After a fair amount of PAD and TAD over the last two weeks, and "well thought out" purchases before that, I have amassed a beloved group of pipes and a fair sized hoard of tobacco. Pics will be posted of both next week some time.

After the aforementioned PAD and TAD I was feeling "complete for the moment" save for one small hill to climb.

So for about $45 including shipping I have a pipe kit on the way - large plateau briar block, drilled and fitted with a full bent stem - with instructions to drill the block in anticipation of me carving a large sitter volcano.

This could turn out very well, or very poorly - either way I will be pleased, and either way you are invited to see the results here I will post up pictures of the kit as it arrives and my progress/attempt to make a thing of beauty out of it...

I'm looking forward to that. Can hardly wait!

Some of the guys can help you with the project,just ask for help
if you get stuck.

Winslow

I dunno. I spent an hour today trying to drill a piece of broken file out of a stem, only to break the drill in there too. @#% $&^%$^& @$%$n God@!@#$ AAAAARG!



If you are making pipes, as far as I can tell, all you need is a half round file and a lot of patience, and maybe some bandaids.

That's cool. I didn't kid myself into thinking I could carve a pipe; however, I do have a block of briar. I find briar very appealing to look at.

The briar block arrived this morning - gave it a few hours thought before approaching it, then dug right in - a half dozen or so hours later and it is just about complete

Very pleased with the volcano - deepest bowl by far of all my pipes - a full two inches deep! - pipe is three inches tall, with the stem bringing it to four inches tall, and is nearly six inches long and two inches wide.

I will post more pictures once the pipe and stem are polished and a coat of wax is tossed on (currently sanded to 1500 grit)











Smoking a half bowl of Commonwealth right now - smokes great - although the taste will be woody these first few smokes. Probably should have used Frog Morton... Next time.

Stem needed a bit of a bend...

That's looking good. I'm impressed.

That's some seriously quick progress! Way to go.

All finished:







Family photo with my two Mario Grandi's (which arrived this morning)

Looks good !!!

Bloodwood accent added to stem...

That's some really fine work, nice job looks great.

Very nice. I'm impressed.

A heck of a feat for a first pipe. Will there be a second?
And where did you get your briar, if you don't mind my asking?

Thanks all

I would like to make another - to try something more ambitious - larger risk of disaster of course, but no risk no reward

I got the briar from www.amsmoke.com

All the "carving" was done with a rotary tool with small drum sander head (dremel)

final shaping with 320 grit sandpaper

then polishing with grits 400,600,1500, and emory polishing paper grade 3/0 4/0, 5/0, and 6/0

Carving away all the parts that weren't the pipe to reveal it was easy - cleaning the room I did it in of sawdust will be much harder