• I corrected the problem of disproportion by reducing the height of the bowl.

• When working on where the shank meets the stem, I accidentally broke the tenon off the shank. I suppose now might be a good time to explain how to get the broken piece of tenon out off the mortis, especially if you do not have the special tool for the purpose. Find a sm. brad with a head diameter smaller than the draught hole. Hold the brad with a pair of pliers. Insert the head into the hole past the end of the broken tenon. Hook the end of the tenon with the edge of the head and pull the piece out. Backto the drawing board on the stem. . . Not as bad as it seems, but not tonight I have a headache...

 

Posted by thos.martin at 7:07 PM EST

Updated: Monday, 11 December 2006 6:33 PM EST

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 I need to make sure that the panel billiard is less of a freehand and more trad...

I'll start by making sure the proportions are correct. I no doubt will have to trim some of the top. then I'll need to decide wether to leave the top of the bowl rusticated or not...

Then, I'll re-asses other aspects.Most important. I need to work the joint where the shank meets the stem so that it is square. This will take a while.  Carry on. . .

Posted by thos.martin at 6:12 AM EST

Updated: Wednesday, 6 December 2006 6:19 AM EST

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Sherlock Holmes Pipe Club of Boston

Posted by thos.martin at 6:01 AM EST

Updated: Wednesday, 6 December 2006 6:22 AM EST

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I proceeded and its reminescent of Dylan gone electric at the 1967 Newport Folk Festival. Either you hated it or you loved it. All other pipes were made while listneing to classical music. The station was down so I listened to Rock. Loud. And, well, it shows. Garish, bold, and out of tune but oddly interesting. Hard to put my finger on why I like this pipe, kind of Like Dylan; can't sing but I love him.

a hard rain is gonna fall....

Posted by thos.martin at 9:08 PM EST

Updated: Monday, 4 December 2006 9:22 PM EST

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despite the fact that PIMO says it should be the easiest. Maybe that is the case depending on what tools you got, but I HATE my sears Mitre Saw. S_cks.  Didn't get to work in the shop as much today because While cleaning the house today, I noticed that the roof is leaking. So I ended up cleaning the gutters, and then I had to rake what I had cleaned out of the guttes. And so it goes...

Also, the "twist" I mentioned on this "four square" earlier is that I twisted the  square shank ninety degrees to make it a diamond shank. It is although giving me a bit of grief (actually I love it). To think a little more positive, The stem is an awesome diamond twin bore saddle. Smoking....

pictures are worth a 100 words.... 

    Tommorow I'll decide how to proceed...

Posted by thos.martin at 6:50 PM EST

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 I have been a good boy. I'll make you a pipe! remember how you used to smoke one before it wasn't PC? Please Santa. Please. I promise I'll be good next year too!

Posted by thos.martin at 9:41 AM EST

Updated: Sunday, 3 December 2006 7:38 PM EST

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This pipe is being packaged with a tobacco box and tamper/keyring.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

2006

Posted by thos.martin at 9:14 AM EST

Updated: Saturday, 2 December 2006 11:02 PM EST

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Here's my dog Ally basking the warmth of Pipe 10 which I rendered into firewood. I had too much difficulty drilling the holes to accomodate the bend. The mortise wasn't clean and thing went south from there... Enjoy the fire Ally!

Posted by thos.martin at 4:57 PM EST

Updated: Thursday, 30 November 2006 5:07 PM EST

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Interesting story about this shape... later though... My son picked out the the saddle stem.

Posted by thos.martin at 6:57 PM EST

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All background images in these photos are from the Winter 2007 Edition of Pipes & Tobacco Magazine. The article titled "Briar Cutters" featuring the Romeo's of Italy. "Mimmo"Romeo states in the article that the outside of the burl is the MOST desireable. Pipe 9 includes the absolute, spot on, dead-center of the burl, which is safe to assume is the LEAST desireable part of the burl. For this reason PIPE 9 is mine and not yours.

I do feel that I did reconcile the dead center of the burl with the heel of the pipe, wrapping around to each side. I actually like it and like I said before it is rock solid. It is by definition the oldest part of this burl.

Mimmo also says that once the wood is processed/milled/cured it is not possible to dertermine the origin of the wood, neither i it as important as many people suggest. What is important is in fact the service Mimmo to the pipemaking community. The people with the sawing the blocks, in my humble opinion have a huge impact on the final product. For instance, if I put out a straight grain or other gorgeous pipe, it is because the folks with the saws made it possible.

 The pictures below hopefully demonstrate the center of the burl as it presents itself in my pipe:

Posted by thos.martin at 6:06 PM EST

Updated: Sunday, 3 December 2006 7:34 PM EST

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Can't wait to smoke it!

Posted by thos.martin at 7:20 PM EST

Updated: Tuesday, 28 November 2006 7:26 PM EST

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I decide to add a line of tampers to production... for those "off days." I figured out the design, what to use as the actual stoker, the part that meets the ember: Stainless.  I decided what to use for the tamper material, and more imporatanly how to integrate it with the stainless. I need to work out some procedural kinks, and solidify some designs, and actually let my son make some as well. Cost of materials is more than you'd imagine but the will still be affordable, in fact I will probably take them to swap meets and hive them to SHPC every month as part of their door prizes they raffle off.

Here are some prototypes. Feedback encouraged. I forgot to photograph the one that already made it into my pocket. My favorite is the balck and orange castle/lighthouse shape one. the two others are for Christmas and are red and green.

I have also decided to catergorize my pipes:

• Montseratt- Those pipes inspired by clay shapes.
• Cove- Those pipes with a light upward bending stem. It makes the pipe less likely to be bitten, and more likely to be held.
• Centerville- Freehands in the Danish trad.
• Ryal Side- Custom requests .. .

Posted by thos.martin at 4:45 PM EST

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I've been stalling on Pipe eight a bit because its my last bit-o-briar. I have a shipment on the way but as of today its in Erie, PA. I'm in Beverly, MA. It'll be a couple of days. And I took Monday off because that's what I do. Although I did do some sanding: 2-300 grind, with the staining inbetween.

Today I did 300-600 grinds and stained it for the last time. Tonight and or tommorow I will do 800 - 100, polish and wax it. I also carbonised the bowl.

Top ten reasons why this pipe is not for sale:

1. Drilling tobacco chamber at too high a speed vaused the paddle bit to wander a bit do to the different densities occuring in one small piece of Briar.
2. I like it too much.
3. Why quest for the "ultimate pipe" when I can make one?
4. I experimented on engraving my name on the stummel and didn't like the results. This will be the only such engraved pipe.
5. Inconsisten bowl thickness which shouldn't be a problem because this wood is ROCK solid.
6. I want a new pipe.
7. I also experimented with treating the inside of the bowl:pre-carbonizing it. I did this because JP Cooke does it, not for the smoker, but for the protection of the pipe. I like that Idea. I watched his video, and he twice referred to the gender of the briar he was working on. Cool.
8. I need to test it (see number 7)
9. I'm currently sick of all the other pipes I own (except the Peterson Green Dublin.)

Posted by thos.martin at 4:42 PM EST

Updated: Wednesday, 29 November 2006 6:06 PM EST

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... to use an acrylic stem for once. I hadn't because" the pipo tenon turner wasn't working on  acrylic for me because it was slightly bent and it was breaking and chonpping and making a bloody mess. Solution: I straigntened it out a bit and that help, but more importantly I use it in a different drill. An OLD drill of my dads. Its from back when they made them with aluminum casing. This drill has a higher RPM and worked much beter. Excellent actually.

About the briar. This is the hardest briar I've ever seen. Its not much to look at but its solid as a rock. As usual I'm going throught the same old thought processes as usual: love it hat it love it hate it, want to keep it, sell it, keep it. It's the best pipe yet, the worst, its a masterpiece, its trash. So, i decided it was time to put the ipe down and watch the Pats.

Posted by thos.martin at 4:45 PM EST

Updated: Sunday, 3 December 2006 8:02 PM EST

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Pipe 8, altough put on the back burner for two days is finally taking shape. In an attempt to

1. Avoid using the Lather, while
2. having a nice round bowl

I had an idea... I used a 1 1/2" hole saw to rough the bowl and start the hole. Ouch! Thats gotta hurt. It seemed to work fine. Then I took the Coping saw to it and broke another blade. DAMN.

And, I had replacements in my hand this afternoon when I purchased the hole saw and put them back figuring my blade breakin' days are done. Guess not. Could've, Should've. Would've. Anyway, here 'tis:

Posted by thos.martin at 5:06 PM EST

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Big News. I put new leather in the jaws of the vise. WOW!

Posted by thos.martin at 5:06 PM EST

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Thanks to the Sherlock Holmes Pipe Club of Boston (is there another?) for the warm welcome in the December Issue of their Newsletter.

To confirm, I had an awesome time at my first meeting! A great and gracious bunch of guys. I didn't get a chance to talk with everybody. I especially wanted to meet Tim Hynick as I admire his work greatly. Everywhere I turned there was one of his pipes in the hands of their proud owner. They were/are truely an inspiration to someone like myself who is just learning.

I am looking forward to the December meeting and Especially the trip to Kaywoodie!

Posted by thos.martin at 4:49 PM EST

Updated: Sunday, 3 December 2006 8:02 PM EST

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