The Whale- Who Says You Can't Go Back...

[zack24]

You guys who have been patiently watching my progress with pipemaking since last year saw a design a few months ago I called the whale- it had incredible grain but was a bit on the pudgy side and the shaping a little soft. I've been hauling this thing around and looking at it every time I walked in the shop, and this week, I finally grabbed it, threw it on the shaping wheel and cut off everything that bothered me...Finished it with a partial sandblast that I sanded back and finished with a contrast stain. This one's going to Nashville...
First pic- The whale after a major revision...

Second pic- The original whale...

 

[anthonyrosenthal74]

Both versions are awesome... but the new one is a huge improvement. Stunning pipe

 

[wyfbane]

WOW!!! Seriously man, for those of us with kids living on the West Coast (and therefore unable to travel to exotic places like Nashville for pipe shows) you need to get some of those things for sale out here.
lol

 

[newbroom]

They're both beautiful, and the rusticated whale is spectacular. I like the additions. Nice!

 

[cobguy]

I've been hauling this thing around and looking at it everytime I walked in the shop

Patience prevailed on this one ... really nice! :clap:

 

[ericthered]

My humble and uneducated opinion: The all-over grain of the original was beautiful, but the shape struck me as "cartoonish". The updated version kept the best part of the smooth grain and added a ton of interest to the shank and shank/bowl junction. What was, to me, cartoonish is now edgy and sinewy. I like!

 

[dread]

Love the revised version. It is bold and at the same time beautiful, with wonderful grain.

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

looks good, I definitely like the new one.

 

[phil67]

Awesome job! I also like the revised version much more.

 

[zack24]

Thanks guys...it's interesting how the shaping improves after 50 or 60 pipes....This is the only pipe I liked enough out of my early ones that didn't sell to go in and rework.....mainly because although the shaping wasn't great, the grain was really nice and the drilling happened to be spot on- just a matter of recutting from there....

 

[misterlowercase]

Absolutely stunning!
A jawdropper fersure.
Love the partial blast and the contrast stain looks great.
It would fit perfect in Richard Friedman's "sea creature" collection!

https://plus.google.com/photos/116306552423646355472/albums/5657479661467175441?banner=pwa&authkey=CK2tgP7piMvXFQ
Nice work Zack,

thanks for sharing.