HJ-42-001

Uwe Jopp was born in 1963 in a small industrial town, on the outskirts of Dresden. After ten years in higher education and an apprenticeship in the construction sector, he became a civil engineer. In 2003, he watched a video footage about pipe making, which he thought was interesting! "With my humble experience in woodturning hobby at the time, I just wanted to give it a try" the artisan said.

Sometime in 2006, during his conversations with dealers, the idea of using bendable drill bits was mentioned. Back then, some pipes in Italy and France were already being made with bent drill bits in a small scale. This, along with his own smoking experience, which had proven that pipe smoking could be enjoyed better and longer through wider shanks –like the Canadian shape. He decided to pursue the idea of using bendable drill bits with his carvings. That’s how a whole slew of new possibilities in pipe design started to develop. The rest is history.

Uwe Jopp began learning a technique with the help of the craftsmen from a nearby neighborhood. He had heard that after the seventh attempt at the latest, would you have an acceptable solution to a technical problem. Analyzing the reason of the last failure is a prerequisite and results in appropriate improvements. He has come a long way to master the bent drilling, which has been an expensive but a rewarding experience. The equipment he currently use is custom made to his specifications and he would like to keep his special technique as a secret.

The response from the pipe smokers and collectors alike has been very positive to his unique designs in which he uses the bent drilling method. And, that is what makes him happy.