It would seem as though the ‘Let’s Carve a Pipe Kit’ project has died which is a real shame. If I remember correctly there was an associated thread for it called ‘Post Then Here’, or something similar to that but I can’t seem to find it any longer. Either way, I finally finished mine. No, it didn’t take me all this time to make it but simply a matter of not having any access to my workroom as I was having a lot of work done in the home. After many weeks I got desperate to work on it so I did some filing and sanding in my office (messy) and then eventually dragged out my motor and buffing wheels and clamped the motor down with some large ‘C ‘ clamps to my bar (again, messy) and finished it up. I also had a short time to access my drill press so I decided to add a personal touch and place in a decorative brass inlay on the stem. The detail of the brass inlay doesn’t show up in the picture so I’ve included a close up of what it looks like, but the brass inlays in the pipe stand show up more clearly (different design) due to their larger size.
The block was quite small so I didn’t have much leeway as for design. I could see right off that the block had some issues with it as far as what seemed to be a deep pit, but I was determined from the start to make a smooth bowl regardless of that and you can see a small pit on the left side. I was also determined that I was going to do a two tone stain which is a dark brown that I applied three times and sanded down after each application. I then applied three coats of a lighter stain which I also sanded down.
Anyway, after all this time I now have access to my workroom again so I also decided to make a pipe stand as it was great to get back in there. It’s made from black Micarta, Brazilian Rosewood and ivory Micarta with two decorative brass inlays. Sorry about the picture, but I had a difficult time in getting the grain to show up in the rosewood. Actually it’s a tad too fancy for my taste so the next one(s) I make will more likely than not be just some exotic wood, i.e. Zebra wood, Ebony, etc. with perhaps some small brass accents. Either way, I’m more interested in making more pipes rather than pipe stands and I’m looking forward to the next one, and the next one...
Bottom line, there is a great satisfaction in making your own pipe and after one or two more predrilled blocks I seriously want to make the stummel and stem from scratch, but that will take some time in getting the proper tools, and of course the ensuing cost.
Sorry, but pic. heavy...
Inlay on stem
The block was quite small so I didn’t have much leeway as for design. I could see right off that the block had some issues with it as far as what seemed to be a deep pit, but I was determined from the start to make a smooth bowl regardless of that and you can see a small pit on the left side. I was also determined that I was going to do a two tone stain which is a dark brown that I applied three times and sanded down after each application. I then applied three coats of a lighter stain which I also sanded down.
Anyway, after all this time I now have access to my workroom again so I also decided to make a pipe stand as it was great to get back in there. It’s made from black Micarta, Brazilian Rosewood and ivory Micarta with two decorative brass inlays. Sorry about the picture, but I had a difficult time in getting the grain to show up in the rosewood. Actually it’s a tad too fancy for my taste so the next one(s) I make will more likely than not be just some exotic wood, i.e. Zebra wood, Ebony, etc. with perhaps some small brass accents. Either way, I’m more interested in making more pipes rather than pipe stands and I’m looking forward to the next one, and the next one...
Bottom line, there is a great satisfaction in making your own pipe and after one or two more predrilled blocks I seriously want to make the stummel and stem from scratch, but that will take some time in getting the proper tools, and of course the ensuing cost.
Sorry, but pic. heavy...
Inlay on stem
They're just in hibernation. I've started another pipe myself and will be posting its progress as I did the first one.
