PITH 2020!

[Janka]

I'm going to participate this year too. I would suggest an acorn, since that wouldn't require a lathe for the newer pipe makers

[thediscobiscuit]

I'm in...because why the hell not?

[Adui]

Wow, lots of veteran carvers here. The bar will be set high!

[DocAitch]

The bar is where you perceive it to be. Do your best. I often start 3-4 pipes and offer the recipient his choice. Other carvers don’t have the luxury of time and materials but their best is their best.
This is a growth opportunity-follow the posts here and modify your work as needed.
You can also PM members (or post questions) who are participating for help and hints.
DocAitch

[DocAitch]

Bulldogs and Rhodesians are real challenges to those of us who don’t turn stummels, but what the heck.
I will certainly be challenged by either.
DocAitch

[mikecouch]

I’m in again! I had a lot of fun last year. I’m excited to see what we come up with to make this year.

[seamonster]

Bulldogs and Rhodesians are real challenges to those of us who don’t turn stummels, but what the heck.
I will certainly be challenged by either.
DocAitch

Actually, Doc, you bring up a point I was just thinking myself. I've been making a bunch of bulldogs and Rhodesians, lately. Turning them. But it would be a (fun) challenge to make one freehand and aim for the precision of a turned stummel. I dunno, it maybe I'm blathering.....

Sent from my bloopty-bloop, using hooty-hoo.

[Adui]

The bar is where you perceive it to be. Do your best. I often start 3-4 pipes and offer the recipient his choice. Other carvers don’t have the luxury of time and materials but their best is their best.
This is a growth opportunity-follow the posts here and modify your work as needed.
You can also PM members (or post questions) who are participating for help and hints.
DocAitch

I generally expect more from myself than I am capable. But my best is what I will give for sure!

[inicol]

I'm in

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

[Doug535]

I'm in.

[PremalChheda]

On the 17th of February I will make the poll to vote on what theme/shape we are doing. If anyone has more suggestions, please do not hesitate to post your idea.

[LatakiaLover]

[MikeBurkes]

I'm in!

[Liberthorn]

I really like the idea of a blue-print and the billiard.

I have two more suggestions.

The first would be an eskimo, not sure if it has already been done in previous PITHs.

The second is more a specification than a shape, possibly having a rule of making a feather-weight pipe (or whatever the correct term is, I am a southerner and I love to mix-up words and use malaprops ).

Anyways a weight limit or size would be fun in my opinion.

[Adui]

Just googled the Eskimo shape. Am I to understand its just a shank that tapers in width while being the same thickness relatively top to bottom.

[KurtHuhn]

Just googled the Eskimo shape. Am I to understand its just a shank that tapers in width while being the same thickness relatively top to bottom.

Not necessarily. The pipe does taper top to bottom in the shank, and has a large, oblate bowl, the top of which resembles a squat bulldog. The shank and stem should have a seamless taper fromt he side of the bowl to the button (generally, not always), and taper seamlessly top to bottom to the button (generally, not always). It's a stylized take on a traditional kayak, but really only the front half-ish. The grain should run top to bottom, so the top and bottom have heavy birdseye grain, while the sides of the bowl hopefully display straight grain. The shank should (generally, not always) terminate its width at a vertex, and have no flat sides. It can be a difficult shape to pull off, and is made easiest with a lathe to get the top of the bowl round, then hand shaping of the shank.

I've made a few. I don't know that I ever made them right or "good", but they were definitely fun from an exercise point of view.

[Adui]

Thanks Kurt, that helps. I must say, if this is about getting out of our comfort zone that would do it in spades for me...

[Massis]

Eskimo's are fun, but VERY difficult. Some people also say you should call them inuit... err.. I mean Ukelele...

This is the closest I ever got to a decent one:

[LatakiaLover]

[Adui]

Eskimo's are fun, but VERY difficult. Some people also say you should call them inuit... err.. I mean Ukelele...

This is the closest I ever got to a decent one:

That is beautiful! I dont think I could come close to that!

... Well maybe close, but not close enough to matter.