Topic: 703TM -NFS
Posted by thos.martin
at 8:19 PM EST
Updated: Thursday, 25 January 2007 8:21 PM EST
| « | January 2007 | » | ||||
 |
||||||
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
| 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
| 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |||
Although finshed, this pipe will become mine because it is unacceptable for sale. My third (but not final attempt) at a dress black pipe, although "ok" is not great. I will enjoy this pipe greatly, but could not sell it to you. I will try again at an all black, smooth pipe, but I gotta say, it aint easy.
Time to watch the Patriots play the colts on their march to the Superbowl!
I had to get this pipe "along" enough for me to bring it North Snowboarding this weekend. All that is left is to sand, stamp and dress. I can finish sanding it in NH next to the wood stove.
Here it is unfinished. The blemishes are what they are. . . .
but, what could be better than a bottle of Merlot (Ca.), a bottle of VT maple syrup, and an Italian briar? The clear stem looks better than in photographs.
This wood from Michael Parks is very nice Italian Briar. Very nice. This will be a large pipe, sort of fluted with nice grain. (This isn't even the best side.)
The other side has awesome flamegrain with what looks like a seam down the middle. Have you seen the top of a nice guitar,or table. It appears bookmatched but is completely natural.
The stem is clear acrylic and is taped for protection. It just needed to be on the stummel during shaping so I could sense the overall proportions and line. I did unfortuneately drill the tobacco chamber a bit too deep, so I filled the bottom with "pipemud" which I believe will actually afford a drier smoke as it absorbs moisture at the heel, like having a built in charcoal filter.
Not a black slip, an undercoat. This is one option I was told to try in order to achieve a nice black dress finish on a smooth pipe; a black under coat. This is it; can't tell you what it is because it is actually someone elses trade secret told to me in confidence.
This pipe, dubbed "the tophat," will be classy with its shiny black finish, black carbonised bowl (inside), and black lucite stem from pipemakers.org
From Weber's Guide to Pipes and Pipe Smoking by Carl Weber:
"A Pipe is nothing more than a bowl to hold burning tobacco, and a tube through which the smoke may be drawn into the mouth. But this seemingly simple device is the reulst of a suprising amount of skill, industry, and science."
... visted my friend at Mass General after work tonight. Its hard to get on in the shop when there are so many more important things in life. That said, I have spent more time sanding the two pipes in progress and good things are happening in the shop or elsewhere. I've been doing the sanding upstairs with family.
To summarize lessons learned lately:
And I almost forgot; I've seen this in two pipemaking forums relative to the briar. (Simply) take away, what's not the pipe. Easy. . .
Q: What do you call toilet paper and Duct tape wrapped around a bloody finger? A: A man-daid
BRUSHING THE BARK OF THE BURL:
There are obviously more important things in life than pipes, jobs, or money. Of course. Take a minute to call a friend who has slipped away, or if your estranged from your family, for God's sake don't be. . .
What remains to be done on this pipe:
Today after much "ado," I recieved the most beautiful Italian briar from Michael Parks. There are pieces that I'll need to set aside for a while until I am worthy. Seriously!
Also, spent the night updating the website rather than sanding in the shop.
These are the pieces that make up a memory- Adam Duritz
Still a little miffed in regards to staining pipes (that haven't been rusticated) black. 702 didn't come out as expected. I expected it black. I ran it by the guys in the pipemakers forum @ christian pipesmokers and learned that it can be a problem for everyone and that it isn't easy. Anyway i got a few more tricks up my sleeve, and am pleased with the way 703 is progressing. And I am still in search of my briar which is sort of lost in Canada since the 4th, thats 11 days! Anyway, it'll get here. Here is where 703 is at:
Gifted to my Brother in-law:
| 2007/01/04 | 20:53 | MISSISSAUGA, ON |
No, just staining PIPE 702TM as described yesterday or the day
before (6 coats, 6 days, dress black, burning off the alchohol etc.)
Pipe 701TM dies while stamping it after
15-20 hours of work was put into it. . .
'Dress Black Pipes," a phrase I believe coined by Dunhill, refers to a deeply black pipe, or in there case with reddish undertones. It is also considered more formal a pipe for "dressier" occasions.
Unfortuneatley in more recent years it has been negatively associated with pipes made of lessor qualtiy briar. Not always true. I like Black pipes which is why I started the Raven Series, and made the "Blackfriar" for myself.
True the briar wasn't of the finest quality, but is in now way inferior. and, neither would I be crazy enough to stain a straight grain black, but please enjoy them for there awesom finish. The "Blackfriar" didn't end up as deeply black as I wanted so I researched staining on pipemakersforum.com and learned the following about stains:
These facts will be put into practice on this pipe (701TM) and 702TM, and everyother black pipe hereafter.
I finished coat one on 01TM today. Remeber, this pipe is spoken for and will not be offered for sale.
