Tue, 04 Aug 2026 21:04:59 -0700WeeblyWed, 05 Aug 2026 01:21:33 GMThttps://www.paulspipes.com/blog/bend-pipe-club-2026Well my friends,
We have an official meeting place at The Cigar Chapel in Bend. I'm encouraged by the overwhelming support from the owner. The meeting times will be the first and third Tuesday afternoons until 7 pm closing time. I have given a wide time frame so folks can come after work when it is more convenient. 
Sincerely,
​Paul
]]>Sat, 01 Aug 2026 17:11:43 GMThttps://www.paulspipes.com/blog/a-little-setbackHello friends,
Unfortunately I will be taking a break from pipe making for a while. I have two herniated discs as of last week and need time to heal. Thank you for your patience! I can still ship any pipes out that are in my store. 
Sincerely
​Paul]]>Sat, 11 Jul 2026 17:20:33 GMThttps://www.paulspipes.com/blog/the-challengeHello Friends,

Our last club meeting was postponed due to seriously hot weather and lack of an indoor smoking lounge large enough to accommodate folks. Please don't let this deter you from meeting with other pipe smokers here in Central Oregon! I know many pipe smokers are meeting in groups of two or three. I want to encourage that and if you know anyone looking for a pipe community here please reach out and help them get connected. 

Please feel free to hit me up for a smoke together! I will adjust my schedule to sit down with you and enjoy a pipe together!!

Sincerely,
​Paul
]]>Sun, 28 Jun 2026 13:48:03 GMThttps://www.paulspipes.com/blog/summers-and-pipe-smoking-and-pipe-clubHello my friends!
​Our summer here in Bend, Oregon is just beginning and pipe smoking is a great way to slow down and enjoy the beautiful weather. While I encourage others to smoke their pipes outside It is a good reminder to be sure to stay safe and discard any embers in a proper fashion. 

The Bend Pipe club meets July 7th and hope to see you at The Cigar Chapel. I typically share a few nice tobaccos and give away much of it. Here's your chance to meet some fellow pipe smoker's in person and develop some relationships centered around the leaf and pipe. 

At the beginning of fire season here there were two house fires nearby my home and one ember flew over and began a fire on our property. So, for the past several weeks I have been extremely busy clearing lower hanging branches and removing trees adjacent the house. I have a great defensible space now! 

Although the break from pipe making was necessary I am excited to get back in the shop and start on some new projects! I have a nice selection of dry briar now and some gorgeous stem material for mouth pieces. 

Wherever you find yourself this summer either vacationing or working I hope you take time for yourself and slowly enjoy a nice smoking pipe! 

Sincerely,
​Paul
]]>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 14:42:33 GMThttps://www.paulspipes.com/blog/bend-pipe-club-merchandiseHello my friends,
Local guy here (Trevor) has created some new Bend Pipe Club merchandise that is now available. Go to my LINKS page for details. All proceeds go back into our little pipe club for tobacco tastings and more! Thank you for your support! It really is appreciated!
]]>Sun, 05 Apr 2026 14:39:23 GMThttps://www.paulspipes.com/blog/bend-pipe-club-kickoffAfter meeting with several pipe smokers here in Central Oregon we have finally come up with a plan!

Officialy we will be meeting at several locations on the second Tuesday of every month. Our soft launch will be at McManamins in Bend, May 12th, at 4 pm. Meetings will typically be around two to three hours. 

Pipe club members will recieve a small log to journal their tobaccos and each meeting will feature a different blend we will all partake of together. 

Stay tuned for more pipe fun with pipe 101 classes, slow smoke contests, raffles and more!
]]>Fri, 20 Feb 2026 16:58:18 GMThttps://www.paulspipes.com/blog/international-pipe-smoking-day-2026Happy International Pipe Smoking Day 2026!!

When I first began smoking a pipe in my 20's I wasn't part of any pipe smoking community. It was only a young man, a pipe and some sea farer's type blend with hints of vanilla and whiskey. I enjoyed a pipe while  laying in my hammock underneath a pepper tree on my ranch. I'm not sure why I quit smoking a pipe not long afterwards. Perhaps it was the tobacco choice, the pipe, or something else? I believe it was the "something else that caused me to cease smoking. After years of reflection and taking up pipe smoking again in my fifties I found two important aspects worth considering.

First of all, smoking a pipe is personal. It's a personal journey where one enjoys experimenting with different tobacco blends and various pipes. The second part is community. If I wasn't part of a pipe smoking community I would miss out on what other minds are discovering about their personal experiences. I would also miss out on sharing my life with another soul.

Pipe smoking is personal AND it's vicariously accomplished in community. This is the main reason that I am working on our local pipe club and staying in relationships with many pipe people around the world. People not the pipe is what matters most. The pipe is the vehicle, I'm the passenger and many others are driving. Let's steer this hobby into the next generation with enthusiasm and love of the brotherhood in 2026!

Peace 
​Paul
]]>Fri, 16 Jan 2026 00:40:02 GMThttps://www.paulspipes.com/blog/bend-pipe-club-beginningsI have been speaking with a few people about the club and we are in the beginning stages of putting together something really special. A community here locally in Bend where folks can share their love of the pipe together in a nonjudgmental setting and on a regular basis. There will be tobacco tastings, slow smoke contests, food, drink and much more! Currently we are looking at the end of April possibly for a launch date. Stay tuned, more to follow!]]>Thu, 01 Jan 2026 17:48:05 GMThttps://www.paulspipes.com/blog/habits-in-pipe-makingHaving habits is crucial in Pipe making! Over the past 14 years of pipe carving I have found two things to be absolutely critical to keeping my pipes consistently accurate in their smoking capabilities. 

First, putting artistry aside for a moment, pipe carving is simply a journey of introducing little habits/steps along the way. For instance I remember the first time I began to put some rubbing compound onto a pipe cleaner and running that through the airway to polish the inside making for a smoother flow of smoke and removing any tiny fragments of material. Just one tiny step that takes only a few seconds. Then passing a dry pipe cleaner through to make sure no compound was left. Little habits, each one contributing to the overall production of a pipe.

Secondly, release any bad habits or steps that may not be necessary. I found it simply a better strategy to square up the blocks and draw my lines directly onto them instead of making a paper template first. I just found that I could be more accurate that way for me personally. I know other carvers that continue to make paper templates and that's fine for them and works for them. I, however, found it one little thing/habit I didn't need in my pipe carving journey. 

Over years the solid habits that I incorporate into my processes have become part of my muscle memory. The habits I no longer use are but a memory. 

Going into 2026, I'm proud to be 2&1/2 years sober from Alcohol (definitely a bad habit!), we joined a new church this year and love being part of that community (a good habit indeed!) More good habits I hope to impart this year are to be more patient, more forgiving, more kind, more cardio in my fitness goals, stronger in my convictions yet more open minded to others convictions to understand, and so on and so on...]]>Fri, 26 Dec 2025 20:05:01 GMThttps://www.paulspipes.com/blog/what-you-get-when-you-purchase-a-pauls-pipeuFor many of you that visit my website and are wondering just what I will receive when I purchase a Paulspipe, here's some information.

First of all you get a money back guarantee that the pipe you receive will function properly. Entering my 14th year of pipe making I have only had two pipes returned to me and those were during the first pipes I made! One pipe that was returned was because of a misunderstanding of pipe filter size, and the other pipe is one of my best smoking pipes so I don't know what was up with that? Customer service is top priority to me and I am available to discuss any discrepancies that may occur and will correct immediately. 

Secondly, each piece of wood I hand craft will be free of any internal flaws. I refuse to let a pipe out of my shop if it doesn't meet my strict standards. For instance If I see an inclusion inside the bowl I won't cover it with a bowl coat to hide the imperfection. 

Third, My Hand cut mouth pieces are flawless. Each pipe will have an unrestricted airflow allowing for a perfect smoke even single time! I spend hours meticulously paying close attention to every detail. I want my buttons clean, bite zone comfortable, with no visible scratches. The insides are polished and each pipe passes a pipe cleaner.

Fourth, My bowl coats are simple three ingredients with food grade charcoal being the main part. I rub the coats  into the bowl walls to get a coat that is even and smooth. The airways are free of bowl coat so you can see my precision drilling coming into the bottom of the bowl perfectly. The bowl coats are tasteless even to the most discerning pipe connoisseur and aide in creating a cake. 

Fifth, I pride myself and using only the finest materials that I can obtain. The finest Croatian morta I use is ONLY available to me as an American pipe carver. This is a very special wood and tends to cost more on the average.

Six, I hand make all my leather pipe socks. I source fine leather here locally in Bend, Oregon from Maverick Leather. Each pipe bag is then cut to fit the individual pipe. I hand punch each hole and double stitch with waxed line. The top is secured with paracord and beads. These are very durable soft leather bags that protect your precious pipe from harm while storing them away. 

Seventh, Finally, I include a hand written note, some high quality decals and maybe some other swag that I get from time to time like buttons, etc. 

I want each piece I send away to be treasured as I pour myself into each one. My main goal is that the customer is completely satisfied with their hard earned money. If the customer isn't happy I'm not happy, period. Most people tell me that the pipes they receive have exceeded their expectations! That keeps me motivated and inspired to create more!! Thank you for visiting and perhaps I ca serve you up a fine tobacco pipe one day!
Blessings, 
​Paul]]>