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Wooden stem Hookah, is there an interest?


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The last few weeks I have been designing a hookah that has a wooden exterior on the stem.. It would sorta look like those Iranian hookahs... but would have metal tubing running thru the center. There would be a brass tip at the top where the bowl sits... and unlike the Iranian hookahs you see on the web.. it WOULD have an ashplate.I could make them out of about anykind of suitable hardwood under the sun.... even exotics... I could stain or even analine dye the wood different colors.I would try and negotiate deals with favored hose and bowl makers to offer the best in those departments.Im hoping to make these and sell them with limited quantity for around $100 bucks and up.THink theres any interest in it. or a waste of time?
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Make one and take pics. A nice rosewood or koa or ??? there would be a market for customs. I would build to order with deposits. But you should turn at least one or two and post some pics and go from there. I am pretty sure most of the forums members will encourage you to.
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I need to find a better pic but snakewood would be an excellent candidate for a very unique stem. Matching mouthpieces and a base for the vase to sit in would be bitch'n too[img]http://artscad.com/A.nsf/(IE-Editor-Elements)/SRVV-6KKL5D@I786.jpg/$File/I786.jpg[/img]
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i don't think you'd have trouble selling them.i wouldn't have any trouble buying one.i have questions though. it doesn't sound like you're talking about customising an existing stem, so would the base with the hose and valve release be wood with a stainless steel tube? and would the metal used be stainless steel?
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Wow.. maybe there is.I need to get the larger lathe to do this.... so that will be coming soon.No, I am not refabbing existing stems.As for the metal parts....... I am going to stick to copper or brass line for the internal stem. Each hookah would be capable of at least 2 hoses. A purge valve would be placed in the second hose connection for a single hose setup.Top start with. all of them would be "one of a kind" as I wont have a replicating attachment to begin with...The bases, ashplates and hoses would all be ordered in and used... I tried to get some local glassblowers to make bases, but they are snowed under and have limited facilities to turn out larger objects such as bases.... bummer. Im persuing a source for Syrian bases. I need to make a call to MYA about hoses.... and I need to look into a supplier for ashplates (Syrian and Egyptian). I'd like to do Tangiers heads on them..... they strike me as the best.
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Those are very beautiful. It gives the hookah a new and totally organic feel to it. I think that they would sell and that people would buy them. Just be weary of those who SAY they will buy them and when it comes to ante up the money are neglectful to do so. Notice that I haven't said that I would buy one. Yet. ;)
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You can sign me up for a pre-order. This sounds like a sweet idea Lake. My ONLY concern, and this might not even be one, as I know nothing about woodworking, is how would you clean them and keep the wood safe? I mean, most of us just run our stems under the tap, so I don't know. Anyway, sign me up.
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I made a diving knife using coco-bolo slabs for the grips (440C stainless for the blade) and it was waterproof without any type of sealer. I found out the hard way that coco-bolo's sawdust is like poison ivy. A silicone based sealer would be my guess for waterproofing less dense grained woods.
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i like the idea, but what about using stainless steel for the stem, i have heard bad things about how copper and brass get a bit funky (and not the P-Funk, wikka wikka funky) after a while. other than that, sounds like my next hookah will be a lake monster special
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[quote name='ghostofdavid']Scalliwag: What do you NOT make?[/quote] I have "tried" to make more stuff than I probably ever should have. My website still has a lot of stuff I was making for Mazda rotaries (RX7's, etc)[url="http://www.scalliwag.com"]http://www.scalliwag.com[/url] Once what has been made has sold I am changing the site. Check out the tool I made for making beads on intercooler pipe. Most of the stuff I have made has been metal. Woodwork does not come natural to me and I get frustrated. I am excited to see Lake make these stems. With the variety of exotic woods out there and the individuality of each piece makes the sky the limit on what can be done. He may not sell mass quantities but that is probably not the goal. A friend of mines Dad makes custom exotic boots for wealthy people, celebrities, etc. He puts a lot of time selecting hides and putting perfection into the whole process. But he makes a lot of money because of his talent. Lake can make a name for himself in this market. He'll be making the Ferrari's of the hookah stems!
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