Ashton Pebble Grain PAD

[ssjones]

Ah, all is right in my pipe world. After a failed experiment with a Rad Davis Tadpole (fabulous pipe, I just couldn't appreciate the shape),a proper British shape/maker is in it's place on my rack.
This Pebble Grain XXX Bulldog came courtesy of Dave at Mkelaw pipes. If you have considered some of Dave's offerings, hesitate no more. Dave's urgency and service was first rate. Ordered on Saturday evening, the pipe was delivered today.
This one was even nicer than Dave's pictures and comments indicated. I expected a standard British bulldog, but the pipe is a bit of a squashed bulldog, with a lovely flat stem. It's properly British and also like nothing else that I have. The pipe passes a cleaner (no guarantee on a Taylor-era pipe!) and it smoked like a dream on the first bowl, a one match proposition with some MM965. The pipe was advertised by Dave as not even been broken in (some raw wood still in the chamber). It has a wonderful draw and I'll very much look forward to getting to know this one. Thanks Dave!

 

[flmason]

Congratulations on your new pipe. I love Dave's site as well. I visit it often but all that I like have been sold prior. But I always continue to look.

 

[hiplainsdrifter]

One of the sexiest Ashtons I have seen, and I typically hate bulldogs.

 

[gwtwdbss]

Nice! Great find Al!!

 

[numbersix]

Congrats Al - that's a stunning pipe! And an Ashton to boot - you're a lucky guy!

 

[bigvan]

That's a great pipe, Al.

 

[cigrmaster]

Great looking pipe Al and it definitely suits you. Congrats.

 

[garyovich]

Awesome pipe, great looking blast. An Ashton, and a proper Bulldog are both pipes that are on my short list, perhaps I could combine them and kill 2 with one stone. Congrats!

 

[weezell]

:clap:

 

[ssjones]

I have two Jimmy Craig Ashtons. Jimmy's blast is pretty darn good as well. More shallow but finer.

 

[garyovich]

Ok, I guess I'm going to expose some of my own ignorance, I was under the impression that the effects of blasting had more to do with various qualities of briar ie hardness, grain etc, than with an individuals "talent" for lack of a better work, at sandblasting. Could one of you more edumacated gents enlighten me?

 

[garyovich]

Rothnh, thanks for your insight. I've actually been curious about that for quite a while. You see comments a lot on etailers about how so and so has a signature craggy blast or such and such pipe has an abnormally shallow blast for a certain line. Thanks!

 

[ssjones]

Here's a interesting article on the Art of Sandblasting, which mentions Mr. Taylor.

http://www.rdfield.com/Articles/The%20Art%20of%20the%20....htm

 

[garyovich]

Very interesting article Al, thanks for posting that. Several of my questions are now answered. However, as with any good writing, more questions have arisen. Namely: straight grain produces ring grain when blaster? I would have thought cross grain produced ring grain. If blasting strips away the softer grain, leaving the harder sections, wouldn't straight (vertical) grain produce a vertical ridged effect after blasting?......huhhhhhm

 

[garyovich]

Al, I apologize for derailing your thread away from its intended subject...your beautiful new pipe.

 

[garyovich]

double post

 

[ssjones]

Good stuff Gary, I know very little about the blasting processes used. I'd love to see the process in person. I've blasted metal, to remove paint (and skin on one occasion...), but of course there is no artistry in that.

 

[bentmike]

Nice bulldog -Congrats Al!

 

[mkvillaire]

That is a beauty...I may have to reconsider my reservations regarding estate pipes.

 

[numbersix]

Here's a interesting article on the Art of Sandblasting, which mentions Mr. Taylor.

http://www.rdfield.com/Articles/The%20Art%20of%20the%20....htm

Thanks for the article Al - well done and learned something. ::