I was born in 1963 in a small industrial town, on the outskirts of Dresden. After ten years in higher education and an apprenticeship in the construction sector, I became a civil engineer.
In 2003, I watched a video footage about pipe making, which I thought was interesting!With my humble experience in woodturning hobby at the time, I just wanted to give it a try.
Sometime in 2006, during my conversations with dealers, the idea of using bendable drill bits was mentioned. Back then, some pipes in Italy and France were already being made with bent drill bits in a small scale. This, along with my own smoking experience, which had proven that pipe smoking could be enjoyed better and longer through wider shanks –like the Canadian shape -. I decided to pursue the idea of using bendable drill bits with my carvings. That’s how a whole slew of new possibilities in pipe design started to develop. The rest is history.
I began learning a technique with the help of the craftsmen from a nearby neighborhood. I had heard that after the seventh attempt at the latest, would you have an acceptable solution to a technical problem. Analyzing the reason of the last failure is a prerequisite and results in appropriate improvements. I have come a long way to master the bent drilling, which has been an expensive but a rewarding experience. The equipment I currently use is custom made to my specifications and I would like to keep my special technique as a secret.
The response from the pipe smokers and collectors alike has been very positive to my unique designs in which I use the bent drilling method. And, that is what makes me happy.
Please click on the images to enlarge the articles.
- Smokers Club, Edition Autumn 2011
- European Cigar Cult Journal; 4/2009
Some tobacco pipes were stained to highlight certain wood drawings.
All pieces are finally polished to a high gloss with Carnauba Wax.
Contrary to the pipes with a straight smoke channel, pipes with a bent drilling do not form weak points at the bottom of the smoke channel, where it reaches the tobacco chamber. The path of the smoke is longer. Hence, the briar condensates more smoke, which gets cooler as it travels up the channel. The pipes with bent drilling are also easier to clench on to, as they will rest on the chin and feel lighter.