Nut bolt metal pipe: hardware store camouflage in 6.3 cm
Left on a workbench, this little pipe reads as a spare bolt with a nut on it. That is the whole idea behind the design. It is made of metal, measures 6.3 cm end to end and disappears into a pocket, a pencil case or a toolbox drawer without drawing a second look. The colour varies between batches, so the finish you receive may not match the photo exactly.
What makes it practical rather than just clever is that it unscrews. Take the nut off the bolt and you are left with separate pieces that can each be cleaned properly, inside as well as out. One-piece pipes tend to collect residue in the bend where no brush will ever reach; that problem does not exist here. Fewer permanent nooks also means the pipe keeps drawing freely for longer.
Heat and handling
Metal moves heat far faster than wood or glass does. Keep the flame short and hold the pipe by the coolest section, because the metal around the bowl heats up within seconds. Give it a minute to cool before you unscrew anything. A small gauze screen in the bowl stops loose material from being pulled through and saves you cleaning work later on.
Cleaning and storage
Unscrew the parts, leave them in isopropyl alcohol for half an hour, then run a pipe cleaner or a cotton bud through the channel. Rinse with warm water and let everything dry fully before reassembling. Do this regularly: metal polishes up easily, but residue that has been baked on repeatedly is far more stubborn. Store it taken apart in a tin or pouch so the thread stays clean. The Avalon Magic Plants headshop also stocks bamboo pipes, glass base pipes, corn cob pipes, grinders and cleaning brushes. Every order is shipped discreetly packed.
