First Attempt--- Please Critique

hammer8 · Post by **hammer8** » Thu Dec 25, 2008 12:19 pm

This is my first try at pipe making using a pre-bored pipe kit bought from Mark Tinsky at American Smoking Pipe Co. It was made for myself, all shaping and sanding was done by hand. The color is best shown in the close up pictures (3, 4, & 5). Any constructive criticism is welcome!

Merry Christmas to all!
Don

tritrek · Post by **tritrek** » Thu Dec 25, 2008 5:29 pm

A very nice first! Well put in the wood! I do like the shape and the colour... congrats!

hammer8 · Post by **hammer8** » Sat Dec 27, 2008 3:03 pm

tritrek-
Thank you for your kind words... Very encouraging!!!

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Sat Dec 27, 2008 5:21 pm

The bowl shank junction lack definition. The pipe seems rather amourphous because of that. I like the reverse curve of the stem and shank, but I feel like you didn't go far enough. Perhaps you could have made the top of the shank curve downward farther, mirroring the top, in a hawkbill type of thing. The bowl looks nice. Leaving the top rough was a nice touch too. Keep hacking away bud.

pennsyscot · Post by **pennsyscot** » Sat Dec 27, 2008 11:19 pm

Excellent first attempt. A sharper bowl- shank transition would be nice. The shank might look better if it didn't widen as much close to the bowl. Also, the button could be a little more refined. I like the plateau top and the grain is nicely oriented. Very nice job with the staining.

wdteipen · Post by **wdteipen** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 9:45 am

I agree with what's been said thus far. Only a couple other things I see. The stem/shank transition isn't bad but I can see some slight rounding of the edges. Also their appears to be a some wobbles in the stem in picture #6. Altogether a very nice first attempt. Keep it up.

hammer8 · Post by **hammer8** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 4:57 pm

Thanks to those who took the time to offer their opinions on my pipe. I feel that objective evaluation is one of the better ways to improve upon yourself.

I actually assumed that most would find fault with what I did at the shank-bowl junction. If this was being made for sale, or to be given to someone else, most likely I would have shaped the top of the stem to match the bottom as Nick recommended. Making it for my own use, I liked how this shape felt in my hand, so I went with it.

the button could be a little more refined.

Any tips or suggestions for working the button area, or is that just something will come with practice???

Thanks again for the reviews. Knowing what areas I need to improve, along with the positive comments, encourage me to do better on #2.

Don

wdteipen · Post by **wdteipen** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 5:08 am

hammer8 wrote:Any tips or suggestions for working the button area, or is that just something will come with practice???

Grab a pipe from your collection whose button you like the shape of and try to replicate it. It's also helpful to have a 1/16" drill bit in the button end of your airway sticking out as a reference so you don't sand/file through your airway. Also, having an arsenal of needle files, flat safe edge Nicholson's, and various grits of salon fingernail files on hand helps to get it just right. I do the bulk of my final shaping of the button with a 320 grit salon fingernail file from Walmart sanding with long, swooping, rounded motions.

hammer8 · Post by **hammer8** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 9:34 am

Thanks for the tips. I have the Nicholson's, but never thought of the finger nail files!