Question 1

When will my order be ready?

Accepted Answer

Orders are filled once or twice per week.  If you chose local pick up, please wait for the "pick up ready" email with retrieval instructions.  If you have a special rush on your order being filled, please contact me through the notes section of checkout, and email, to be sure your order will get there on time!  If pre-ordered, a new batch is made every 3-5 weeks, so please be patient!

Question 2

How do you clean the pipes?

Accepted Answer

I recommend putting them in a ziplock with enough isopropyl alcohol to submerge, and you can throw in some rock salt for agitation.  Let it sit overnight to dissolve the resin.  In the morning, shake vigorously, dump the liquid outside someplace (it's bad for your house's pipes too), and rinse out the pipe with dish soap and hot water.  Let it dry completely, and it's good as new!  Some faster cleaning hacks: try makeup remover to wipe the dirty bowl out, so that it can be "coffee table clean," for appearances.  And pipe cleaners - the ones for crafting, ya know? - are surprisingly good at cleaning out pipes!! 😂

Question 3

Are these pipes durable?

Accepted Answer

Yes!  Porcelain is a type of clay or ceramic material that is unique in its hardness and durabiltiy.  It's used to heavy duty items like dinnerware, toilets, and spaceship tiles, so it can handle daily use.  Isolated appendages like tails or claws can break off if dropped, so keep your pipe in its pouch for protection from dropping.  If something breaks, I recommend using a little two-part epoxy to re-attach, but only cosmetic breaks, not if the break goes thru the body of the pipe.  If you break your pipe, I'll help you with a replacement!  Send me a picture of the broken piece, and I'll give you a discount code for a replacement.

Question 4

How are these things made?

Accepted Answer

Everything I make is using a ceramics process called SLIPCASTING.  I made multi-part plaster molds, which I can use over and over again to cast life-like replicas in porcelain.  While the porcelain clay is still wet, I alter and clean up every individual piece by hand, making it into a pipe, a planter, or anything else I can imagine.  I make my own recipe of liquid porcelain from bulk minerals, fire my own kiln, and every step in between is completed by my hands!  For way more info on my process, check out, the info section, my blog, or my instagram stories for current projects.

Question 5

I have an idea for a custom pipe!

Accepted Answer

Sick!!  Shoot me a message about it!  Because all my pipes are made with a mold, custom orders are an involved process.  I'll ask you to send a few pictures of your source item (it needs to be a real object!), then we'll talk about how complicated the mold will be, and the total cost of the project.  A simple, 2-part mold will cost between $250-$500, and the cost of the actual pipes will depend on size, complexity, and numbered ordered.  This is a great idea if you want to sell your own custom pipes!  Not so much if you just really want one.

Question 6

Do you do wholesale?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes!  Currently, I only have the capacity to create enough work for wholesale orders occasionally, so I send out email requests for order to a list of interested clients when I have time.  The ordering window is open for about a month, and then I take one to two months to fill the orders.  Not all pieces are available for wholesale.  Please email me at ficus.ceramica@gmail.com to request a link to my ordering system, and more current information.

Frequently Asked
Questions

When will my order be ready?

How do you clean the pipes?

Are these pipes durable?

How are these things made?

I have an idea for a custom pipe!

Do you do wholesale?

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Frequently Asked Questions

When will my order be ready?

How do you clean the pipes?

Are these pipes durable?

How are these things made?

I have an idea for a custom pipe!

Do you do wholesale?

Frequently Asked
Questions