Silver's Sawdust Journal

Interesting idea. Will look into that.

Thanks for the kind words, guys. Trying to learn from my mistakes (and unexpected surprises like sandpits).

I've been working on #11 off and on for a few days. The photos below show the stummel pretty much complete. I did a little more work after these pics, but this gives you an idea of the final shape.


 
This morning I stained the stummel. I used a mix of russet with a few drops of mahogany alcohol-based stain. These photos are after the first coat.


 
I applied two more coats of the stain to darken it up and even it out. Then I let it dry for an hour.

I like the color!

johnlawitzke, thats basically what I did, except I only applied one coat of light oil-based stain. Oh, and used 600-grit sandpaper. This pipe isn't going anywhere, so I could always sand again and apply another coat of the yellow stain.

I read on a pipemaker's forum that if using an alcohol-based dye for the base color, the contrast stain needs to be oil-based. The reasoning is applying an alcohol-based dye for the lighter/contrast color will mix with the base stain and produce a new, single color. An oil-based dye won't mix with the alcohol-based one. I might go back and re-stain this pipe, but the grain isn't that great. I'll definitely be trying contrast staining again on the next pipe.

I hope your friend is doing alright.

The color this one turned out has kind of an antique look to it.

I really like how #11 turned out great job Silver

You have done a great job within a short period of time.

I echo this. Excellent work Silver . 

The latest one looks great too. Is this all by hand filing etc. now that you're not sawing?

Pipe #12 came together over the last couple days. I had already drilled and sawed the basic shape when I did #11.



After the last pipe was finished, I planned on a break for a few days. The weather wasn't great, so I spent a few hours in the workshop the past few days and went to work.

Shaping the stummel (with the files that are in the photos, plus sandpaper)-




I applied an alcohol-based mahogany stain -




Sanded most off it off with 400 grit paper -




And stained it again with oil-based yellow -



I sanded again and also rubbed the stummel down with alcohol to soften the colors a bit. I wasn't sure if that would work, but it did. Finally, I added a little mahogany and a couple drops of dark red dye to some alcohol and applied another coat. This is where pipe #12 landed - 


Next few pipes are going to be smaller and maybe closer to the traditional shape charts, I think. Thanks for looking!

Thanks. I did my first one a year ago in February. Didn't do the second until late January. Needed something to do to keep me busy during the winter.

I thought the grain was pretty nice, too. Unfortunately, it kind of fades at the front of the bowl but picks up on the other side. The rim has some really tight bumps on the plateau. I was considering sanding at least part of it down to show off the birds-eye underneath. I suppose I could still do that. 

Thanks. Nice grain around 75% of the pipe. It gets a little patchy near the front of the bowl.