1. Supplies Needed to Make a Pipe for a Snowman
David Beaulieu
The following supplies come in handy when making a pipe for a snowman:
- Dremel tool
- Glue gun
- Black spray paint
- Small pill bottle
- Pencil, straw, butter knife or other long skinny item
You could substitute a drill for the Dremel tool.
To remove the label from the pill bottle, soak the bottle in water before starting. This will loosen the label up and enable you to scrape it off easily.
2. Join Stem and Bowl to Make Your Snowman Pipe
David Beaulieu
The pill bottle is the "bowl" of the snowman pipe; you must join it securely to a "stem." I used a straw as the stem for my snowman pipe, but a butter knife is better (see below). If you use a butter knife, insert the handle end into the bottle.
With the Dremel tool, drill a hole through both sides of the bottle (toward the bottom of the bottle) to accommodate the stem. In the photo for Step 1, notice I marked holes with magic marker prior to drilling, to serve as a guide. Inserting the stem through both sides will provide a firmer, more secure fit.
After you've inserted the stem of your snowman pipe, it's time to fire up the glue gun. Once it's warm, direct some hot glue down the inner sides of the bottle, further securing the stem.
3. Paint the Pipe for Your Snowman
David Beaulieu
This comes down to personal preference, but I like the pipe for a snowman to be colored black. So I spray-painted mine. When using spray paint, always make sure you have proper ventilation.
Your snowman pipe is ready to be "smoked."
4. Note About Pipe Stability (Once It's Stuck Into the Snowman)
On warm days, your snowman pipe may resist staying right-side up. As the snow melts, any holes made in the snowman will widen. Consequently, decorations stuck into those holes (like a snowman pipe) may move around. There are 2 solutions:
- Reduce bowl height
- Use a flat object for a stem
The taller the bowl, the greater its tendency to flip down. So reduce the height of the bowl. Dremel tools have attachments for such cutting jobs. If you substituted a drill for the Dremel tool, do your cutting with a hacksaw, instead.
If you use a flat object for your stem, such as a butter knife, it won't rotate as easily as a rounded object (e.g., pencil or straw) will. Result: the pipe will hold its position better in the snowman's mouth.
