Carving a couple Pipes. Maybe.

[Badmedicine]

Greetings, fellow disciples of the leaf! Another thread jarred loose a question that has been knocking around my skull for a while, and I would like your input on it before I proceed.
As the title implies, I've gotten the crazy idea to carve a couple pipes, upon request from my brother. Not just any briar, though; I've been offered several sections of whitetail deer antler to use in the project. The idea so far is to carve the bowls from antler, then fit them with pre-made acrylic bits. Given the natural dimensions, the finished pipes would likely end up being poker-ish in design, perhaps finished simply with beeswax. I have experience carving wood, antler, and bone, but one question still troubles me: Namely, how would an antler-bowled pipe smoke? I've loved my low-end briars, cobs, and my one meerschaum, but I genuinely have no idea how it would work.
Any input is appreciated. Many thanks!

 

[Commander Quan]

If the pipe is drilled well it should smoke fine, but beyond that the actual material may pose some problems. I would imagine that being made of keratin, the pipes would give off a burning hair smell.

I have a cob modified by Jake Hackert with and antler shank and vulcanite stem, that I like a lot, but the temperature of the smoke inside the stem is well below that of the fire inside the chamber. Something along that line might be a better way to go.

 

[Mike H]

I would not smoke from antler, it stinks to high heavens when it is burning. I would use briar, and make a ferrule out of antler, then fit the stem in the antler.

Have you seen this thread?
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showth...fficial-Carve-Your-Own-Pipe-exhibition-thread

 

[alpster]

I wonder if you could find a meerschaum bowl to line the antler? That would do the trick I think.

 

[the_edski]

I wonder if you could find a meerschaum bowl to line the antler? That would do the trick I think.

That's an idea. Anything really where the antler itself isn't exposed to direct heat and flame.