Texture Work: Rustication and Blastication

piffyr

Part of the Furniture Now

Apr 24, 2015

782

80

• Sep 28, 2016

• #1

Most of the work that I do with pipes requires me to play by the rules and color within the lines. I very much enjoy the challenge of that, but it’s nice to throw caution to the wind every now and then and hack at an innocent pipe like Jason Voorhees with a promiscuous college freshman. So, I thought I’d show off some of my more or less recent texture work for some input.
This first one I just finished. It was a no-name Italian-made pipe with a nice shape, but a few large fills and a sloppy finish.

I rusticated over the largest fills at the sides of the bowl and finished the smooth areas to accent the wonderful bird’s eye grain that was hiding in there.

 

piffyr

Part of the Furniture Now

Apr 24, 2015

782

80

• Sep 28, 2016

• #2

The next pipe is a Gauntleys London Briar 580 that I did a short while back. The stummel was severely misshapen (I assume from buffer abuse) and had the “wobbly” look like a reflection in a funhouse mirror.

Reshaping the entire stummel back into symmetry would be way too intensive a job for what is essentially a budget pipe. Luckily, there was plenty of meat on the bowl to work with. So, I shaped the shank back into line and gave the bowl a deep, craggy texture to give the dips and waves some purpose.

 

piffyr

Part of the Furniture Now

Apr 24, 2015

782

80

• Sep 28, 2016

• #3

The last pipe is another Italian no-name. The difference with this one was that it was sandblasted with a texture so light that it appeared almost pointless.

I’m not set up for blasting. So, instead, I came up with the idea of “blastication”. That is hand-rusticating a pipe with a poor blast by following along the lines to accent and augment the texture that’s already there, deepening crevices and adding texture to “dead” areas.

Thanks for looking guys! I’m going back to coloring within the lines until the next hapless victim shows up.

 

A

aldecaker

Lifer

Feb 13, 2015

4,407

42

• Sep 28, 2016

• #4

Nice. Is it an optical illusion, or did you smooth out the shank/stem junction? (On the first one.)

 

piffyr

Part of the Furniture Now

Apr 24, 2015

782

80

• Sep 28, 2016

• #5

@aldecaker: It's not an optical illusion, but it didn't need any smoothing either. The tenon was a touch too long and it prevented the stem from sitting flush. So, I just shaved a bit off.

 

uneek

Might Stick Around

Sep 8, 2016

86

0

• Sep 28, 2016

• #6

That's very fine craftsmanship. Any man would be proud to own those.

 

pipesmokingtom

Lifer

May 4, 2015

3,210

16

• Sep 28, 2016

• #7

All very much improved.

 

scrooge

Lifer

Apr 24, 2015

1,341

14

• Sep 28, 2016

• #8

WOW! Outstanding! I Likey!

 

lohengrin

Lifer

Jun 16, 2015

1,198

2

• Sep 28, 2016

• #9

Well done!

It is surely a nice work, showing craftmanship and style.

These pipes improved so much that you didn't need to mortify the originals photographing them with different background and lights!

 

pipesmokingtom

Lifer

May 4, 2015

3,210

16

• Sep 28, 2016

• #10

Can I ask what the process is to get that deep craggy texture? I'm nuts about that look!

 

voorhees

Lifer

May 30, 2012

3,834

939

Gonadistan

• Sep 28, 2016

• #11

I'm impressed. Nice work. I especially like 1 and 3.

 

piffyr

Part of the Furniture Now

Apr 24, 2015

782

80

• Sep 28, 2016

• #12

These pipes improved so much that you didn't need to mortify the originals photographing them with different background and lights!

Click to expand...

Ha! Yeah, I've thought about that before. The purpose really isn't to mortify the pipes though. The first thing to happen to a pipe on arrival is that it goes up on the bench for photos. Otherwise, I'm likely to forget and start working (done it many times -- but getting better). I suppose I could shoot the "after" photos on the bench as well, but I must beg forgiveness for a little vanity about my work. Besides, with better light, you can better see the things that I got wrong. :wink:

Can I ask what the process is to get that deep craggy texture? I'm nuts about that look!

Click to expand...

I'd tell you if I could, but it's a very freeform process and most of the tools that I use are handmade. Not to get too "Bob Ross" about it, but I just go with what feels right and what the wood and the shape tell me. If you want deep and craggy, just make sure you have enough wood to work with, and then dig in there and start making some chips fly.

 

A

aldecaker

Lifer

Feb 13, 2015

4,407

42

• Sep 28, 2016

• #13

One can never get "too Bob Ross". 8)

 

pipesmokingtom

Lifer

May 4, 2015

3,210

16

• Sep 28, 2016

• #14

If you want deep and craggy, just make sure you have enough wood to work with, and then dig in there and start making some chips fly.

Click to expand...

So this was all done by hand. Very nice.

 

mso489

Lifer

Feb 21, 2013

41,210

60,454

• Sep 28, 2016

• #15

I like semi-rustication and don't see it as just a cover for fills. If it covers fills, good, but that can be done with artistry, or not. Another craftsman who does creative and thoughtful work with that is Mogen Johansen (Johs pipes).

 

kiel

Starting to Get Obsessed

May 27, 2016

208

2

• Sep 28, 2016

• #16

I think you did an excellent job on all of them. Super impressed with how you refinished the smooth areas.

 

pagan

Lifer

May 6, 2016

5,963

28

West Texas

• Sep 28, 2016

• #17

Very nice work

 

dottiewarden

Lifer

Mar 25, 2014

3,053

57

Toronto

• Sep 28, 2016

• #18

Amazing work. My vote goes to pipe 2, the burnt marshmallow.
Congratulations on you fine workmanship!

 

randelli

Part of the Furniture Now

Nov 21, 2015

914

5

• Sep 28, 2016

• #19

@dot- I was thinking burnt marshmallow as well...

 

gloucesterman

Lifer

Jan 4, 2015

1,858

11

Massachusetts

• Sep 28, 2016

• #20

It's always interesting to see what some well thought out texturing can do for rather ordinary pipes. Tastefully done and well executed. My congratulations.