Houser Handmade Pipes

2010 Tobacco Crop

2010-07-26T13:01:00.000-07:00

Tobacco seeds have germinated!

2010-03-09T11:03:00.000-08:00

I was recently given some tobacco seeds from a fellow pipe maker and figured I'd try my hand a growing tobacco! I have planted Orinoco, Tennessee Red Leaf, Burley, Hungarian Sazmosi, Virginia Gold, Goose Creek Red, Turkish Samsun, and Havana.

I used a 72 cell domed tray type planter to start the seeds with some Miracle grow potting soil. I also purchased a heat pad to keep the seeds at 70-80 Deg f.

After about 5 days I was able to see the little guys start to grow. At the 7 day mark, they had sprouted and have leaves.

This blog has moved

2010-03-07T13:37:00.001-08:00

This blog is now located at http://blog.houserhandmadepipes.com/.
You will be automatically redirected in 30 seconds, or you may click here.

For feed subscribers, please update your feed subscriptions to
http://blog.houserhandmadepipes.com/atom.xml.

Blog is now integrated into my site!

2010-01-30T08:33:00.000-08:00

I'll be adding some pipe making videos shortly.

1001 - Stubby Nosewarmer

2010-01-21T09:24:00.000-08:00

I completed my submission to the Pipemakersforum pipe trade. The theme was a nosewarmer. I used a cutoff tool to cut the end of the shank off to use and the stem insert. I applied a black stain at the early stages of sanding then moved to a medium walnut.

Completed two new pipes!

2009-12-20T16:11:00.000-08:00

I finished this pipe on Friday. It is a very nice sandblasted ball with a bamboo shank. However, this pipe is very small. I used a smaller block of briar that had been in my briar back for the better part of a year.

This is a beautiful contrast Dublin that I finished a few weeks ago. The bowl has a slight canter forward. this pipe is for sale on my website for $90.

New website!

2009-12-03T23:28:00.001-08:00

Well I finally have a website up for my pipes! It was definitely a learning experience. I do not have any web experience, so it took a few days to learn the basics. first edition was all sliced images in a table. I scrapped that two days after I finished it. The current setup is using CSS and div's.

I will be adding more pipes and finish putting content in the pages this week. I also have a new Dublin with a very gorgeous contrast stain that will be going up as soon as I can take some photos.

http://www.houserhandmadepipes.com

Thanks again for checking back!

New Website Under Construction

2009-11-18T13:32:00.000-08:00

I've decided to move away from a blog based website. I'll have the new site up asap along with new pipes for sale!

Pipe 18

2009-06-12T16:49:00.000-07:00

This pipe was made for a friend. I used a Bocole extention on the stem. It looks to be a good smoker.

Pipe Info

Length: 5.8"

Height: 1.89"

Chamber Diameter: .75"

Chamber Depth: 1.36"

Stem Material: ABS With Bocole Extention

Bit Thinkness: .18"

Airway Diameter: 5/32"

Weight: 1.55oz

Wedding Set

2009-05-30T15:47:00.000-07:00

Cumberland Stems and Sterling Silver Bands

The straight billiards were for the groomsmen. The bent billiard was for the best man and the freehand churchwarden was for the pastor. We did break open that can of three nuns at the wedding!

Koa Extension

2009-05-30T15:46:00.000-07:00

Churchwarden

This churchwarden has a Koa wood extension.

Bamboo Churchwarden

2009-05-30T15:45:00.000-07:00

Bamboo Churchwarden

The bottom of the stummel is rusticated and the top is smooth. This pipe is an excellent smoker and its on of my favorite reading pipes.

Clay's Pipe

2009-05-30T15:34:00.001-07:00

Clay's pipe

Block drilled and stem made by myself. Shaping and polishing done by Rob Green

Acrylic Billiard

2009-05-30T15:24:00.000-07:00

Acrylic Billiard

This was an early pipe I made with an acrylic stem. It's one of my favorite smokers.

Frankenstien

2009-05-30T14:55:00.000-07:00

Frankenstien

This was an earlier pipe that I broke the shank of while turning it. I fixed it with an acrylic joint.

Poker

2009-05-30T14:54:00.001-07:00

Poker

Freehand

2009-05-30T14:54:00.000-07:00

Freehand Billiard

This was a gift to the old mad who introduced me to pipes.

Contact Me

2009-05-30T14:50:00.000-07:00

I'd be happy to answer any questions that you might have. Feel free to send me an email.

Contact me at christopherchouser@gmail.com

Mail:

Chris Houser

Attn: Rancho Del Rey Office

16222 Monterey Ln.

Huntington Beach, CA 92649

___________________________________________

Repair Service

2009-05-28T17:39:00.000-07:00

I do commision pipes, custom pipe work and Repair.

New fitted stems
Vulcanite, Cumberland, ABS and Lucite work.
Re-finishing
Polishing

Contact me at christopherchouser@gmail.com

___________________________________________

Bio

2009-05-28T16:16:00.000-07:00

I am an avid pipe smoker and pipe maker. My father got me into cigars somewhere around my 21st birthday. Shortly after I picked up the pipe, thus discovering one of the true joys in life.

My father and I started making pipes as a hobby. I have recently started to make pipes for the pipe enthusiast. I do custom work on request and refurbish old pipes. I do not use pre formed stems unless it's requested. Most of my stems are either Vulcanite or ABS with a few being Lucite. I find that ABS has the same properties as vulcanite without the oxidation.

Links

2009-05-28T14:27:00.000-07:00

These are some of the sites that I find helpful.

Christian Pipe Smokers Forum

Pipe Makers Forum

Pipe Wiki

C&D Crowley's Best

2009-05-21T21:50:00.000-07:00

Tobacco: Crowleys Best

Blender: Cornell & Deihl

Type: English

Cut: Ribbon

Pipe Used: Savenalli Billiard

Casing: N/A

Taste: Full bodied

Room Note: Repugnant

Nicotine Content: high

Rating (max 4 Star):

Notes: The tobacco had a medium to dry moisture content. The tobacco is light brown with what looks to be a black cavendish. It smelled like a typical english remonising a campfire and roasted nuts but there is a lot of perique in this tobacco. It is very much a full bodied Blend with a lot of Latakia and perique. I was unable to detect any VA's so it is definatly a kick in the pants. It burned to the bottom of the bowl with no relights and smokes cool. If you are a Latakia/Perique lover I would give this blend a try.

Autumn Evening

2009-05-01T22:12:00.000-07:00

Tobacco: Autumn Evening

Blender: Cornell & Deihl

Type: Aromatic

Cut: Ribbon

Pipe Used:

Casing: Maple

Taste: Mild maple with a little VA coming through

Room Note: Pleasent, Smells like maple

Nicotine Content:Low

Rating (max 4 Star): 2

Notes: Light maple taste. Not complex. Burned cool and smoked all the way down. It was a medium dry tobacco and it smoked well without being overly sweet.

Union Square

2009-05-01T22:04:00.000-07:00

Tobacco: Union Square

Blender: GL Pease

Type:VA

Pipe Used: Houser Handmade Straight Billiard

Casing: hint of sweetness almost clove, Oats

Tobacco Details: loose flake

Room Note: woodsy

Taste: Medium to full bodied

Nicotine Content: Medium

Rating: Im going to give this a 4 star.

Notes: The tobacco lit very easily and so far it is smoking cool. it tastes like a quality VA. There is a hint of sweetness it may be the slight casing that i detected earlier. There is a spicy taste though very sutle.

This is one of the best VAs i've smoked.

Tobacco Reviews

2009-05-01T21:59:00.000-07:00

I will be adding tobacco reviews as I sample them. Feel free to leave feedback. I use a 4 star rating system.

C&D Autumn Evening - **
C&D Crowley's Best - ***

GL Pease Union Square - ****

The Workshop

2009-04-17T09:31:00.000-07:00

This is where the magic happens!

This is my 1954 Atlas/Clausing Lathe. Here I drill and turn down the pipes. Most of the shaping happens here with my good old sanding disk.

Grizzley Mill

This is my work bench where most of my time is spent.

Cyclone Sand Blaster

Compressor and band Saw

Various Tins of tobacco and of course the good selection of shop pipes!

And of course the stockpile of Tobacco and cigars!

Sold Out

2008-04-14T11:57:00.000-07:00

SOLD OUT

I'm sorry there are no pipes currently for sale. Please check back often, as I am always working on new pipes.

Customer Testimonials

2008-01-31T10:18:00.000-08:00

Bocole Insert Bent - 1003
I received the pipe yesterday. It is absolutely beautiful. I couldn't wait to give it to my husand, so did so last night. He loves it! As he comes from a family of carpenters, he truly appreciates your craft.
Joann U. - Michigan

Dublin - 0911
I did get the pipe. And wow. It's excellent. The grain is spectacular and I'm currrently smoking some Balkan Supreme in it. I was worried the chamber was a little small, but I was able to get a goodly amount of weed into it. I'm afraid to clench too much at the stem is so nice. I'm awful for tooth marks. But it's a great smoker as well as a great looker.

Timothy F. - Canada

Bamboo - 0912
I received it quickly and in wonderful shape!

I do not have a discerning eye from a pipe-technical stand-point, but my un-certified opinion is: You have talent! I have 30 pipes spanning all of the categories you would expect to find in a diverse collection. Your pipe is 1 of 2 proudly displayed on top of my Pipe/Tobacco cabinet. Its beautiful.. The draw is open. Pipe cleaners pass easily to the bowl. Wonderful smoker. I'm still deciding whether it will be an English or VA flake pipe :) The size is exactly in the range of my liking as I prefer light pipes with a high bowl to weight efficiency.

I'll definitely be on the look-out for your future offerings.

John L. - Washington