Finally made my first pipe today

[Seniakpipes]

Quite a complicated form of an octagon, where everything must be symmetrical. Maybe better to postpone it and finish later?
Possibly it may be new ideas how to finish.

[Mad Hatter]

Originally Posted by Seniakpipes

Quite a complicated form of an octagon, where everything must be symmetrical. Maybe better to postpone it and finish later?
Possibly it may be new ideas how to finish.

I wanted to try something a little challenging so I'd know how far I could push my expectations. It would be nice if I could find a file set that is fine enough it doesn't require sanding afterwards. I'll have to look around and see what's available. Despite this pipe being entirely "caution to the wind" experimental its coming together nicely.

Originally Posted by RichieR

I'd say you got a really good jump out of the starting gate, and your initial pipes are inspiring, while I wait for my PIMO book to arrive in the mailbox.

Where do you get those silver bits? And are they designed to just easily slip onto the shank...how does that work?

Anyway...keep up the good work, and maybe you should get a little blog going to document the progress.

The nickel bands are from pipemakersemporium. They also have them at JHLowes in nickel or silver. They are gauged in half millimeter increments from 12mm to 25mm. Browse through this thread Estate Pipes Reclaimed = Diamonds from Coal for tips on refurbing, etc

[scottw]

Nice work Joe, you are actually peaking some interest in me for the pipe. Great, another slope. I have to log off for a bit.

[Mad Hatter]

Originally Posted by scottw

Nice work Joe, you are actually peaking some interest in me for the pipe. Great, another slope. I have to log off for a bit.

Thanks Scott. Believe me when I say I'm as surprised about how these are turning out as anybody. I've been planning to do this for about 2 years now but I was holding off on health issues and waiting to get a scroll saw for shaping, etc. In May I finally got the saw and messed around on a few blocks of walnut before tackling the briar. Funny thing is that cheapie scroll saw I bought at Sears is a turd on hardwood and aside from making quick, sloppy cuts I don't even use it. I really am enjoying this but squeezing it into my full-time work and full-time school schedule isn't doing much for my lazy side that just wants to hit the couch a few hours a night.

If you do decide to give it a try don't be intimidated by the idea of drilling your own blocks. Chamber bits ranging from 3/4" to 1" are $18 each and bits for the airway are at the hardware store. Its not that hard to drill the airway either. I did all of mine with the block in one hand and a drill in the other. A few measurements and a straight edge and its kinda hard to miss. The worst I've missed drilling the airway was by about a millimeter and that's going through 4" of wood to get to the chamber.

Hell, you oughta grab a pipe and come join us. We appreciate all the company we can get

[SmokinJohnny]

Pictures tell a thousand words. Outstanding work, Joe. I love the grain in the poker you carved. Truely a classy pipe. They're all classy!

[Mad Hatter]

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After a few hassles and waiting a week on a new package of stems I finally have this one finished (without wax which I'm still working on getting down and I see the stem needs touched up). Here it is. Opinions welcome

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[dmkerr]

Nice looking pipe, Joe!

[Dedalus]

Yeah, great stuff.

[SmokinDragon]

wow looks great, i'd like to try to make one....some day

[Mad Hatter]

Here's the one I've worked on the last couple of evenings. I broke the shank on this one when I was fitting the stem so I made an attempt at adding a walnut insert to put a little length back to it. I guess I should have looked for a lighter spot in the wood I cut it from because I didn't acheive the effect I wanted. Maybe I'll redye the briar to match but that seems a waste of that nice grain pattern................ I dunno, I probably should do that. The size and grain on this pipe were nice but there was a natural split that ran from the bottom of the bowl and curled back around the shank so it was another one "just for practice.

Hey Dan, you notice I got some wax to stick to this one?

[skittles]

looks nice.

[Boom]

Great looking pipes!!!

[dmkerr]

Originally Posted by Mad Hatter

Hey Dan, you notice I got some wax to stick to this one?

LOL! Yep, I see that!

So when are you going to accept commissioned work? I'm up for a black rusticated HEE-YOOOJ pipe. Maybe a magnum size. Full bent. Billiard or dublin or stack. But big. Massively big. Jaw-numbing big. Something that, like a Burger King Whopper, requires two hands to handle. Name your price.