Craft Piper: Tell us a little about yourself…
Reum: I’m a pipe maker from northwest Montana next to the Flathead lake. I’m engaged to the perfect woman, no kids yet. Pipes are life! I collect estate pipes and as much tobacco as I can get. When I’m not working on pipes I’m fishing, hiking, shooting, Murica!

Q: What got you interested in the pipe making hobby?
A: I started smoking a pipe almost 10 years ago and was immediately interested in making my own. I had a bunch of tools because I used to restore vintage straight razors. Seemed to be a fun and easy transition. Pipes started selling and I just kept going with it!

Q: How long have you been making pipes?
A: Almost 10 years now. The last three year have been completely full time!

Q: Do you have a favorite shape or “style” that you really enjoy making?
A: Not one in particular. I do gravitate towards egg shapes and tomato shapes but I go through phases switching it up. But I enjoy making all pipes. Especially challenges for new pipes people have ideas for.

Q: Where did you learn to make pipes? Did you have a mentor? Youtube, Google, etc.?
A: I basically taught myself by trial and error. There have been many great carvers that have video chatted with me or allowed me to call and ask questions but I haven’t had the opportunity to work with a mentor carver in person yet…maybe some day! Some of the best advice has come from some well established older collectors who really know what a good pipe looks like and gave me tips and critiques.

Q: Assuming you smoke a pipe..what is your favorite pipe(s) to smoke? Why?
A: I usually smoke a Lovat or a billiard shape. I love the simplicity of them and straight pipes seem to smoke better for me. Something just seems classic about them.

Q: What is your view on the current state of the pipe “hobby”? Is it expanding or shrinking..in your experience?
A: The pipe hobby is always growing. I find that daily there are new people coming into it and new carvers all the time who bring their own circles of people. The biggest shift that I have seen is what people are willing to spend money on and how much of it. But it’s always growing on some way or another.

Q: How did you get into pipe smoking?
A: A friend of mine in the straight razor community got me interested in pipes after a conversation about cigars. He sent me some links to some suggestions on my first tobacco purchase. My first pipe was one that I restored, a little dublin cuttt by House of Robertson out of Boise back in the 70’s.

Q: What investment(s), if any, have you made in equipment, materials, etc.
A: Soooooo many tools. Lathes, drill bits, cutting tools, saws, thousands of sheets of sandpaper, dremel tools and attachments. And much more.

Q: What are your favorite tobaccos at the moment? Which brands, blends?
A: Escudo, Sixpence and Sutliff Virginia slices will always be my top three. I usually smoke VaPer’s or Virginia’s but I’ll smoke the occasional English. The only aromatics I’ll smoke are lane 1Q and Lane Andullo but that’s pretty rare.

Q: What’s the most frustrating thing about making a pipe?
A: Nothing! I am very privileged to make this my full time career. No complaints here 🙂

Q: Has there been another pipe maker that influenced you? Who, why?
A: Basically all of the Danish legends! And a few here in the states.

Q: Do you have any particular ritual when you’re working? Music, bourbon..TV??
A: I usually listen to rock or rap while working in my shop but I absolutely never drill out a pipe unless I’m smoking one, sort of superstition but I rarely mess up a pipe or I’m smoking one, the few times I’ve put my pipe down to work ive messed it up!

Q: How do you market your pipes? Social media, pipe shows, friends, etc.?
A: Facebook, Instagram and my site.

Q: What are your future plans for the pipe making hobby? Get big? Just a hobby?
A: Continue making pipes full time for as long as I can and always improve my quality and innovation.

Q: What do you want us to know that we havent asked?
A: What’s the next pipe shape you want me to make? I do custom orders!