Should I Send My Grandpa A Block of Briar To Carve (pic heavy)

[photoman13]

I have been thinking of sending my grandpa a block of briar to make some kind of figural pipe. He is a very talented carver and has even been in carving magazines. I am worried about the briar being too hard to carve. He has really high end carving tools but am not sure whether or not he could carve briar. What do you guys think?
Here are some of his carvings. Sorry about the crappy phone pictures.

 

[johnnyrebel]

Heck yea, that sounds awesome. That'd be really cool to have a piece to smoke from that your Grandpa carved out too.

 

[pstlpkr]

Absolutely.

But, briar is much harder than the wood varieties that are preferred carving media.

I recommend it be pre-drilled.

 

[photoman13]

I would probably go the drilled route. I know that he normally uses a soft wood to carve. Although he has built everything from a Model T to a model airplane. I am thinking why not just let him give it a try. Any good places to buy pre-drilled blocks that are cheap? I'm very tight right now so an emphasis on cheap is pretty important!

 

[ichbinmuede]

It'd definitely be more difficult to carve than the usual stuff but it would mostly mean that he'd have to sharpen his tools more often. I can't imagine that a guy with the level of skill and experience shown in the pics (which is downright staggering to me) would have much trouble with it. I wouldn't be surprised if he had a grand old time with it.
I do know that 4noggins offers some drilled ebauchon kits for a reasonable price and there's also J.H. Lowe who offers the same but in a wider range of sizes and for a slightly better price.
Just what I know and think. I don't mean to sound like some forum know-it-all if I do. :P

 

[dochudson]

I would get him the best wood I could.. those cravings in your pictures are outstanding. You might want to talk to him about your idea and see what he thinks would be best a kit or block, size, etc.
Tinsky kits

 

[dervis]

You should not send him 1, you should send him 100. Sell them buy a store front with a glass window where people can watch him work and become a must have pipe brand. The talent is there in those pictures. I am blown away

 

[photoman13]

I think, for now I want to just find a cheap drilled one to send him in the mail for a surprise. If it turns out well I might see if he wants another one that he could pick himself. He hasn't carved anything in 4 years so he might not be into carving a pipe. As I've said cheap for me, right now, is best.

 

[hobie1dog]

It's worth a shot with his carving skills.

 

[mluyckx]

Amazing carving work 8O
Tinsky, Pimo, JH Lowe.. any of those three are good. Which one you pick depends on your definition of "cheap" ;-)

 

[mp31guitar]

That's a great idea. It would be a pipe you would treasure forever.

 

[photoman13]

Thanks for all the info. If he ends up carving it, I will post pics.

 

[dochudson]

If it turns out well from the look's of those pictures I would be extremely surprised if it turned out anything other then outstanding.

 

[martiniman]

Beautiful carvings.

Ever consider Meerschaum kits?

 

[photoman13]

I've thought about meerschaum but I know very little about it. I would assume those kits would be quite a bit more.

 

[lonestar]

I believe he would have a lot more fun carving meerschaum. Carving briar into figurals I really think will be an art to itself, something he would have to learn carving all over again to do.

Meerschaum on the other hand is like carving something slightly harder than a bar of soap. All of his softwood carving skills would be immediately applicable.

He has a wonderful talent with those carvings !

 

[photoman13]

Does anyone know where to get Meerschaum to carve?

 

[lonestar]

On the cheap; http://www.tobacco-barn.com/s-165-carve-your-own-meerschaum-kits.aspx

For the real deal; http://altinokmeerschaumpipes.com/detail.asp?product_id=ME170
Google "carve your own meerschaum" for more options.

 

[tokerpipes]

You may want to consider pear wood also. Its softer and can still take a good bit of heat.

 

[nsfisher]

Hell yes, send him a piece. If you don't want to, I will. Just give me his addy. He has talent and I am sure it would be a very nice pipe. But, I would make it a pre-drilled though.