How to sandblast a tobacco pipe

A tobacco pipe can have 3 finishings: smooth, rusticated or sandblasted. Each finish has its own characteristics, but in this article we will focus on sandblasted pipes and, more specifically, how to sandblast a tobacco pipe.

What is sandblasting of the tobacco pipe?

A tobacco pipe is sandblasted when the briar log is flamed and of good quality. At the same time it must have imperfections, which do not allow the tobacco pipe to become a smooth flamed.

The goal of sandblasting is to make the grain of the briar obvious.

If the briar was not flamed, there would be no grain to highlight and the tobacco pipe could only be rusticated.

If, on the other hand, the starting log was of poor quality, it would be completely corroded during the sandblasting process under the pressure of the sand, without creating any low relief.

But what are the characteristics of a sandblasted tobacco pipe?

A sandblasted tobacco pipe is lighter than the average tobacco pipe because the removal of the soft areas of the wood reduce its weight. Also, because the surface area is doubled compared to a smooth tobacco pipe of the same size, heat dissipation is increased.

Add to this the fact that a sandblasted pipe is less delicate than a smooth one, so it withstands minor bumps and taps better. 

Then, while the smooth pipe tends to darken with smoking, letting the contrast of the grain disappear, this is not the case in sandblasted pipes, whose grain always remains clearly evident over the years.

It can be said that sandblasting has an aesthetic value, since it does not result in substantial differences in smoking.

How to sandblast a tobacco pipe

The process always takes place inside a transparent box or under a glass bell, allowing the craftsman's hands to operate.

To sandblast a tobacco pipe, a powerful compressor is used that, through a gun equipped with a very hard ceramic nozzle, shoots sand onto the tobacco pipe. 

With sandblasting, the softer parts of the wood are removed, creating reliefs in the tobacco pipe's briar and highlighting its grain.

Craftsmen over time have adopted different techniques to enhance the effect of sandblasting, such as alternating sands of different material or grain.

Tips for sandblasting a tobacco pipe

To sandblast a tobacco pipe, it is important to constantly monitor the sand cast, otherwise you risk deformation in the briar.

On pipeonline.it you have access to a wide online selection of sandblasted pipes from the best brands, in all shapes: straight, half-bent and bent!