Hardstone Monitor Pipe

[ToddsPoint]

I work a lot of hardstone and make copies of artifacts. Both N American and European. Some of my favorites are the stone pipes. The Indians made many style of pipes. I really like the monitor style. Named after the civil war gun ships that looked similar. These were mainly made on the east coast from about 1200-1700s, VA especially, and usually made from black steatite. I use the same design except I use hardstone…igneous rocks much harder than steatite. This one is basalt porphyry. A glacial rock brought down from Canada. The pics show the steps to making one.

 

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[tamrock]

You a finish your pipe. Very Nice.

 

[ToddsPoint]

I started on another. Balmoral red granite. It was hard to drill. Used up 4 masonry bits for the long hole.

 

[ToddsPoint]

I’m moving right along. Rough shaping finished. Next step is to take off small amounts of stone to make everything symmetrical.

 

[ToddsPoint]

I still have to open up the bowl. A little more light grinding after that and I’ll start polishing.

 

[dieselfool]

Those look great! They ought to last forever.

 

[Athens]

I work a lot of hardstone and make copies of artifacts. Both N American and European. Some of my favorites are the stone pipes. The Indians made many style of pipes. I really like the monitor style. Named after the civil war gun ships that looked similar. These were mainly made on the east coast from about 1200-1700s, VA especially, and usually made from black steatite. I use the same design except I use hardstone…igneous rocks much harder than steatite. This one is basalt porphyry. A glacial rock brought down from Canada. The pics show the steps to making one. View attachment 2149279 View attachment 2149280 View attachment 2149281 View attachment 2149282 View attachment 2149283 View attachment 2149284 View attachment 2149285 View attachment 2149286 View attachment 2149287

Wow that is beautiful, Very talented my friend.I would love to add one to my collection.I see you are really enjoying your New saw . Sweet

 

[ToddsPoint]

A little more tweaking where the bowl meets the platform and I’ll start polishing.

A splash of water to show the color.

 

[ToddsPoint]

These are some of the wild designs the Indians came up with. I’m thinking about trying one of the more radical ones like letter F. Letter G is the one I’ve been more or less copying.

 

[dognose]

very nicely crafted.
impressive.
do you etch your ID or signature on the pipe?

 

[ToddsPoint]

very nicely crafted.
impressive.
do you etch your ID or signature on the pipe?

Yep. I sign every one.

 

[ToddsPoint]

I’ve started final polishing. You can already see the difference between partially polished and unpolished. The color is coming!

 

[CreekSide]

What do you use to drill and polish them

 

[ToddsPoint]

What do you use to drill and polish them

Masonry bit for smoke holes. Felker diamond wheel for cutting outline and shaping. Diamond burs on Dremel for further shaping. Hand polishing with sharpening stones and 320 wet sanding, then diamond paste polish on felt wheels on Dremel.

 

[ToddsPoint]

I’m calling this one finished.✅

 

[CreekSide]

I’m calling this one finished.✅ View attachment 2151355

Came out beautiful

 

[ToddsPoint]

Came out beautiful

I’ve always wondered why the indians never used granite for axes or celts. Or for fancy stuff like banners and pipes. Besides being very hard to work, granite is made up of quartz, mica , and feldspar. The mica is the black crystals you see in granite. I discovered they suck. Soft and crumbly. Don’t polish bright. Since softer, polished surface gets orange peel. If mica grains were on bit edge of Celt or axe, they would crumble with use and leave a nicked edge that would get worse. This red granite is pretty but the Indians knew better. Why work harder to get less? Now that I’ve made 2 pipes from it, I know too. Experimental archaeology has taught me many things you won’t find in books.

 

[CreekSide]

I’ve always wondered why the indians never used granite for axes or celts. Or for fancy stuff like banners and pipes. Besides being very hard to work, granite is made up of quartz, mica , and feldspar. The mica is the black crystals you see in granite. I discovered they suck. Soft and crumbly. Don’t polish bright. Since softer, polished surface gets orange peel. If mica grains were on bit edge of Celt or axe, they would crumble with use and leave a nicked edge that would get worse. This red granite is pretty but the Indians knew better. Why work harder to get less? Now that I’ve made 2 pipes from it, I know too. Experimental archaeology has taught me many things you won’t find in books.

I’d like to have one