Corn Cob Pipe Bowls

[cubcadet]

Hey all,
This isn`t strictly a wood craft, but, can any of the southern folk that are on this page help me? I have made some really nice corn cob pipes in the past, but, now I`m interested in making them as a sellable craft. I have one problem. I cannot locate any cobs that are big enough to use for a pipe that will hold enough tobacco to last more than a few minutes. My dad had one with a pretty big bowl. I told my story to a local antique dealer, and he said you have to get corn cobs from the Southland where they supposedly grow bigger. Is this true, and if so then can anyone send me some big cobs? I`ll cover any expense, of course.

[Drawbar]

I would think it depends more on the variety of corn. Most corn today is what we call cattle corn, which has been designed by genitics to make for corn syrup production and other sugars.

I think you would be better off to research old school varieties and see if they are bigger in size. Perhaps pop corn corn is bigger. I don't have the answer but I think the variety would be more important then growing season length.

[cubcadet]

Hey Drawbar,
You may be right. I don`t know much about corn, being that I`m not a corn grower. Maybe I`ll do a little googling. Maybe there`s a pipe smith out there can help.

[flatwater]

Try asking Buck about it. I'm pretty sure he smokes a corn cob pipe as we speak.
Flatwater

[cubcadet]

Hey flatwater,
Thanks I`ll give him a shout.

[OzarksJohn]

Howdy.

The Missouri Meerschaum Company uses a special variety of white corn for their bowls. Probably the biggest, toughest cobs available. Check with Baker Creek seed company and see if they might have a clue to the best types of heirloom variety that makes a big ear. You might be able to plant your own corn and smoke it too!OzarksJohn

[shadowwalker]

If you can score some Cane King Corn seeds that will do it. A man where I used to live used this type for his pipes. These are huge ears and plants. I kid you not these plants grow 11 to 14 feet tall and some of the corn cobs will be bigger than four inches across when green. The corn is a heirloom feed and human corn used by the settlers.

[Buck]

The corn for a pipe is a special variety that Missouri Meerschaum Company
has grown locally just for their use.

Visit their site for information and google the corncob pipe for lot's
of history about this all American pipe.

http://www.corncobpipe.com/

You also might consider pipes made from dried cherry wood too. They
smoke ok and are fun to make.

[cubcadet]

The corn for a pipe is a special variety that Missouri Meerschaum Company
has grown locally just for their use.

Visit their site for information and google the corncob pipe for lot's
of history about this all American pipe.

http://www.corncobpipe.com/

You also might consider pipes made from dried cherry wood too. They
smoke ok and are fun to make.

Hey Buck, Sorry for gettin back to ya this late. I`m checking out the link you left. I`ll let ya know what happens.

cub

[cubcadet]

If you can score some Cane King Corn seeds that will do it. A man where I used to live used this type for his pipes. These are huge ears and plants. I kid you not these plants grow 11 to 14 feet tall and some of the corn cobs will be bigger than four inches across when green. The corn is a heirloom feed and human corn used by the settlers.

Hey shadowwalker, Thanks, I`m checking this all out.

cub

[Anon001]

Hey Buck, Sorry for gettin back to ya this late. I`m checking out the link you left. I`ll let ya know what happens.

cub

Cub,

In case you didn't notice under Buck's username, he has been banned and not here for awhile now.

Paul

[cubcadet]

I`ve been away for a spell, so I didn`t know that. Oh, well, do-do occurs, I guess.

Thanks,
cub

[CarolAnn]

If you'd like to grow your own large corn varieties, check around! One place charges $11 for 40 seeds! This one is the least expensive that I found:

http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/corn_seeds.htm
10-15 seeds for $2.00, and they have several varieties that might work for you!

I wish I had enough space to try some of this - fun to have corn stalks that big. I saw some growing when I was a kid - a neighboring farmer planted several rows on either side of his long driveway & fairly close to it, so it was like riding through a corn tunnel! (Besides the ears being extra large, the actual corn plants get huge also.)

[cubcadet]

Thanks Carolann, I`ll check these out.