The Viking - ePipe Mod

[dizzi]

Following on from the Darth Vaper tin mod, here's my first e-pipe mod. Most of the DIY pipe mods I've seen use a cheap plastic(?) Chinese pipe, this one is a nice hand-carved pear wood pipe from Ukraine. I figured that if I was going to spend time and money on this I'd rather start with a nice pipe, plus wood is easier to work with. The pipe was about £15 delivered, took a week to get here. Cheaper wood pipes are available, but I rather fell in love with this one.

It uses ego electronics (available from Liberty Flights or a dead ego battery) and a protected 16340 battery. The battery's only 880mAh so won't last all day, but battery size is limited by the bowl of the pipe. The ego electronics mean I can charge the battery without removing it - just use an ordinary ego charger.

The biggest problems I had with this were a) making the bowl of the pipe (battery holder) a bit deeper to fit, and b) it proved extremely difficult to get the ground/negative wire to "stick" to the inside of the bit of 14mm brass tube I used between the ego fitting and the pipe itself. Think I need to get me some flux. I used a domed pewter button from my extensive collection for the cap over the bowl, lined with a couple of layers of electrical tape "just in case". I epoxied this on just at the edges, it's on pretty firmly but I'm hoping I'll be able to remove it with minimal damage when the battery needs replacing.

I didn't solder the wires to the battery - I don't like doing this as the heat can cause the battery to go bang. This is such a tight fit that it wasn't necessary, just a cut-down negative sping connector at the bottom and a little metal button for the positive at the top. Both connectors were taken from a battery box, with wires already attached.

This one's mine, but I'll be making another for hubby as soon as he's chosen the pipe he wants.

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[blakey]

That, dizzi - is a very impressive pipe

[maccafan]

Lovely...Very nice looking pipe..

[Ellen]

very nice work

[kibbster]

Beautiful pipe and workmanship

[meeee]

Lovely Pipe

[vaper]

Nice work, that looks great

[Gordy]

dont let luner see that

[Perpetua]

I'm in awe Dizzi . . . that looks blumming fantastic, well done you.

[mhyquel]

Best thing I found for cleaning out the bowl was a 20mm router bit attached to a drill press.

[dave]

Wow that's great dizzi!

[beautycat]

That's fab dizzi

[dizzi]

Thank you folks for the kind words.

mhyquel - Unfortunately I have neither of those. The bit will be easier to get hold of, a drill press is sadly not in my future although I would LOVE one (and a lathe. Father Christmas, are you listening? ) Fortunately the bowl of this type of pipe is deep enough, and the wood hard enough, that I can hold it in my hand. And if I'm not happy with that (don't fancy 20mm hole in my hand) I can use hubby's mini vice. I'll find a way...

[Frogster (The Alchemist)]

Dizzi, if you ever decide to go into production, put me down for one..... very nice bit of work there! #icon_bravo#

[johnboy]

Dizzi, that is the bees knees , well done