Bought a meerschaum kit. I’ve carved a few briar pipes, and a couple of mortas. Any pointers? I’m just going to keep it simple. Smooth, maybe panels if the walls look thick enough.
Ok. Soak it, or just keep the surface damp?Keep it wet.
Thanks.Keep it in soak while carving... Xacto (tm) blades mounted in a wooden dowel make an excellent carving tool. Carves very much like soap (you might even want to practice on some soap first). you can also use the blades in a 90 degree scraping motion for fine work. There are some videos on YouTube showing carvers at work.
I will if I can remember to take pictures as I’m working on it. I’m bad about that kind of stuff. All my knife pictures are after the work is done. I only have a few that have good “work in progress” photos. I’ll try to remember to take some on the pipe carving. If nothing else it might serve as a lesson of what not to do!post it! I've been toying with that idea too
It actually carves like soap, just like @jhowell said.I decided it looked about right for carving, so I’m not waiting 24 hours. I’m zeroing in on a shape, but this thing is huge. I’m now no longer convinced I should do a smooth, even though I love how they look. Seems like it’d be a lot of meerschaum wasted as chips. What do y’all think?It looks like you could put it on a rope and hang it in the shower! Look forward to seeing what you do with it, now I want to try!
Good idea. I hadn’t thought of that.I found it was easier to carve under running water - the water keeps it soft and rinses away the chips as I work...
It is, but seeing it with the stem on now, I’m not feeling like the stummel is too chunky anymore. It is a larger pipe, but I don’t think the proportions look goofy anymore. I think I’ll leave it smooth. It just won’t be a clencher.It looks very nice smooth, but I know I would be tempted to keep whittling!!!
Thanks. I’m gonna let it dry overnight and then hit it with some 800 through 2,000 grit or until it is as smooth as I can get it. I guess I need to wait until it dries complete through before I wax it.That looks beautiful! Expecting to see a 'yellowing through to brown' post in 5 years.
I have both. Is one better than the other for this? I think beeswax is traditionally used, but I’m not sure. This is my first experience with meer.carnauba or beeswax???
It is, but seeing it with the stem on now, I’m not feeling like the stummel is too chunky anymore. It is a larger pipe, but I don’t think the proportions look goofy anymore. I think I’ll leave it smooth. It just won’t be a clencher.
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