Straight Grain vs Birdseye vs Craggy

[petes03]

 

[jaygreen55]

Almost all my pipes (except 3- 1 blast and 2 sea rock type rusticated) are smooth and predominately unstained
natural finishes. Pretty boring but I'm a sucker for a fine piece of wood

 

[bluegrassbrian]

For me, perfect cross grain (extends from rim to mortise) with tight birdseye is my favorite.

From there I consider a sandblast with extra craggy ring grain tied with superb 360 degree flame grain and/or well oriented straight grain.

 

[docaitch]

One of the pipe makers (I forget who-Kurt Huhn?) noted that the ray pattern of a briar burl lends best itself to 2 shapes for a straight grain- the Dublin and the volcano/brandy. A good straight grain on any thing else depends on just the right block.
The blowfish is the one shape that, if done right, takes advantage of the briar block to emphasize straight grain and birdseye.


Having started pipe smoking in the 60s with the beautiful Danish pipes making their debut, I am a sucker for a straight grain.
docaitch

 

[Mr.Mike]

Craggy for me. Birdseye is pretty, but it's too busy. Too much going on for my eyes.

 

[cigrmaster]

I enjoy ogling birdseye and straight grain but I love the feel and look of a nice craggy blast. Plus I can buy 4-10 pipes for the price of one killer grain pipe. I owned my share of straight grains and you cannot smoke grain and that is just my opinion. Here are a few of my favorite crapggies.
Rad Davis

Jack Howell

Larrysson