186 which is substantially identical to the upper lock assembly 126 on the tubing joint 112 referring now to fig1 and 13 a slip sleeve 390 which can be used with the present invention is shown the slip sleeve 390 defines a tubular body journaled about the encased tubular member 113 the slip sleeve 390 is approximately eighteen inches to thirty six inches in length and is retained about the tubular member 113 between the guide ring 182 and a running ring 183 the slip sleeve 390 may be located on the tubular members comprising the blast joint of the invention at any desired location where a gripping surface is required typically the slip sleeve 390 is located below the coupling 145 so that when suspended in the well bore the slip sleeve 190 presents a surface for engagement by the pipe slips 192 to support the blast joint in the well bore 114 so that the coupling 145 extends above the drill rig floor 392 for connection to the next tubing joint to form the multi joint blast joint the slip sleeve 390 is very sturdy and includes sufficient wall thickness so that it does not collapse upon application of lateral compressive force by the pipe slips 392 by an alternative embodiment the slip sleeve 390 may include serrations formed on its exterior blast joints particularly when formed of several joints are extremely heavy this tremendous load must be supported by the pipe slips 392 which grip the slip sleeve 390 the serrations aid in maintaining a secure gripping contact between the slip sleeve 390 and the pipe slips 392 problems associated with installing blast joints are overcome by using the base assembly 290 shown.