My first Attempt at a Freehand Pipe ..

[Peter - CCB]

I used almost entirely a Dremel and sandpaper for shaping. No files this time.

Made some mistakes and just didn’t think of things like being able to get the wheel into the space between… found work around etc. Lol. Learning about burl, removing bark and so on. stem blank. I didn’t reshape this stem or anything. Just removed the mold lines and buffed/polished/waxed and bent it. anyway …

 

[Peter - CCB]

About to start another this week i think.

 

[verporchting]

That’s just stunning! Wow. Had you made other non-freehand pipes before because that’s some extraordinary craftsmanship on display there.

 

[DAR]

That's your FIRST attempt? Very nice indeed. You found your calling. At least in the looks department.

 

[mso489]

Plateau on the brim and shank, very uptown! Do you have Danish ancestry? Looks great.

 

[CoffeeAndBourbon]

Incredible for a first attempt! Keep it up!

 

[trouttimes]

You have skills.

 

[Peter - CCB]

Thanks for the replies guys. I’ve learned so much from this forum. This piece of briar had zero flaws or pits too! It sat on my cabinet for 6 months before I got the nerve to try cutting it. Was such a nice thing to not deal with pits or issues. I started a morta and right after most of the shaping was done, there’s a crack all the way through to the bowl that I didn’t notice.

I never made anything before this. Except in grade school. Lol. I started with a few pre-drilled blocks and moving onto this. Still want to make my own stems and do bands, accents, etc. I am slowly building some benchtop equipment but no lathe until I’ve got a place to put one actually. Hoping we move this coming Spring or sooner and I’ll have a garage or something to fit stuff. I do everything on my patio table right now.

This is the 8th pipe I’ve done I think. Found out I love doing it. Right now, I’m restoring pipes all day but wan’t to just make them. Here I wasn’t even a pipe smoker 2 years ago. So glad I got into it finally. Looking forward to starting one tomorrow.

That’s just stunning! Wow. Had you made other non-freehand pipes before because that’s some extraordinary craftsmanship on display there.

 

[Peter - CCB]

Plateau on the brim and shank, very uptown! Do you have Danish ancestry? Looks great.

Maybe.. lol.. Norwegian for sure. Close enough? heh.

 

[shanez]

Very nice! Classic shape for a freehand and great use of the grain.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Man that's pretty!?

 

[romaso]

Great Job! Do you have a pic of the raw block you started with? That would really show the work you did.

 

[Peter - CCB]

That’s just stunning! Wow. Had you made other non-freehand pipes before because that’s some extraordinary craftsmanship on display there.

I’ve made a few pre drilled and a couple I drilled. I tried a new shape with each one. The first I did a month into the hobby and the one every 3 months or so. I’ve done a Bent Billiard, Dublin, Bent Egg, Poker, Billiard, a bent Brandy Cherrywood. Being new I didn’t know shapes to well so I thought it would be good to do a diff shape each time.

 

[Peter - CCB]

Great Job! Do you have a pic of the raw block you started with? That would really show the work you did.

I do, buried somewhere. I used it as a prop to hold up other pipes I restored for pics. I’ll search later. It’s 5am. I’ve got to sleep I think.

 

[hauntedmyst]

Very well done! That's a beauty!

 

[kcghost]

A decent job for a first attempt.

 

[Peter - CCB]

A decent job for a first attempt.

Thanks. I wish the contrast stain was more even. It wanted to really soak in at certain points as blotches. I kept sanding more and more until it was going to change the shape. Unsure how to correct that in the future…. I didn’t know this was called a double plateau and wasn’t sure on size but I guess it can be anything huh? The one I’m starting now is a smaller block though. Any advice I’d appreciated.

 

[pepesdad1]

Very nice...love the slight flare at the top of the bowl.

 

[kcghost]

If I could carve at all I would give advice but I can't so I don't.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

That's pretty damn good!! Something to be proud of. Congrats on your skillz.