on a 12th of August 2010.. So, in a few days it will be two years since I started to make pipes J… Nice I must say – and also appropriate for this interview to come at this special time for me… Thank you Mike

TPC- Do you have any other experience in Art?

Daniel-  I don’t know what to say… Yes, I so know to play a piano. Yes, I do know how to tune it and repair them also.. I do paint sometimes (would do that more often if I had time). Yes, I do make crazy looking pipes and audio equipment that played music for the soul and heart… But am I an artist – probably not… For sure I do not think about myself in that direction… Maybe only to say that I like art and trying my best to recreate what I like the most…

TPC-  Did you have a mentor?

Daniel-  Around that time, when I made my first two or three pipes and when I started making pipes for my friends, that agreed to help me with my pipemaking ( a sort of pipe for a price of the material agreement), my two friends and mentors found me… Eder Mathias (Mr.Hyde pipes) was the first one and Enrico Marola (Enricoro pipes) followed him soon after… Their knowledge and also internet was the source of everything that I know now that did not came from what I already knew before I starting making pipes… It also wouldn’t be nice not to mention Davorin Djenovic, a pipemaker from Croatia, who also helped me from time to time along my way.

TPC- Who are some other makers who you enjoy to look at?

Daniel-   Ohhh, a lot of them.. I like a good pipe, rather than to concentrate for a special pipemaker and follow his ideas… A good pipe is a good pipe, does not matter who made it… But, if I should mention some of them that I look more often than I would for sure had to mention guys like R. Wallenstein, M. Knets, A.Davidson, L. Geiger, C. Manz, T. Johnson, V. Yashtylov, P.Winslow and so on… The list is long, and my database large but those few are probably the most common that I look forward to look at – what’s new and so on…

TPC- Your pipes are very easy to pick out of a crowd, how would you explain your style?

Daniel-  I don’t know actually… I shape my pipes as I feel. I am not trying to make them according to a some direction… There is a day when I like to make something crazy, also days when I like to be more classical.. In reality, I am playing… Trying not to bore myself. Like a child that is exploring what he can do… So, shaping according to a feeling and urge to explore – can’t say much more about the style…

TPC-  What inspires you?

Daniel-  A lot of things… A picture on my Facebook wall. A poem.. My wife sitting in peace on a grass and looking the clouds in the sky… My son and his questions that I get all the time.. Walking our family dog. People around me… Everything actually… Nature maybe the most… I don’t know… I was not thinking much about this question.

TPC- What are your long term plans for TnD pipes?

Daniel- Ohh, it would be nice to be able to make a regular pipemaking workshop, to make pipes not only as a hobby but as a way to make some money for a living… It would be nice to be able to see my son shape his first pipe… and to feel that he likes it too… Yes, this would be nice.. Also, to see m wife to shape her second pipe and third… To make a small family business in a small workshop in a small house surrounded with trees… That would be nice… To fulfill the dream


  Daniel Mustran is a class act, I have really enjoyed watching his work evolve, there is no doubt in my mind Daniel is certainly an artist, and his pipes are on my list of ones to watch always, his fine lines, amazing finishes, his attention to detail is superb, I love his use of color, if that is not an artist, I do not know what is!

 I hope to see Daniel and his family crafting pipes for a long, long time!

As I post this Daniel celebrates his 2 year anniversary as a pipe maker, cheers Daniel on Many more!

Mike Lancaster- President/Founder Tobacco Pipe Collectors

TPC - Where were you Born? Where do you reside currently? Can you tell us a little about it?

Chris - I was born in San Jose, CA in 1984. I currently live in the next town over called Los Gatos. Its a quiet little place at the base of the Santa Cruz Mountains. As luck would have it, I live on Main Street in said town. Pretty fitting I think. Los Gatos has an old timey feel to it. Most of the buildings and homes here are over 100 years old (including my house). I think the “feel” of this place lends itself to my craft. Since I participate in an old time line of work, its only right that it happens in place such as this.  Now, usually when someone says their town has an “old timey” feel, they’re generally talking about a place where the pace of life is slower and everyone knows your name. This is not entirely the case here. For example, Los Gatos has a Ferrari dealership. We also have an Apple Store. Its not uncommon for everyone here to have nannies and some even have private chefs. To clarify, Los Gatos is almost a mix of two completely opposite ways of life...  In short, it's both historical and opulent. With that said, since my business takes place both domestically and internationally, it doesn't really matter where I live. But I do love it here. There's a certain creative energy I get from this atmosphere. I think you'll be seeing it in my work more in the future.

TPC - How long have you been smoking pipes? How did you get into it?

Chris - I've been smoking a pipes on and off for 10 years. In high school I picked up and old Shalom briar that my grandpa had laying around. It was a rough little thing. Chewed up stem, burnt rim; you know the story. I would take it and some really horrible mint chocolate Cavendish (the tobacconist said I'd love it) to the beach for bonfires with my friends. To be completely honest, I didn't really like it, other than the feeling of relaxation that I got from the slow methodical puffing. Flavor-wise, I was not a fan.  Years later after college, I got back into smoking a pipe as a means of relaxation and as a way to connect with my grandpa.

TPC - How Long have you been making pipes? Did you have a mentor? Who are some pipemakers you look up to?

Chris - Officially I've been making pipes (for profit as Morgan Pipes) since mid 2006. I started making pipes out of pure necessity, to be honest. I'll explain more in the next question about the reasons, but the beginnings of my pipemaking were very random and inexplicably driven. If you've ever done something in your life where people close to you would say “uuh, why are you spending so much time on this?” or “why are you so into this?”.... that's what this was like. I come from a very art based background. I was heavily into sculpting a ceramics in high school and have always been into art since I was very young. There's a lot more to that, but I wont bore you.

After college, I picked up pipe-smoking again and started to get interested in the depth of the hobby. The shapes, tobaccos, makers, etc. This led me to find Pimo in Vermont. They had a few “make your own pipe” kits. I figured with my art skills and recently absorbed knowledge about pipes, that I could make something better than the old pipes that I had from my grandpa. I got a kit and whittled away with my hacksaw and files and sandpaper. I ended up spending something like $300 on supplies to make that pipe and it didn't really turn out that great . At the time, I was really proud of it, but knew I could do much better. So I gave it another shot, and another, and another. Each time improving my shapes. I went on for about a year or two buying pre-drilled blocks from Pimo and then a friend of mine. I received some business at that point and began to sell my pipes to people on eBay.  At this point a man named Rob Cooper decided my work was good enough to be carried in his eBay shop. This would go on for years with the stipulation that I start drilling and hand-cutting my stems. I agreed and a great partnership was formed. I was selling pipes anywhere from $200- 600 at that point. I'm not sure what happened, but all of a sudden, people wanted to know what I was all about. I would send Rob (coopersark on eBay) a pipe every week or so and it would be listed at 1 cent and sell 7 days later at auction. It was a great feeling to say the least. I felt like I had really made a name for myself. 

This brings us to 2009 or so. A very strange thing happened around this time. For a 4-6 month period, every pipe I made, sold for over $1000 . One even sold for $3000! I was freaking out. I never would have thought that my prices would skyrocket like that. I was happy but stressed. I began to see some very nasty comments online about me and my pipes. Needless to say, these “haters” did not own any of my pipes. At the time I knew most of my customers personally. I did my best to handle the situation professionally, but to no avail. The sale really struck a nerve in the “I sit at my computer and type mean shit all day while I smoke my yello-bole” community. :) You cant please everyone. It took me awhile to recover from that one emotionally. I put down my tools and left the shop for a few months to re-evaluate my place in the business. I made one of the most important decisions of my career at that point. I stopped my PT magazine subscription, stopped going on forums, stopped looking at other guys pipes, and basically went back to the drawing board. Within months, I was putting out completely new shapes and finishes in a quality I had not be able to attain thus far. This went on for a few years until early 2011 when my grandpa passed away. He was my primary mentor and support throughout my early career. It's hard to talk about this because it's so fresh still, but he was a giant in my life. He had a very “f*ck em all” mentality. It kept me going. When he died, I put down my tools again and went back to the drawing board. This is when I began to sketch what would become the Briar Cigar. I had decided I needed something revolutionary to put me on the map. We will soon see if I made the right choice :)

As for mentors throughout my early career, Jeff Gracik was a big help to me, as was Andrew Marks, and Rob Cooper. I also received some help from Tom Eltang from time to time. I look up to him now as I did then, even though we speak almost weekly as friends now. It's tough to explain the feeling of speaking to your respective “Michel Jordan”, or “Joe Montana”. To take guidance from a personal hero is one of the most humbling and meaningful experiences one can have. A few months ago Tom called me on Skype from his hotel in Bologna, Italy. I picked up and was surprised to se him. I said “hey man, whats up?”. “Im bored”, Tom says in his thick Danish accent. And the conversation went from there. I feel honored to be friends with the likes of Tom Eltang.  

TPC - In our chats I know there were some life changing events that left you with some hard decisions, do you care to elaborate?

Chris - Well, I'm not sure how to explain this, but I'll do my best. Towards the end of high school, I had some severe stress and anxiety problems that were difficult to cope with.  My best plan was to just finish high school and go to college and hope they would subside. I didn't know at the time, but I was taking myself too seriously. “Everything must be perfect”, I would think. I graduated and ended up going to Cal State Monterrey Bay with the intent of going into Marine Biology. Right from the start, my anxiety flared up again and I became overly stressed to the point where I didn't even want to be there anymore.

Keep in mind, I'm a left handed , artistic person. School was never my style of learning. I have always had to experience something hands on to learn more efficiently. If I wasn't interested in it, I didn't learn it. So after what I would consider a breakdown of everything I thought I was: mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I left college. In retrospect, I don't think it had anything to do with the classes or tests. It just wasn't my path. I had always been black and white in my skills and learning. I am very good at things I'm good at, and I know a ton about what I'm interested in . I'm not sure why , but that's how it's always been.

When I was 10 my parents had me tested at a facility for learning impaired kids. They couldn't figure out why I was getting A+ grades in some classes and D’s in others. The test results came back that I was 2 points under a genius IQ. I've never really spoken about this before but I feel it's necessary for the story. My parents and the test giver thought I may have ADD, but I explained that I just wasn't interested in some subjects, so I was not able to absorb the subject matter. This is the “black and white” learning process I spoke of earlier.

Anyway, back on topic...... I came home from college after 2 years and was in the middle of one of the worst job markets in recent history. I didn't have a degree to speak of so I decided to pick up a trade. I went through classes to become an electrician and got my certification . I did the same with an AA in security management (not the rent-a-cop kind). Neither of these fields felt “right” to me, so I picked up the pipe-making as a hobby to keep busy. After awhile the pipes began to fill my wallet and the rest is history. The thing I always take away from this experience is that your best dreams can be realized through your worst nightmares. If I could have a re-do of the last 10 years, I wouldn't change anything.

TPC - Your pipes are very unique, you often mix style with function, what got you experimenting with reverse calabash technology?

Chris - For me, pipes must always be a mix of style and function. I am very art based in my approach but I demand perfection from my work. Every detail most be clean and crisp and right. The reverse calabash technology that I am working with kind of just happened.  I had no knowledge of other pipemakers making pipes with a reverse calabash feature. I had always wondered what another chamber would do to the pipe and being that I once was in high school hanging with a certain “crowd”, I was occasionally intimate with other pipes with multiple cooling chambers :) I figured it would be the same with tobacco pipes too. 

My reasons for using the rev. cal. technology was not to cool the smoke, as many would claim it does. My plan was to force turbulence within the chamber, so that the smoke would literally precipitate moisture. Thus drying and cooling the smoke.  Smoke, in a controlled environment will rarely carry much heat. It is the moisture within the smoke that carries the heat. If you can essentially “make it rain” inside the calabash chamber, you can effectively dry and cool your smoke. It's like when you have a pipe that smokes horribly wet. This is caused by restriction and turbulence. The effect is a bad smoking experience because the moisture collects and runs down and gets your tobacco wet and sours the pipe. My plan was to make the worst possible pipe (in a traditional sense), but then separate the reason for its bad performance from the stem and the tobacco chamber. 

The reason my rev. cal. pipes are the shape they are is specifically for this reason. Upon smoking one bowl of a Virginia flake in the Wasp (one of my rev. cal. shapes) you can remove the stem and there will literally be a pool of moisture. Moisture that was never allowed to reach your mouth or the bottom of the tobacco chamber. It's a fantastic system (not to toot my own horn) and it really opens up the possibility of getting new flavors and essences from blends you are familiar with or have yet to try. Strange concept, but rooted in science and partially in my crazy thought process :)

TPC - Your High grade pipes are masterpieces, how do you come up with the shapes/styles, does each block speak to you, or do you have the shape in your mind when carving?

Chris - My shapes are completely a compromise between the briar and myself. Briar, like most woods, has a sort of wild spirit that you must appease. I say this lightly as to not sound like a weirdo :) , but it's very true. Most people can tell a factory billiard from a hand-made one. That acknowledgment is the difference between letting the briar become a shape or forcing it to become something. I carve with the grain and play with the sub-categories of grain in a block to make the most aesthetically pleasing and best smoking pipe I can.

TPC - One can tell by the product you put out that you think outside the box, growing up were you like that with everything?

Chris - All my life I've been like this . My Mom and Grandma used to say that I’m a “square peg in a round hole”. Meaning I always have thought outside the box. I do things because I feel it's the right way, even if it's the harder way. I still don't know why. :) I just see things differently. Sometimes this allows me to cut through the bullshit and see how something really is, and sometime it causes me to overcomplicate a process that should be very simple.

TPC - Do you have any training in art or some artistic background that has helped you in making pipes?

Chris - I don't have any art training other than high school classes. I have always had a drive to create. I have worked in wood, clay, wax, metal, stone, paint, pencil, charcoal, mixed media, etc. I've done it all. Wood stuck for me. There's something about the warmth of wood. My experience as a ceramic artist in high school really gave me the “outside the box” approach to pipes. Ceramics can take any form, just like pipes. As a subtractory art (as I call it) once you remove a piece, you cant put it back on. You need to think ahead and “feel” the material. I think this really appeals to my problem solving side.

TPC - Lets talk a bit about that little project you have going called The Briar Cigar, you imagine it would gain steam this fast? How Long has this project been in the works? What possessed you to start on this project?

Chris - Damn that's a good question. The Briar Cigar really started as a funny shape to show my friends on Facebook. I had a few orders and then the requests really started coming in. It got to a point where I said, “I may have something here”. I decided to file a patent in the US and internationally, get my trademarks set up and incorporate the company. This way we can come out with other products and let it turn into a real brand. People have really gotten into the shape and want more. I had no idea it would be such a huge product, but I’m excited with the turnout. I've been working on it for a little over a year now. I keep having to explain how it works, but I think that speaks for how unique the pipe is. There just isn't anything like it. The Briar Cigar is the only production reverse calabash pipe in the world. I'm very proud of this achievement. Hopefully we can get some more firsts out there.

TPC - Your YouTube channel “morganpipes”: We at TPC always look forward to seeing the latest news and updates. Who got you into doing vids? And who are a few you follow religiously?

Chris - Yes, I think I'm on my 8th vid now. I put out a new one every couple of weeks.  Astroman2112 (James) actually got me into making a vid. And then Dan (brainitch) kind of kept me going. Now I'm on Skype and youtube all damn day! We do a pipe-n-Skype meet each week and I've met a lot of new people. As for the youtube followers, I won't name names, but there are a few notable youtube presenters and celebrities that enjoy my vids. They aren't always super entertaining but I mean them to be more of a vlog and news outlet for my customers and friends. I don't always have much time these days to catch up with everyone so youtube makes mass updates available to those who care to hear them :)

TPC - Going to give you the remainder of the space to talk about where folks can pick up one of your works of art, and what other cool things we can expect to see from Morgan Pipes in the future.

Chris - Briar Cigars are finally making their way to retailers around the globe. In the U.S., we are working with pipesandcigars.com for my Briar Cigars, my High Grades, and a special project....a Morgan Pipes line of tobacco blends! As of now, we are directing customers to “bug” them for Briar Cigars. We are in the process of working with a few other shops, but we will post new retail locations on the Morgan Pipes website as soon as the plans are concrete. Iwan Ries in Chicago is a proud retailer of the Morgan Pipes high grade line. These are the pipes that I make in my shop. There are usually only 40 per year. They are all what I would consider top grade pipes. If a pipe is not what I consider “ the best I can do” then it doesn't get a Morgan Pipes stamp.

We are working with Tsuge in Japan, Al Pascia in Italy, and also Maska’s in South Korea. These are just a few of our international retailers. One goal of Morgan Pipes is to give the public the highest quality, lowest cost, most innovative products around. I have said this before and I’ll say it again.... “I would be making pipes even if I didn't get paid for it!”. I love what I do, and I'll be around for a very long time doing just that. So if you get a chance, check out our website, drop me a line on Facebook, or subscribe to our youtube channel. I love hearing from everyone. 

Thank you all very much for your support and interest in our products.
-Chris Morgan

We at TPC wish him all the luck in the future, and it was a pleasure getting to know more about the man Chris Morgan. 

Sweet Smokes Mr. Morgan,

Mike Lancaster Founder/President

Chris Morgan can also be found at the following links.
FB: www.facebook.com/morganpipes | YouTube: www.youtube.com/morganpipes | Email: chris@morganpipes.com

 TPC- Where do you live? Can you tell us a little about it?

  Jan- I live in the heart of Europe. In the Polish capital: Warsaw. I would love   not to live in the city, but it takes time to achieve it.

  TPC- How long have you smoked a pipe? Who got you interested in smoking a pipe?

  Jan- Reply to this question would not be politically correct. So I'll write a little vague: I smoke a pipe for fourteen years.

TPC- How long have you been making pipes?

Jan- For several years. In the beginning I have occasionally making pipes from a hobby blocks, or the oak wood, I have also made successful attempts of transforming the old pipes. Since October 2011 I took it seriously. A few days ago I made my fortieth pipe.

TPC- Do you have a mentor? Who are some pipe makers whose work you enjoy?

Jan- There are many artists who impress me. I really like the Danish way of thinking about design. Even though I rather smoke in simple English pipes, I cannot pass by Kriswill  pipes project by Sigvard Bernadotte or Tom Eltang pipes.
Unfortunately, I have to learn the workshop myself. Therefore, my pipes are still far from perfection.

TPC- Where did you first start selling your pipes?

Jan- The first pipes I've made for my friends. Still much of what I do ends up in their hands. Although, many of my clients quickly became my friends too. And this is what I find wonderful in this small world of pipes- common passion. This is what is important for any artist too. Because we create to satisfy our own need of creation, but also to indulge the need of reception of other people. Now you can buy my pipes in the best Polish pipe-shop: fajkowo.pl, on my website, or my facebook, or mail.

TPC- I know you also do pipe repair, how long have you been doing that?

Jan- I'm repairing pipes for several years. It's a great way to learn the material, its properties, but also the technique of the work of others pipe makers.
Moreover, it is still the joy of giving new life to neglected objects of applied arts. It is very important, in a world where commercialization destroys excellent brand, to save history.

TPC-You also make jewelry and do photography; do those 2 things carry over into your pipe making, or inspire your designs? I personally look at pipe makers as artists; do you see your pipes as pieces of art?

Jan- This question is difficult to answer. On my website I wrote:
Sometimes one is eaten from the center by inner needs for manual work. This need is sometimes subtle and delicate, and sometimes possible to satisfy it by drawing a few lines on a white sheet, but occasionally burns, forcing one to the creative effort.
"Eaten from the center by inner needs for manual work" So I make pipes, the photographs, or sculpture, to vent the inner need. It works that way for me. In my work can be seen a great influence of the knowledge gained during study on Technical High School, and then in the University at Anthropology and History of Art.
A man is what is behind him, you cannot get rid of what you have already learned.
My pipes are definitely an excuse for looking for some new way in creative work in general. Are they pieces art-not me to judge.
The work of many pipe makers, I think it is a piece of art.

TPC- When we talk it seems your shop is away from your home, how far do you drive to get there?

Jan- I have my Workshop twenty-five miles from home. In a small town near Warsaw, in the house of my grandmother, unfortunately, one cannot move whole garage to the balcony- so I can't work in my Warsaw apartment. Twenty-five miles isn't that much. But when we take into account traffic jams, and fuel prices, better go for a few days there. Especially that the garden is beautiful, old house full of history. I often take my family with me, so that girls can enjoy the sun

TPC- What are some other hobbies you enjoy?

Jan- In addition to pipes, photography, widely understood creating, I'm trying to live as healthily as it's possible- climbing, canoeing, in the past even dog sledding. If I have to, car mechanics and much more.

TPC-Is pipe making your main career? If not do you hope someday it is?

Jan- This is one way of expressing myself, One thing is certain; I will always be creating, because it's my way of life. Is it always will be pipes? Certainly not only, but I want to do a lot of pipes, and it surely they will be better and better in times to come.

TPC- What are your long term plans for JSG pipes?

Jan- Simply: More and better technology, more and more interesting projects, new challenges

    I will tell you Jan, I see your pipes as pieces of Art, I have been chatting over Facebook with Jan for a couple months, sharing his pipes to our page, I have already seen a vast improvement in his work, Jan is another humble man, he works hard and long hours, but he is doing things he enjoys, he tells me its not work, but with an 8 hour time difference I know he is up late hours doing what he loves. He is another great man I have been blessed to get to know, very artistic and very generous, and another guy I am happy to call a friend, Thank you Jan (and Alex) wish you much success, Check out Jans link at top for many more pipes.
                                                                                                                              Sweet Smokes- Mike Lancaster TPC

We at TPC want to thank Mark for being the brave soul to be the first, and for taking the time to answer these questions, with the busy schedule he has busting out fantastic pipes Daily.

TPC- Where were you born and raised? And do you have any siblings? Older/ Younger?


Mark- I was born in Lawrenceville  Pa.  Just 10 minutes from the city of Pittsburgh.
            I have one older brother John, and a younger sister, Lisa.


TPC- When did you start smoking a pipe? Who introduced you to it?

Mark- I loved pipes since I was around 9 years old.  My neighbor smoked a pipe.  Something about
it just interested me.  I remember going to a department store with my parents when I was just a kid.
They had rows of pipes in boxes in the isles. I use to pick them up and pretend I was smoking them.
No one introduced me to pipe smoking.  I started when I was around 15.  My parents got a very small
corn cob as a novelty gift.  I use to take the tobacco from their cigarettes and put it into the pipe and smoke it.

TPC- How long have you been making pipes? What did you do before making pipes? Do you think it helped in your pipe making now, or influence your style?

Mark- I have been making pipes for 3 years now.  I have been selling for only a year now to the public. I owned a
Wall covering company before making pipes for 32 years.  I also did custom steel fabrication.  I loved working with steel.
I think that working out problems in fabrication, helps me figure out problems with pipe making.  I have learned that if I keep working at a problem that I will eventually figure out the answer.  As far as style goes in pipe making, I don't know.  It is just how I see it.  I just make a pipe a certain way.  I don't work at it.  the pipe just turns out that way.  I like striking colors and I like my pipes to stick out in a crowd.

TPC- Did you have a mentor?

Mark- I have no mentor.  I am self taught from the ground up.  I studied pipe making for a long time before I ever made one.
I do look up to Luigi Vaprati  and Rad Davis.  These two pipe makers put out a lot of quality pipes on a daily basis, for many years
not an easy thing to do.

TPC- It is easy to see you have a unique style, what is your influence?

Mark- I never really thought of it.  My pipes just turn out that way.  There are many great pipe makers in the world,  I am just doing my thing and am grateful that people like my work.  I think my pipes appeal to a newer generation of pipe smokers.

TPC- With your amazing carving abilities , can we assume you have some artistic background before making pipes?

Mark- The only artistic background I have would be metal working.

TPC- As of late on Facebook and even TPC Facebook, I have noticed a lot of folks trying to duplicate your style, and any comments you leave are very kind, never calling them out, what are your thoughts on all these Balkovec style pipes popping up?

Mark- Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.  Having said that, I feel that you should give props to the person you are emulating whether it is me or any other pipe maker for that matter.

TPC-  Every review of your pipes I’ve seen is very positive, even from fellow pipe makers, it is easy to see in your pipes that the craftsmanship is superb, what is it that the average pipe smoker may not know or can’t see that make your pipes so Great!?

Mark- I put my heart and soul into every pipe I make.  I give each pipe I make 110 percent of my best.  My pipes are 100 percent from bowl to button hand made. everything I use is made from raw stock material.

TPC- We all want to know, what is your long term plans? Can we expect to see Balkovec Pipes around for a long, long time?

Mark- I am a full time pipe maker and i plan to keep it that way.  I am 45 years old now, so I hope to be around making pipes for the next 20 years. Making pipes to put bread on the table is not an easy job but I can say that I am living the dream.

And we are glad to hear that, if you guys haven't gone to his page, or even chatted with Mark, he is as down to earth guy as they come, spent a long career working hard in a tough business, he is a down and dirty, straight up pipe making machine, putting out amazing looking and smoking pipes one after another, as TobaccoPipecollectors Facebook admin., I see hundreds of pipes a week, and I can honestly say, I look forward to Marks daily post around 8:00 p.m. (my time) to see what fantastic work of art he has made for the day. It has been an honor to work with Mark, and to get to know him, he is a true brother of the briar, and I consider him a friend I will have for the rest of my life. Sweet Smokes Mark, and keep killing us with those pipes.
                                                                                                                                                    - Mike Lancaster TPC