Want to buy or sell something? Check the classifieds
  • The Fedora Lounge is supported in part by commission earning affiliate links sitewide. Please support us by using them. You may learn more here.

How to vape without a load of ironmongery in your face?

Sweatbandjo

Familiar Face
Messages
53
Do you long to switch to vaping but only in real style? A real pipe... with no giveaway button to press... just a vintage pipe and sip and vape? Not possible? Oh yes it is!

I had the same problem, puffing at some hefty piece of plastic/ metal plumbing didn’t fit well with my Borsalino fedora or Beku, or my Swiss mountain peasant look.. or with any look for that matter, so I set about experimenting for purely for myself. Not with homemade juices or herbal brews you understand, just the briar hardware, vaporisers, batteries and wireing.

I had great fun finding fine vintage pipes, cleaning, sterilising, renovating, replacing, precision drilling and reaming them both to remove any trace of tobacco or nicotine and to turn them into “air pressure, on demand” (no button to press) vaping pipes, just sip and gently vape, et voila! It wasn’t easy but I’ve now mastered it, to look at these when vaping they are what they are - real pipes - no two are alike, each is unique. I’ll have a straight stemmed “Canadian” converted shortly and some more 1940 and 1950’s shaped pipes before long.

Some are by the famous Swiss pipe maker Josef Brunner his pipes became known as Bru-Bu’s they were often sold as a bowl, wind-cap and mouthpiece only, the purchaser would cut a dry shank from a hedgerow or orchard hollow and fit it at the length he required. For reasons of hygiene I have replaced these with new, dry, usually hazel shanks.

Other pipe is a French Ropp “ Norwegienne” from the pipe making town of Saint Claude, a big satisfying vape pipe with an extra trick. It has no wind shield so if you look down into the bowl as it is sipped you can see glowing embers among the “tobacco” it’s utterly realistic but there are no glowing embers and no tobacco old or new!

I’m really making these pipes for myself, for the challenge of making them well, it keeps me occupied (I’ve lost the use of my legs to MS). I want to continue with this pass time and very limited output, but can only afford the outlay if I sell a very few that I’ve already converted and made.
It struck me that fellow like minded Fedora Loungers might well feel as I do - yes to vaping but only in style!
So here we go...
 
Last edited:

Sweatbandjo

Familiar Face
Messages
53
35B9BB76-5703-41EF-A0A9-4F8B16B1D3DD.jpeg
DF45D984-B04D-4462-8827-494696BCCC93.jpeg
CBB4004D-9797-4E3D-8618-7C6BCB3F77BA.jpeg
E7246686-4623-4AF2-B17A-0E66880068BD.jpeg
E59B0741-EC60-48D5-A577-651BF4F45611.jpeg
35B9BB76-5703-41EF-A0A9-4F8B16B1D3DD.jpeg
DF45D984-B04D-4462-8827-494696BCCC93.jpeg
CBB4004D-9797-4E3D-8618-7C6BCB3F77BA.jpeg
E7246686-4623-4AF2-B17A-0E66880068BD.jpeg
E59B0741-EC60-48D5-A577-651BF4F45611.jpeg
Some of my Vintage Vapers - not suitable as tobacco or dry herb pipes - you supply your choice of vaping juice.
 
Last edited:

jordan1776

New in Town
Messages
13
Do you long to switch to vaping but only in real style? A real pipe... with no giveaway button to press... just a vintage pipe and sip and vape? Not possible? Oh yes it is!

I had the same problem, puffing at some hefty piece of plastic/ metal plumbing didn’t fit well with my Borsalino fedora or Beku, or my Swiss mountain peasant look.. or with any look for that matter, so I set about experimenting for purely for myself. Not with homemade juices or herbal brews you understand, just the briar hardware, vaporisers, batteries and wireing.

I had great fun finding fine vintage pipes, cleaning, sterilising, renovating, replacing, precision drilling and reaming them both to remove any trace of tobacco or nicotine and to turn them into “air pressure, on demand” (no button to press) vaping pipes, just sip and gently vape, et voila! It wasn’t easy but I’ve now mastered it, to look at these when vaping they are what they are - real pipes - no two are alike, each is unique. I’ll have a straight stemmed “Canadian” converted shortly and some more 1940 and 1950’s shaped pipes before long.

Some are by the famous Swiss pipe maker Josef Brunner his pipes became known as Bru-Bu’s they were often sold as a bowl, wind-cap and mouthpiece only, the purchaser would cut a dry shank from a hedgerow or orchard hollow and fit it at the length he required. For reasons of hygiene I have replaced these with new, dry, usually hazel shanks.

Other pipe is a French Ropp “ Norwegienne” from the pipe making town of Saint Claude, a big satisfying vape pipe with an extra trick. It has no wind shield so if you look down into the bowl as it is sipped you can see glowing embers among the “tobacco” it’s utterly realistic but there are no glowing embers and no tobacco old or new!

I’m really making these pipes for myself, for the challenge of making them well, it keeps me occupied (I’ve lost the use of my legs to MS). I want to continue with this pass time and very limited output, but can only afford the outlay if I sell a very few that I’ve already converted and made.
It struck me that fellow like minded Fedora Loungers might well feel as I do - yes to vaping but only in style!
So here we go...
What a fascinating project! I can totally understand the desire to vape in style, without the bulk of modern e-cigs. Your vintage pipe conversions are truly unique and beautiful. The attention to detail, from cleaning and renovating to precision drilling and reaming, is impressive.

I love the story behind the Bru-Bu's and the French Ropp "Norwegienne" pipe. The fact that you've replaced the original shanks with new, dry hazel ones for hygiene reasons shows your commitment to craftsmanship.

It's great that you've found a hobby that keeps you occupied and engaged, despite the challenges you face with MS. And I'm sure there are indeed fellow Fedora Loungers who would appreciate your handiwork and share your passion for vaping in style.

Good luck with selling your converted pipes, and I hope you'll continue to share your creations with us!
 

visiguru

New in Town
Messages
8
Nice things you have there. I wonder how you can look stylish with a pipe, and don't look like a grandpa.
 

MalcolmContreras

New in Town
Messages
1
I’ve always liked the idea of vaping in style, but yeah, the bulky, modern vapes just don’t cut it when you’re going for a classic look. Your pipe conversions sound perfect for keeping that old-school vibe. While I’m not into pipes myself, I’ve been experimenting with strong THC gummies for a more laid-back experience—great for when I want to chill without all the gear.
 
Last edited:

Monte.C

New in Town
Messages
39
Location
Brooklyn
Congratulations on making this work. I can't see how you've done it. It looks to me that drawing air through the device needs to somehow trigger the thing to send electricity through the coil. How have you done this?
 

Forum statistics

Threads
108,689
Messages
3,066,126
Members
53,829
Latest member
markjames
Top