Since the pipe is no longer in the beginning stages, but is rather in the final stages, it didn't make much sense to continue showing it in a thread titled, "My First Pipe Beginning Stages." So I started a new thread. If anyone hasn't seen it and is interested, this is the original thread... http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/my-first-pipe-beginning-stages-pics
A quick rundown... The pipe began as this ginormously huge jumbo grade 1 block of plateau briar ordered from Vermont Freehand, predrilled. Lacking any power tools I decided I was going to do this with hand tools. So with a coping saw, a rasp, a few files, an assortment of sandpaper, and a brass wire brush I dove in.
The Tools Of The Trade
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Shaping a pipe, I've learned, with hand tools is no easy task. It's tiring, tedious, and sometimes painful. I've also learned that a wood rasp will take the skin off a knuckle a heck of a lot easier than it does wood. But despite that, it's been very rewarding, and quite fun, and almost as therapeutic as smoking a pipe. I've been able to watch the wood transform slowly from a shapeless block into something (in my opinion) quite beautiful. I've learned you don't always control what you want the pipe to become. In fact, I could almost say the briar takes on a life of its own and guides your hand into fulfilling its destiny. I thought the pipe I was creating was going to be a typical freehand style bent dublin... the pipe wanted to be more of a pickaxe. I'm fine with that. It wanted to be something Thorin Oakenshield would be proud to smoke... I'm fine with that too, but Thorin's gonna have a fight if he thinks he's getting the pipe. Not even finished, I'm already in love with it. In fact, the moment the wood rasp met briar I developed a love for this pipe.
Ok, recently I've been working my way up slowly from low grit to high grit. I've begun wearing some cotton gloves to help protect the briar from the oils of my skin while moving toward the finishing process. I've finished the final sanding before staining and buffed with tripoli... I think. My drill (the only thing of power in the making of this pipe)only runs 900 rpms, so I'm not sure how much tripoli actually made it onto the wheel. Even less sure of how much made it onto the pipe. However... this beast is looking fantastic!
Weird how it looks so small in this photo. Trust me it's a trick of the eye.
I was thinking of ways I could prevent stain from getting into the bowl, ways I could stain the pipe without touching it, and ways I could hang the pipe while stain dries and came up with this nifty little tool. It's simply a wine cork on a thick bamboo skewer. Fits perfectly into the chamber on this pipe.
[/url][/img] I stick the skewer down into cup full of change and it's safe and secure.
I heard wiping the pipe down with denatured alcohol opens the grain and helps the stain seep in. I also heard heating the pipe does the same. And I heard lighting the stain on fire helps the stain set in the grain too... For good measure I did all three. Doing a contrast stain, I've applied the black and I'm currently letting it sit. I almost wanted to kick myself for doing this. I think the pipe looks quite nice as it is. However, I'm using the opportunity to learn a few things as well, and so stain it is. Say hello to Black er... Beauty?
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And that's the story so far. I'm going to let it sit overnight and most of the day and then I'll sand off the black stain and begin prepping for the light brown.
A quick rundown... The pipe began as this ginormously huge jumbo grade 1 block of plateau briar ordered from Vermont Freehand, predrilled. Lacking any power tools I decided I was going to do this with hand tools. So with a coping saw, a rasp, a few files, an assortment of sandpaper, and a brass wire brush I dove in.
The Tools Of The Trade
Shaping a pipe, I've learned, with hand tools is no easy task. It's tiring, tedious, and sometimes painful. I've also learned that a wood rasp will take the skin off a knuckle a heck of a lot easier than it does wood. But despite that, it's been very rewarding, and quite fun, and almost as therapeutic as smoking a pipe. I've been able to watch the wood transform slowly from a shapeless block into something (in my opinion) quite beautiful. I've learned you don't always control what you want the pipe to become. In fact, I could almost say the briar takes on a life of its own and guides your hand into fulfilling its destiny. I thought the pipe I was creating was going to be a typical freehand style bent dublin... the pipe wanted to be more of a pickaxe. I'm fine with that. It wanted to be something Thorin Oakenshield would be proud to smoke... I'm fine with that too, but Thorin's gonna have a fight if he thinks he's getting the pipe. Not even finished, I'm already in love with it. In fact, the moment the wood rasp met briar I developed a love for this pipe.
Ok, recently I've been working my way up slowly from low grit to high grit. I've begun wearing some cotton gloves to help protect the briar from the oils of my skin while moving toward the finishing process. I've finished the final sanding before staining and buffed with tripoli... I think. My drill (the only thing of power in the making of this pipe)only runs 900 rpms, so I'm not sure how much tripoli actually made it onto the wheel. Even less sure of how much made it onto the pipe. However... this beast is looking fantastic!
Weird how it looks so small in this photo. Trust me it's a trick of the eye.
I was thinking of ways I could prevent stain from getting into the bowl, ways I could stain the pipe without touching it, and ways I could hang the pipe while stain dries and came up with this nifty little tool. It's simply a wine cork on a thick bamboo skewer. Fits perfectly into the chamber on this pipe.
I heard wiping the pipe down with denatured alcohol opens the grain and helps the stain seep in. I also heard heating the pipe does the same. And I heard lighting the stain on fire helps the stain set in the grain too... For good measure I did all three. Doing a contrast stain, I've applied the black and I'm currently letting it sit. I almost wanted to kick myself for doing this. I think the pipe looks quite nice as it is. However, I'm using the opportunity to learn a few things as well, and so stain it is. Say hello to Black er... Beauty?
And that's the story so far. I'm going to let it sit overnight and most of the day and then I'll sand off the black stain and begin prepping for the light brown.