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Post by Silver on Mar 26, 2022 19:05:54 GMT -5
Hi all. I finished my 10th pipe today, and thought I'd show them in one thread instead of using WAYS and the Daily Chronicle to introduce them. It's been about a year since I made my first pipe, and waited almost a year before I made the second.
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Post by Silver on Mar 26, 2022 19:10:12 GMT -5
I received a couple kit blocks (Mr. Brog, I believe) for Christmas 2020, from my daughter and son-in-law. Without the proper tools or instruction, I just started carving and sanding. This was the ultimate result. Kind of amusing. Completed somewhere around St. Patrick's Day 2021, hence the green stain.  |
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Post by Plainsman on Mar 26, 2022 19:26:55 GMT -5
Impressive.
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Post by oldcajun123 on Mar 26, 2022 19:29:17 GMT -5
 Me being born on St Pats day loves anything green. Pipes a looker!
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Post by oldcajun123 on Mar 26, 2022 19:29:47 GMT -5
You got skills Silver!
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Post by Silver on Mar 26, 2022 19:38:56 GMT -5
Thanks. I smoked the pipe on St. Patrick's Day. Not bad for a first pipe, not good either. It took 2 or 3 separate attempts at getting round and concentric to the tobacco chamber. Really wonky at first. Then I found a set of files that worked better on briar than my other files. Not sure why I decided on green, though. I considered sanding the finish off and restaining a more traditional color, but never did. It'll stay green.
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Post by Silver on Mar 26, 2022 19:46:29 GMT -5
Pipe #2 came about a year later. I bought a couple kits with plateau to try my hand at making a freehand pipe. While roughing the block, i had forgotten how difficult it is to control the cut with the scroll saw (I really should buy a band saw). The blade wandered a little before I realized how off course it was. That scar in the first photo is the result of my wandering saw blade. At the time, I cleaned it up and figured I'd have to live with it.  |
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Post by Silver on Mar 26, 2022 19:51:33 GMT -5
After a few weeks, I decided that I'd try to clean the scar up and add more contour to the surface of the bowl. I thought I really had nothing to lose. I managed to get rid of that scar by carving and sanding it larger, turning it into a fluted surface. Then, I repeated that technique in a few other places around the bowl.   |
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Post by Silver on Mar 26, 2022 20:11:47 GMT -5
Pipe #3 was another freehand project, and like pipe #2, I had problems with the saw. Another scar that I had to fix, but this one was deeper. I'd been trying to cut material off the sides of the bowl to establish the taper and the blade wandered. Again. At some point, I started to experiment with channeling and fluting and got a little carried away. What resulted is a true monstrosity. But, I did learn a few things about carving. I don't saw the side of my blocks anymore for one thing. The sides now get filed and sanded to shape. And I try to keep the channeling and fluting a bit more reserved. I was a little encouraged by the rustication on the stem. This pipe taught me a lot about techniques and tools that I should or shouldn't use and when/where to use or not use them.  |
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Post by trailboss on Mar 26, 2022 20:15:41 GMT -5
All three of them look pretty good, much better than I could do...thanks for sharing!
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Post by Silver on Mar 26, 2022 20:26:54 GMT -5
Thanks, Charlie. 3 down, 7 more to go. No one should feel obligated to read all this stuff. One reason I'm doing this is to have a record of my ?progress? for myself. In case, I forget. |
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Post by trailboss on Mar 26, 2022 20:38:52 GMT -5
If your hair is gray and you start selling pipes, you should sell them as Silver Gray pipes....they will sell like hotcakes!
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Post by Silver on Mar 26, 2022 20:48:36 GMT -5
If your hair is gray and you start selling pipes, you should sell them as Silver Gray pipes....they will sell like hotcakes! I don't think the real Silver Gray wouldn't be happy with that! |
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Post by Plainsman on Mar 26, 2022 20:49:54 GMT -5
I look forward to seeing more of your creations. I envy your skills.
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Post by Silver on Mar 26, 2022 20:56:39 GMT -5
Thanks, John. Not sure I have any special skills, except maybe for stubbornness. Maybe one more installment tonight.
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Post by Silver on Mar 26, 2022 21:16:43 GMT -5
Pipe #4 was a kit block, like the previous three. This was the other block from the pair I received Chtistmas 2020. One thing different is this is pear wood. I chose a classic shape for this one, a bent brandy. It's a little chunkier than your typical brandy, because the shank diameter was already carved and matches the stem that came with it. Would have preferred something a bit sleeker. There were no saw mishaps this time around, as the profile was filed and sanded by hand. Mostly a lesson in keeping the bowl round and concentric from the bottom to the rim, while maintaining the taper. Sanding was important with this pipe, too. I looked at it a few minutes ago and there a still micro scratches that need to be corrected. One thing peculiar about the stummel is how it took the stain. In the photo, there's pale vertical band down the middle of the bowl. That isn't just reflected light. That band wraps around the entire bowl like a horseshoe. I haven't smoked this one yet.  |
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Post by urbino on Mar 26, 2022 21:30:23 GMT -5
After a few weeks, I decided that I'd try to clean the scar up and add more contour to the surface of the bowl. I thought I really had nothing to lose. I managed to get rid of that scar by carving and sanding it larger, turning it into a fluted surface. Then, I repeated that technique in a few other places around the bowl. What's the name for those paper cups you bake cupcakes in? Whatever the word is, that's what you could call this shape! |
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Post by urbino on Mar 26, 2022 21:30:46 GMT -5
Pipe #3 was another freehand project, and like pipe #2, I had problems with the saw. Another scar that I had to fix, but this one was deeper. I'd been trying to cut material off the sides of the bowl to establish the taper and the blade wandered. Again. At some point, I started to experiment with channeling and fluting and got a little carried away. What resulted is a true monstrosity. But, I did learn a few things about carving. I don't saw the side of my blocks anymore for one thing. The sides now get filed and sanded to shape. And I try to keep the channeling and fluting a bit more reserved. I was a little encouraged by the rustication on the stem. This pipe taught me a lot about techniques and tools that I should or shouldn't use and when/where to use or not use them. The Guggenheim. |
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Post by Silver on Mar 26, 2022 21:47:32 GMT -5
After a few weeks, I decided that I'd try to clean the scar up and add more contour to the surface of the bowl. I thought I really had nothing to lose. I managed to get rid of that scar by carving and sanding it larger, turning it into a fluted surface. Then, I repeated that technique in a few other places around the bowl. What's the name for those paper cups you bake cupcakes in? Whatever the word is, that's what you could call this shape! Umm...cupcake liners? |
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Post by Silver on Mar 26, 2022 21:48:55 GMT -5
Pipe #3 was another freehand project, and like pipe #2, I had problems with the saw. Another scar that I had to fix, but this one was deeper. I'd been trying to cut material off the sides of the bowl to establish the taper and the blade wandered. Again. At some point, I started to experiment with channeling and fluting and got a little carried away. What resulted is a true monstrosity. But, I did learn a few things about carving. I don't saw the side of my blocks anymore for one thing. The sides now get filed and sanded to shape. And I try to keep the channeling and fluting a bit more reserved. I was a little encouraged by the rustication on the stem. This pipe taught me a lot about techniques and tools that I should or shouldn't use and when/where to use or not use them. The Guggenheim. The monstrosity is more fitting. Or the abomination. |
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Post by Silver on Mar 26, 2022 22:11:59 GMT -5
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Post by Ronv69 on Mar 26, 2022 22:22:20 GMT -5
Pipe #3 was another freehand project, and like pipe #2, I had problems with the saw. Another scar that I had to fix, but this one was deeper. I'd been trying to cut material off the sides of the bowl to establish the taper and the blade wandered. Again. At some point, I started to experiment with channeling and fluting and got a little carried away. What resulted is a true monstrosity. But, I did learn a few things about carving. I don't saw the side of my blocks anymore for one thing. The sides now get filed and sanded to shape. And I try to keep the channeling and fluting a bit more reserved. I was a little encouraged by the rustication on the stem. This pipe taught me a lot about techniques and tools that I should or shouldn't use and when/where to use or not use them. I really like this pipe! 😁 |
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Post by Plainsman on Mar 26, 2022 22:56:05 GMT -5
Lovely pipes. But the content of the jar is obscene. Get thee hence, jar, I abjure thee!
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Post by terrapinflyer on Mar 27, 2022 0:26:09 GMT -5
Thanks for sharing a bit of your process and progress. They're all very cool pipes. Somehow I think smoking one of those freehands would cramp my jaw, but I'm a #TeamSmallPipes girl. Keep it up and keep sharing.
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Post by Gypo on Mar 27, 2022 9:19:46 GMT -5
Glad to see you put this thread together Pete. Enjoying it very much.
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Zach
Pro Member
If you can't send money, send tobacco.
Posts: 4,358
First Name: Zach
Favorite Pipe: Too many currently, bound to change
Favorite Tobacco: Haunted Bookshop, Big 'N' Burley, Pegasus, Habana Daydream, OJK, Rum Twist, FVF, Escudo, Orlik Golden Sliced, Kendal Flake, Ennerdale
Location:
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Post by Zach on Mar 27, 2022 10:06:49 GMT -5
Pete, I like all of them. Encouraging to me as well as I will eventually, sometime soon, go and buy some files and decent sandpaper and a buffing wheel. Briar blocks and stem blanks as well. All I have is a Dremel kit so I've got one kit block at home that's actually poor quality but I figure I'll just hit that one with the Dremel, files and sanding and see what I get. I will be following along here and like Ron says I also like that big freehand.
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Post by sperrytops on Mar 27, 2022 10:53:40 GMT -5
Those being your first pipes out the door, I am seriously impressed. Far beyond my skills.
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Post by urbino on Mar 27, 2022 13:25:44 GMT -5
What's the name for those paper cups you bake cupcakes in? Whatever the word is, that's what you could call this shape! Umm...cupcake liners?  |
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Post by urbino on Mar 27, 2022 13:28:38 GMT -5
In spite of the learning moments (using the saw within it's capabilities/not going too crazy with the Dremel), I received encouragement from several Patch members and fellow pipe smokers in my family. Enough to keep going. The next two pipes (#5 & 6), were made together. I decided that I'd be gifting them to my son and son-in-law. This provided the motivation to be careful. I cut the profiles of the pipes on the scroll saw, but stayed away from the sides. I filed and sanded them manually. I also sketched my design ideas directly on the briar, so I had an idea to work to. These pipes were also made with kit blocks. I have a few photos of the pipes taken during the carving process:    And the finished pipes. The boys were happy with them:  Nice. I like in-progress photos. |
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Post by Ronv69 on Mar 27, 2022 13:59:12 GMT -5
Thanks for sharing a bit of your process and progress. They're all very cool pipes. Somehow I think smoking one of those freehands would cramp my jaw, but I'm a #TeamSmallPipes girl. Keep it up and keep sharing. RDPipes has a chin rest pipe support for sale on eBay. 😊🤠 |
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Me being born on St Pats day loves anything green. Pipes a looker!
