I Got My Stamp Nice And Crisp And Sharp This Time On This Bent Apple With Fancy Stem

[shikano53]

I know on the last post, I had basically messed up my stamp. This time it turned out very crisp and clean on this bent apple with a fancy stem. The mark in the third picture isn't a crack or flaw; it's a residual piece of the Plateaux.

 

[cshubhra]

I cannot see the stamping from the photos. This is a fantastic work ! Congratulations ?

 

[mso489]

Nice shaping on that apple, not just the usual trope, and the grain on the brim is mighty fine. I think the stem sets off the design of the briar very well. Glad the stamp turned out.

 

[shikano53]

I forgot the picture of the stamp. Here it is.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

I cannot see the stamping from the photos. This is a fantastic work ! Congratulations ?

Shank in the first photo. You’ll have to zoom in.

 

[ben88]

Beautiful pipe, but (imo) not the right stem for it. A straight one would've been better choice.

 

[shikano53]

Thank you for the comments. Sorry about the blurry pics. I take my pictures with my iPhone 10 and although I've read the manual and searched online; I still haven't figured out how to take sharp close ups. My old Galaxy 7 had a macro mode and it took really great close ups. I'll keep looking to try and figure out how to get closer in with my iPhone.
Cheers all.

 

[alexnc]

Beautiful! Is that a light brown over dark brown? Nice grain highlighting!

 

[cshubhra]

Does not zoom clearly on my phone, but OP has now posted a picture of the stamp.

Shank in the first photo. You’ll have to zoom in.

 

[smknron]

Sweet looking pipe, I really like the grain. I'll bet it smokes as good as it looks. Nice work !

 

[shikano53]

Alex, yes it is light over dark with a coat of shellac just before polishing.
Stamp Photo is still a bit blurry but the stamping is nice and clean and crisp.
If anyone has any marketing suggestions on where and or how to sell these pipes, I'm way open to ideas or suggestions?
I've tried eBay before and am just a little cautious and uncertain, more so now than before.
I could maybe try Facebook or perhaps put my website up again. I took it down about two months ago.

 

[alexnc]

Alex, yes it is light over dark with a coat of shellac just before polishing.
Stamp Photo is still a bit blurry but the stamping is nice and clean and crisp.
If anyone has any marketing suggestions on where and or how to sell these pipes, I'm way open to ideas or suggestions?
I've tried eBay before and am just a little cautious and uncertain, more so now than before.
I could maybe try Facebook or perhaps put my website up again. I took it down about two months ago.

I’ve never tried shellac. But I know many do, is there a brand that works well for you?

 

[Casual]

If anyone has any marketing suggestions on where and or how to sell these pipes, I'm way open to ideas or suggestions?

For low volume, high cost items, the modern way is to get a light box and a good camera, start an Instagram account, and engage with the people there obsessively. You might build a small community that is self sustaining that way.

I personally don’t like marketing enough to follow through on it.

 

[shikano53]

Casual +1 Marketing is definetely not my forte.
It means interacting with other humans.
Alex, I use this:

I get it from Lee Valley in Canada. I used to really be carefull and mix a 1 pound, 1/2 lb, or 1/4 lb cut but since I use very little and use a small used relish jar to mix it; I use the old Kentucky windage method, or the old Mark-One human eyeball. I use a light coat.
Seems to work fine.

 

[smknron]

I agree with Casual. Instagram has a good following of pipe smoking in general. I sometimes browse around on the site looking at pipes & tobacco and find a lot of interesting people that show what pipes they have including what tobaccos they smoke etc.

 

[olkofri]

Etsy?

Note that Instasham is owned by Fakebook. I won't touch either with the rusty stem of a chibook used to smoke pure latakia, but if you're already on either, well, it might be an option.

Is there a local B&M that might be willing to take them even on consignment?

The Internet market is supersaturated. I've no illusions about cashing in the bucks there.

 

[shikano53]

olkofri, I'm not on any social media at all. I have an Etsy account. Maybe I'll try there.
Thanks for the info brother!

 

[olkofri]

olkofri, I'm not on any social media at all. I have an Etsy account. Maybe I'll try there.
Thanks for the info brother!

Same-o here. I've an Etsy account that so far has been sitting empty. Mostly procrastination but also a feeling of helplessness about trying to compete in a saturated market with next to no contacts or suxial media outlets to 'spread the word'.

Plus, Etsy charges you just for showcasing (cents, I know, but still).

Still, I think I need to start populating that account: I've not been successful trying to get local businesses to stock my stuff. Other than loopy pipe rests, nothing else has moved in the local stores.