A few more pipes I've made

[Mad Hatter]

I think these are #s 9, 10, 11, & 12. Getting better with practice.

[dmkerr]

I like that 2nd one the best!

[Mad Hatter]

Originally Posted by dmkerr

I like that 2nd one the best!

The owner must be a proud feller! But just wait. Things are going well enough I ordered a sandblaster and compressor just yesterday

[RJpuffs]

Great work! Wish I was dexterous enough to create something like that. Building lawn furniture is about the limit of my capabilities

[mlbar1153]

#12 has a nice red look to it. I like it the most.

[commonsenseman]

Nice looking pipes!

[Mad Hatter]

Originally Posted by RJpuffs

Great work! Wish I was dexterous enough to create something like that. Building lawn furniture is about the limit of my capabilities

I can build any piece of furniture with plywood, 1 x 2s, sheet rock screws and wood glue. I'm that good.

Originally Posted by mlbar1153

#12 has a nice red look to it. I like it the most.

With the exception of #2. I used a double layer of red for the base stain on all of these. #1 was gone over with black, #3 with medium brown and #4 with a double layer of orange. #2 was based in black, sanded then restained with med. brown. Anyone interested, the rule of thumb is light stain first followed by subsequently darker stains except in special occasions.

Originally Posted by commonsenseman

Nice looking pipes!

My last three have been driven by the "very big pipe" philosophy of a certain friend and mentor type fellow. All have 1 1/8" chambers. Talk about a smoke!!! The bottom two are also my first bents. Now that I'm getting more accumulated "know-how" (not to mention accumulated power tools) I'm looking to make some smooth and 'blast finishes in the near future.

[AcworthAl]

These are all great looking pipes. I especially like the Poker.

[SidRox7]

Beautiful work! How do you shine up rusticated pipes? I have read shellac has the nicest finish but worry about the pipe breathing?

[Mad Hatter]

Originally Posted by SidRox7

Beautiful work! How do you shine up rusticated pipes? I have read shellac has the nicest finish but worry about the pipe breathing?

A lot of trial and error. Actually Rad Davis posted on SF that shellac is the way to go because it can breathe. There were other makers posting in another thread over there saying light coats of anything of the sort is necessary to the gloss on any finish because any wax applied straight to the wood will melt into the wood itself when it is smoked and will take several waxings before it develops a base layer (and you can buff wax on a rustic with a little practice). If you can create that same effect without actually smoking the pipe then you have a well-based finish. I like to use my brain and find my own way of doing things Also the flash from the camera makes the pipes appear a little shinier than they appear in person.

[DubintheDam]

Originally Posted by SidRox7

Beautiful work! How do you shine up rusticated pipes? I have read shellac has the nicest finish but worry about the pipe breathing?

Joe, I have the same question. I love the pipe you sent. I have yet to smoke it. But my main critic would be the heavy varnish, I would prefer it if it wasn't so glossy and thick. Also I think it would be better if the undercoating of the red came through more.

Other points would be the stem is quite thin and narrow, I would prefer wider fishtail bit and also thicker.

The last critic would be the join between the stem and the shank could be more fluid. Were these stems pre-cut?

As for the smoking properties I suspect it wil smoke very, very well as the draw is perfect...I'll keep you posted....real soon promise.

[Mad Hatter]

Originally Posted by DubintheDam

Joe, I have the same question. I love the pipe you sent. I have yet to smoke it. But my main critic would be the heavy varnish, I would prefer it if it wasn't so glossy and thick. Also I think it would be better if the undercoating of the red came through more.

Other points would be the stem is quite thin and narrow, I would prefer wider fishtail bit and also thicker.

The last critic would be the join between the stem and the shank could be more fluid. Were these stems pre-cut?

As for the smoking properties I suspect it wil smoke very, very well as the draw is perfect...I'll keep you posted....real soon promise.

First off, you need to smoke it for the carnuba to melt into the wood. Its glossed for appearance and only smoking it will mellow that. Yep, the stem is narrow. Its completely reshaped from a preformed stem. Your pipe took 4 hours to make and the stem, including mistakes took about 16 hours. Sorry you don't like the stem but cutting stems is more difficult than shaping briar because you have all the fine detail to look to during the making and then sanding around those details in the finishing without rounding edges, uncluding the mortise, tenon union. And there is also the idea "hey, I've only made 9 of these things and my lack of experience says if I keep trying to fix this mistake I've made (that I shouldn't have made in the first place) I'm definitely going to **** something up and spend another day and half making a new stem. Some obvious mistakes are better dealt with by moving on and not making them again in the future and at the same hoping what you believe yu got right is actually done right as you believe it is. The reason for me giving free pipes to other guys is to get feedback so I know what I'm doing right and what I'm doing wrong so I know what needs to be modified in the future.

[Mad Hatter]

I'm Novembergray at SF
Quote:

Originally Posted by novembergray
Ok so I've gotten a decent shine on some pipes following the advice above but when I smoke the pipe the shine disappears. Its not just on the few pipes I've made but also on some factory pipes. So what gives? The only thing I can think of is when I got my carnuba (from PME) I melted it down into one solid piece. Is it possible to get it too hot and ruin it or what else could be my problem?

You have no problem.

This is the nature of a carnauba finish. The heat from smoking melts the wax, and it goes to a nice sheen rather than that glossy finish. The only way I know of to keep a pipe glossy while smoking is to apply a lacquer or some such that is permanent.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rad Davis
You have no problem.

This is the nature of a carnauba finish. The heat from smoking melts the wax, and it goes to a nice sheen rather than that glossy finish. The only way I know of to keep a pipe glossy while smoking is to apply a lacquer or some such that is permanent.

Thanks again. You've been a really big help on this
__________________
JOE


__________________

[Damicom3]

I really like number 12 as well. Seems like its larger even though you said all were 1 1/8" chambers. I also like the flat bottom of the pipe how as well as the long shank which makes the pipe look balanced... thats the only word I could come up with but thats another way of saying its really pleasing to the eye.

What I think you should do if you have the proper tools and whatnot is make an egg shaped bowl that is only rusticated around the rim of the bowl. Would look spiffy imo, of course I have no real knowledge about the making of pipes so I don't have much useful to say other then keep up the good work!!

[dmkerr]

Originally Posted by Mad Hatter

I'm Novembergray at SF
Quote:

You have no problem.

This is the nature of a carnauba finish. The heat from smoking melts the wax, and it goes to a nice sheen rather than that glossy finish. The only way I know of to keep a pipe glossy while smoking is to apply a lacquer or some such that is permanent.

Quote:


Thanks again. You've been a really big help on this
__________________
JOE


__________________

The shine is dulling a bit on mine. I think I told you that I have one pipe, a Pipa Croci, that still has a very shiny finish after 2 years of steady smoking. It's quite unnerving. Makes me wonder what they coated it with. It smokes fine, though. It just doesn't take on that "well-loved pipe" hue that it should.