A Gouda clay pipe is made of a special clay, packed as ‘rolls’ of 22 lbs, by a pipe-maker. The amount of clay, needed for one pipe, is rolled into a ball and then made into a funnel model. The clay is put in a mould and the smoking channel is formed with a pin. The complete press mould goes into a bench vice. To shape the bowl, for the tobacco, a stopper (a conical metal shape) is pressed in a notch of the press mould and the connection is made between the smoking channel and the bowl. The clay shape is lifted from the mould, the seams are trimmed and a mark is affixed. When dry, the pipe is baked in an oven at about 1040 degrees Celsius. Good moulds are important, the clay must have the right composition and the pipe-maker must master the technique of rolling the clay. The appearance of the Gouda clay pipe depends on the mould used.