A Friendly Heads Up to Aspiring Carvers

[romeowood]

Hey gents & madams, just thought I'd post a note here that some fella (me) is selling a fine block of morta over in the pipes & accessories section. I'd gotten it from a pipe show long back (maybe 10 years?) and have since moved 6 times and far away from my woodworking equipment, but can't bring myself to just toss it. And, in self-service, I would love to see pics of someone actually making a nice pipe out of it!

 

[mso489]

I'm not a pipe carver, but out of curiosity, how is morta worked? Would you use the same tools as briar, or is it done differently? It's bog oak, right? So do you sculpt it like rock or carve it like briar?

 

[TheWhale13]

I'm not a pipe carver, but out of curiosity, how is morta worked? Would you use the same tools as briar, or is it done differently? It's bog oak, right? So do you sculpt it like rock or carve it like briar?

I assume that you would shape it the same way as briar. Morta is often sandblasted too right?

 

[romeowood]

It's wood that has been mineralized; it's hell on cutting tools, but as far as cutting and shaping it seems to behave much like other hardwood exotics (e.g., purple heart or pink ivory, etc.) or manufactured stone that is a composite of mineral powder and acrylic. It's gorgeous when done right, sandblasted or smooth:

 

[FALaholic]

Really like the look of sandblasted morta wood pipes.

 

[Searock Fan]

I just happened to spot this thread and haven't read any of it, but.... A warning to new wouldbe carvers. Beware those "carve your own pipe" things. You know, the kind that come with a block of briar that's been drilled and includes a stem. I've smoked several, one I made years ago and a few that other guys made, just as a test to see for myself. Without exception they all smoked terrible. Totally worthless, I suspect uncured cheap briar. A word to the wise....

 

[TheIronMonkey]

As I recall, the listing was for a big hunk of undrilled morta, possibly enough for more than one pipe with careful planning. I was considering buying it when he first listed it, but, I was reluctant because of the wear and tear on tools. I also suspect I wouldn't be able to make as delicate carvings as with briar.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I just happened to spot this thread and haven't read any of it, but.... A warning to new wouldbe carvers. Beware those "carve your own pipe" things. You know, the kind that come with a block of briar that's been drilled and includes a stem. I've smoked several, one I made years ago and a few that other guys made, just as a test to see for myself. Without exception they all smoked terrible. Totally worthless, I suspect uncured cheap briar. A word to the wise....

Mark Tinskey sells some good ones. Cut and drilled however you like by Mark himself.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

@romeowood
Geez, that is one scary ass avatar!!

 

[mso489]

Maybe that is what you look like when you see what working on morta has done to your tools?

 

[Ahi Ka]

@TheIronMonkey pretty delicate looking to me

 

[TheIronMonkey]

@TheIronMonkey pretty delicate looking to me

View attachment 143375

That's interesting. Most of the modern morta pipes I've seen tend to be cruder.

 

[romeowood]

I think the carving aspect would rely heavily on the patience and persistence of the carver...

@romeowood
Geez, that is one scary ass avatar!!

tell me about it! you get what you pay for with these self-portrait artists these days...

 

[Chasing Embers]

That's interesting. Most of the modern morta pipes I've seen tend to be cruder.

 

[OzPiper]

@TheIronMonkey pretty delicate looking to me

View attachment 143375

There was a trend popularised by Queen Victoria when she was mourning Prince Albert of wearing bog wood jewellery (memento mori).

Most were simple pieces, but some were elaborately carved made with hand tools.
Kudos to the artisans of yore

 

[TheIronMonkey]

While this is mostly smooth, the deeper marks

View attachment 143458

This actually illustrates my concern. While the surface is mostly smooth, the grainy areas between the smooth sections are what I perceive as being crude, maybe because of the broadness of the lines with tiny voids? These are the areas that seem like they wouldn't hold detail.

 

[LotusEater]

While this is mostly smooth, the deeper marks

This actually illustrates my concern. While the surface is mostly smooth, the grainy areas between the smooth sections are what I perceive as being crude, maybe because of the broadness of the lines with tiny voids? These are the areas that seem like they wouldn't hold detail.

I see what you mean but I think that’s just what oak grain looks like- either you like it or you don’t. Blasting or rusticating obscures the grain pattern.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

It's not that I don't like it—my concern is solely to do with holding the finer forms and details I'd want to carve. I suspect the gaps in the grain would be problematic for what I would want to achieve.

*I was writing on the subway, and a sentence disappeared between stations. I see it turned up above the quote.

 

[Chasing Embers]

While this is mostly smooth, the deeper marks

This actually illustrates my concern. While the surface is mostly smooth, the grainy areas between the smooth sections are what I perceive as being crude, maybe because of the broadness of the lines with tiny voids? These are the areas that seem like they wouldn't hold detail.

It may as well be stone. Most of my pipes get banged around and they don't lose any detail. That one is one of my desk drawer pipes at work.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

It may as well be stone. Most of my pipes get banged around and they don't lose any detail. That one is one of my desk drawer pipes at work.

This is good to know. Maybe I'll get some and give it a try after I work on others in the queue.