I’m curious if anyone has made, or heard of, a pipe being made from seashells? Or specifically a shell bowl? I would think the shapes of some would be particularly suitable though I am unsure if it would hold up to heat well. Perhaps like a clay pipe which I’ve heard can heat up? I’ve no personal experience with the clay pipes yet.
@Texsqatch13 Unique question, but one that I honestly have no idea for an answer. The two questions I have that first come to mind is: Could the shells withstand the heat generated inside the smoking chamber and... Could the shell ever be cleaned enough to completely get rid of the residue from the animal that once lived there... 🤔
@KA9FFJ I hadn’t thought much about animal residue mainly because the shells I’ve picked up have been fairly clean from seagulls bugs and salt water, I would think there’d probably be an ocean flavor of some kind though it could be tasty with the right blend. It occurred to me as I typed that a shell itself is basically all residue! (Too meta?) To the real question, how do I test the heat capacity without actually trying to smoke out of one?
@Texsqatch13 - Welcome to the forum. If you haven't introduced yourself in the Newcomer's folder, please do so. Let us know where you live, what got you started pipe smoking, etc.
As for shells, I would think the shell walls are too thin and would become too hot to hold - much like a clay pipe. As for withstanding the heat, the shell would probably survive and you can test this by building a fire in your charcoal grill and tossing the shell on the coals. Depending on the shells, they should also be easy to clean by just throwing them in the fire or boiling them for an hour or two. Large clam or oyster shells have with the mother-of-pearl on the inside were used as serving vessels for food in the historical past.
I would really like to see a photo of the shell you are thinking about using as a tobacco pipe. Like @motie2, the only people I've seen trying to smoke anything in a seashell weren't smoking pipe tobacco.
@Texsqatch13 I welcome you always nice to have new people join. As for shells they would not be right for a pipe bowl as a few have said the walls would be thin and could not take the heat now that being said I do not see why you could not put a insert in one that is if you found one that you could.
Sea shells are made of calcium carbonate, shells break down when sufficient heat is applied, they actually splinter off pieces energetically when heated.
I use left over clam shells as a calcium supplement in my garden by heating them up in a steel can and then crushing them into a fine powder.
generally speaking they would be a poor choice for a pipe unless they were very thick and could sink the heat.
Comments
The two questions I have that first come to mind is:
Could the shells withstand the heat generated inside the smoking chamber and...
Could the shell ever be cleaned enough to completely get rid of the residue from the animal that once lived there... 🤔
To the real question, how do I test the heat capacity without actually trying to smoke out of one?
He didn't smoke tobacco in it......
As for shells, I would think the shell walls are too thin and would become too hot to hold - much like a clay pipe. As for withstanding the heat, the shell would probably survive and you can test this by building a fire in your charcoal grill and tossing the shell on the coals. Depending on the shells, they should also be easy to clean by just throwing them in the fire or boiling them for an hour or two. Large clam or oyster shells have with the mother-of-pearl on the inside were used as serving vessels for food in the historical past.
I would really like to see a photo of the shell you are thinking about using as a tobacco pipe. Like @motie2, the only people I've seen trying to smoke anything in a seashell weren't smoking pipe tobacco.
As for shells they would not be right for a pipe bowl as a few have said the walls would be thin and could not take the heat now that being said I do not see why you could not put a insert in one that is if you found one that you could.
http://www.pipemakersforum.com/forum/
Finally opened a etsy shop till I get the bread up to have a custom page built.
Sweeeeeet!