This was 1 of 3 50+year-old briar blocks that I purchased on ebay a few years ago. Is this beast able to house a pipe, or would it be best to split it into 2 pieces?
Is this plateau briar salvageable?
- Thread starter griffonwing
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Looks like it could be saved. You'll have to let the briar "speak" to you and re-configure your ultimate shape around the crack. It's rather odd that it cracked that way. Possibly the block wasn't dried slowly enough after boiling at the briar mill. I personally have never had a block crack that extreme. Usually I'll find just some small, shallow cracks that aren't too deep. And I've lived in some pretty dry climates, too (Arizona and Colorado).
Best of luck with your carving.
CACooper
Best of luck with your carving.
CACooper
Safest bet is to cut in two pieces. Chances are pretty good that that crack goes deeper than it appears. The crack can be microscopic deeper down and you may not see it until the shank snaps off unexpectedly.
Thank you all. It will be a while before I have the tools necessary to actually do any carving, but I was wanting some insight and input before it got to that point.
Regarding the briar itself, I am sure the cracked grain goes deeper in the briar..just a gut feeling. I am unsure if the crack was there from the beginning. I think it was, but its been a while. They have been in a drawer all that time, with no real extensive fluctuation of temperature.
I am wanting to make a freehand plateau version of a bavarian type, so cutting the briar apart at the split should not have much of an effect. Once split, I can let the briar tell me what it wants.
Regarding the briar itself, I am sure the cracked grain goes deeper in the briar..just a gut feeling. I am unsure if the crack was there from the beginning. I think it was, but its been a while. They have been in a drawer all that time, with no real extensive fluctuation of temperature.
I am wanting to make a freehand plateau version of a bavarian type, so cutting the briar apart at the split should not have much of an effect. Once split, I can let the briar tell me what it wants.
Its a real quandary. If I try and remove the cracked portion and carve around it, if the cut goes deeper still, then I would have lost a lot of briar, and my alternate plans would be compromised.
I think it would be best to simply make a decision, this one being to split it into two, and then work those two pieces separately. I would rather create the alternative than to lose out on both.
I think it would be best to simply make a decision, this one being to split it into two, and then work those two pieces separately. I would rather create the alternative than to lose out on both.
It looks like a hard case to me. How ever you can always make a bowl out of the good part and use bamboo for the shank!
looks like it might work if you reverse the orientation and use the crack as the backside of the bowl. You would have lost to work with on the stem, but, that is how you get deep enough to get beyond the fissure.
I wonder if you could cut it out and then do a hot oil treatment? Then get along with the shaping.
I wonder if you could cut it out and then do a hot oil treatment? Then get along with the shaping.
The original pencil sketch is incorrect. It will be reversed. What I will end up doing is simply have the plateua briar be the bowl, shaped, and incorporate the stem with other products. Bamboo will enter into part of it, actually. I won't be able to work on it until well after the new year, when i get the tools.
I agree with newbroom. Use the crack for the back of the bowl. Could get a pretty dublin or a really great freehand out of that one!
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