By Thomas Ehle
Custom pieces
Your idea, built in glass.
We get asked almost every day: do you build custom pieces? Yes, and gladly. Custom work is the part of the job where Thomas leaves the familiar track and has to figure out from scratch how an idea translates into glass.
Whatever comes out of it is always one of a kind. No second piece, no series, no copy. This page shows a section of what has been built in Limburg over the past years – as proof that it works, and as raw material for your own idea.
What's possible
Most requests start with "something special". That's a start, but it goes faster if you know which dials you can actually turn. Here are the four that matter most.
Motifs and figures
Penguin, mushroom, scorpion, an entire planet – Thomas has pulled a lot out of the flame. Figurative work is done freehand, without a mould, directly at the torch. Depending on the motif it sits on the glass as an appliqué, or the whole bong is the figure.
Colour techniques
Wig-Wag with drawn linework, crushed opal, dichroic glass that shifts with the light, UV-reactive colours that come alive under blacklight. Techniques can be combined, but not endlessly – some clash, and we'll sort that out beforehand.
Builds
Recycler, incycler, percolator, straight tube, beaker, hand pipe, bowl. The build decides how it smokes, not how it looks. Tell us how you want it to pull and we'll suggest the shape.
Finishing
Inlaid opals, sandblasting, engraved logos or lettering, precision joints in NS 14 or NS 18. These are the details that set a piece apart in the end.
What we've built so far
Every piece here started exactly the way your request would. Click in to see the details.
Nothing in this category right now. Have a look at the others.
How it works
Send us your idea
A few sentences are enough. Reference photos, sketches on paper, screenshots from Instagram – all of it helps. Even a rough direction works.
We talk it through
Not every idea translates into glass one to one. Thomas will tell you honestly what works, what doesn't, and where a different approach makes more sense. At the end there's a clear picture of the piece.
Quote
The price comes once it's clear what gets built. With a deposit, because every piece is a one-off.
Built in Limburg
Everything is made in our own workshop. On elaborate pieces you'll get photos along the way so you can see where yours stands.
Shipping
Discreetly packed, with no reference to the contents.
And what does it cost?
Depends – on time at the torch, the material, the size and how risky the build is. That's why there's no number here. Send us your idea and you'll get a real one.
It doesn't have to be a full custom build
Frequently asked
Can I send my own drawings or photos?
Yes, and that helps most of all. A scrappy sketch often says more than three paragraphs of description.
How long does a custom piece take?
That depends entirely on the piece. A bowl is a different job from a multi-part bong with appliqués. You'll get a realistic estimate along with the quote.
Is my piece really unique?
Yes. Custom pieces don't go into production and aren't rebuilt. Even if Thomas tried – freehand work never comes out exactly the same twice.
Can I choose the joint and the size?
Of course. NS 14 or NS 18, height, wall thickness, carb hole or not – that's your call.
Do you build things unrelated to smoking?
Yes. Bottles, objects, decor, gifts. As long as it works in borosilicate glass, let's talk.
Can I see the piece beforehand?
On elaborate work Thomas sends progress shots. There's no finished sample – on a one-off that would be a second piece.
Tell us what you have in mind
The more you write, the faster we can judge whether and how it works. You can upload reference images and sketches directly in the form.