wooden water pipes

I found some old items in the barn--4inches square and tapered on each end--some are over 10 feet long I think made of Hemlock There is a 1 and a half diameter hole bored thru the entire length and is perfectly straight. they are of one piece not glued or fastened together.I know they are old water pipes anyone know how the holes were drilled.thanks Stormy <font color="red"> </font color> <font color="black"> </font color>

Stormy, I've sometimes wondered how they drilled the holes and how they sealed the joints together. You know that same kind of pipe was also used for natural gas lines at one time.

One picture.

Egon

Egon, that picture looks like it might be as old as those log pipes. [img]/forums/images/icons/wink.gif[/img] I hadn't seen that before; a horizontal drill press, I guess you'd call it.

I am quite sure that wood auger bits with long extensions would work. Or a hot piece of iron or???

I think the Chinese used wooden pipes in their first oil wells.

Egon [img]/forums/images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

According to
Wikapedia, the wooden water pipes were sealed with hot animal fat.