Craft Piper: Tell us a little about yourself…
Mills: I am from Southeastern Ohio. I started making my artisan cobs in a 10×12 she’d with a leaking roof and only a drill press, a vise, and a set of files.
Q: What got you interested in the pipe making hobby?
A: Funny story, I had commissioned a custom cob from a fellow on Facebook. It was Marcus bowl with bamboo shank and black acrylic bit… When it arrived the bamboo was cracked, at the mortise and at the bowl… The stem was fitted with a stainless steel tenon that was held in place with Elmer’s glue. I decided I could do a better job…. And as they say, the rest is history.
Q: How long have you been making pipes?
A: Since January 2019
Q: Do you have a favorite shape or “style” that you really enjoy making
A: Being a custom cob maker, my favorite bowls to work with are the Anse, Legend, and apple diplomat shapes.
Q: Where did you learn to make pipes? Did you have a mentor? Youtube, Google, etc.?
A: In my shed, LoL. With a lot of questions, graciously answered by John Keller.
Q: Assuming you smoke a pipe..what is your favorite pipe(s) to smoke? Why?
A: My favorite pipe is an older (1940’s) Hardcastle apple shaped pipe…. It smokes like a dream, and the craftsmanship is outstanding.
Q: Favorite type of cob to use? Why?
A: My favorite cobs to use are actually made by my friend Jacob Fox. Sadly, he only makes his bowls periodically so when I can get them I make special edition pipes with them. Last run was the Dragon Bourne series.
Q: What is your view on the current state of the pipe “hobby”? Is it expanding or shrinking..in your experience??
A: I feel that piping as a whole is growing, due to the increased interest of younger people. And I think that is an awesome thing…
Q: How did you get into pipe smoking?
A: My dad was a pipe smoker off and on when I was growing up… There was something about the sweet aroma of his tobacco that always kept my interest.
Q: What investment(s), if any, have you made in equipment, materials, etc.
A: Lathe, drill press, belt sander, dozens of files, hundreds of feet of sander paper. I could go on and on.
Q: What are your favorite tobaccos at the moment? Which brands, blends?
A: My favorite blend is a house blend from Pipes and Pleasures called Euphoria blend…. Sadly, the new owner has transitioned from pipes and tobaccos and has moved toward cigars.
Q: Has there been another pipe maker that influenced you? Who, why?
A: Tom Eltang, John Keller, Neal Monier’, Jason Bays, Jim Brown. I really enjoy their individual styles. Their usage of materials, rustication techniques, etc.
Q: What’s the most frustrating thing about making a pipe?
A: Running out of new ideas is my biggest frustration.
Q: Do you have any particular ritual when you’re working? Music, bourbon..TV??
A: My play list is pretty eclectic… It ranges from Viking metal( Amon Amarath) to Brantley Gilbert.
Q: What do you want your customers or potential customers to know about your work that you don’t always get to tell them?
A: I put my heart and soul into each pipe… It is my greatest hope that one day you will pass your pipe down to your grandchildren.
Q: How do you market your pipes? Social media, pipe shows, friends, etc.?
A: I primarily split my advertising between Instagram and my Facebook page… Websites sound great in theory, but don’t deliver a high degree of value for the time and money spent.
Q: What are your future plans for the pipe making hobby? Get big? Just a hobby?
A: My wish is to grow my business as much as possible, while at the same time being able to maintain the down to earth, highly personalised service I currently provide.
Q: What do you want us to know that we havent asked?
A: It is rather humbling to me to think that one day a current pipe owner might pass down one of my pipes to his grandson/ granddaughter.
