Big Home-Brewed Billiard

[georged]

Love it looks like an Italian tried to fake a Dunhill.

After looking at it for a day, I decided you were exactly right.

The Italian "look" is (basically) standard English shapes that look more casual and streamlined. Less "tight".

I suspect it came about from need. Meaning copying fraized classic shapes by hand is a slow, exacting business that is brutally unforgiving (wood sculpture is 100% subtractive), but relax the lines just ten percent and you can make them in half the time.

However it evolved, when there's too much material left in spots a pipe doesn't "look English".

Shank taper rate, heel mass, and bowl/shank junction are the usual ones.

Like so:




Also, a textbook billiard's bowl height above the shank should be exactly the same as the shank length from the bowl.

So. Those mistakes are being un-dood as I type. Shank shortened a tenth of an inch, the shank taper rate reduced, and the heel made slightly less "chin like".

Another detail I was unhappy with was the radius of the rim (surprise! "Flat" rims look terrible when they are truly flat), so that is being addressed as well.

I'm thinking I might darken the finish color a little, too. A bit more brown next time.

Here is Phase 2 of Biggy Billiard's creation in mid-process. (More pix when finished.)

 

[beefeater33]

Fantatic pipe George! .......... I think the modifications will make it even more Fantastical...........
Get that pipe out of Italy and more into Old Blighty!
Seriously tho............... that's a work of art!

 

[anotherbob]

After looking at it for a day, I decided you were exactly right.

I do like the pipe the way it is.

The Italian "look" is (basically) standard English shapes that look more casual and streamlined. Less "tight".

Yeah that's a great way to articulate it.

I suspect it came about from need. Meaning copying fraized classic shapes by hand is a slow, exacting business that is brutally unforgiving (wood sculpture is 100% subtractive), but relax the lines just percent and you can make them in half the time.

Also might be a matter of taste as well. Though often these things are bit of this and a bit of that.

However it evolved, when there's too much material left in spots a pipe doesn't "look English".

Shank taper rate, heel mass, and bowl/shank junction are the usual ones.

Like so:

View attachment 267068


Also, a textbook billiard's bowl height above the shank should be exactly the same as the shank length from the bowl.

So. Those mistakes are being un-dood as I type. Shank shortened a tenth of an inch, the shank taper rate reduced, and the heel made slightly less "chin like".

Another detail is I was unhappy with was the radius of the rim (surprise! "Flat" rims look terrible when they are truly flat), so that is being addressed as well.

I'm thinking I might darken the finish color a little, too. A bit more brown next time.

Here is Phase 2 of Biggy Billiard's creation in mid-process. (More pix when finished.)



View attachment 267070

Either way you slice it better then any pipe I'd make.

 

[bayareabriar]

Looks great! Kind of reminds me of Charatan shape 42 but better!

 

[georged]

Alrighty... The assorted doings have been done.

Shank shortened by a tenth of an inch, lines tightened from Italian-y to English-y, the rim re-contoured, and a couple drops of brown added to the same amber stain as before, for a smidge of contrast.

Besides the shape and size being "personalized", I'm delighted that the PipeGods decided to throw me a bone with the wood.

My tastes regarding briar are unusual... I can appreciate straight grain, but don't lust for it; and when it comes to endgrain I can appreciate lots of little birds looking back at me, but (again) don't lust for 'em.

What I like best is 1) high wood density; 2) total "swirly" grain coverage; 3) even grain coverage; and 4) no sand pits or flaws of any kind.

This bowl scores a "10" in each of those.

(For lack of a better term I started calling it "paisley grain" years ago.)

 

[Tate]

Truly beautiful pipe!!

 

[LotusEater]

I thought you were crazy finding fault with the original but I must admit the subtle changes you’ve made have resulted in a much more elegant pipe. Strange to call a pipe that large elegant but that is how it strikes me.
Very impressive!

 

[georged]

I thought you were crazy finding fault with the original but I must admit the subtle changes you’ve made have resulted in a much more elegant pipe. Strange to call a pipe that large elegant but that is how it strikes me.

"Small things make a big difference" is basically why the best artisan stuff has always been in demand and is so expensive. They spend a LOT of time on each piece, usually working on a dozen or more at a time, tuning a little here and a little there, re-visiting them with fresh eyes until one day it tells them (so to speak) that it's finished because there's nothing left that needs adjustment.

Collectors seeing those things better with exposure and experience is also why it's so common for them to flip their early acquisitions after a few years. What once looked "right" no longer does, and they start chasing higher grade pieces.

 

[gamzultovah]

So, would you consider this a clencher?

 

[georged]

So, would you consider this a clencher?

Indeed.

I'm smoking it right now, while typing.

The key to "clenchability" is the stem fit to the smoker's mouth more than weight, and that was fine tuned from the beginning. I just copied the dimensions of the most comfortable stem in my rack. It's like a tailor made suit or benchmade shoes.