When you can't make one better than the last pipe.

[sandahlpipe]

I've had a bad week in terms of pipe making and haven't been able to put my finger on it. I made 5 attempts at a billiard stummel and didn't like any of them. The stummels are all fine in terms of engineering and such, but I'm not very happy with them. Then I screwed up a stem just before it was ready to buff the airway showed up.

It occurred to me that the last pipe I finished is stuck in my mind. I made a pipe I was really happy with on every area. Until now. Just about every pipe has been better than the last. The one I just made seems hard for me to top.

Does anyone relate to this? Is there anything to do to overcome the hump and take it to the next level?

Ok. Thanks for letting me vent.

[cmueller]

We have all been there. Move on to something else and then go back to the shape.

[d.huber]

We have all been there. Move on to something else and then go back to the shape.

This.

You will continually go through this process of creating ok to you work followed by a breakthrough followed by struggling followed by a breakthrough and on and on again.

This is a good process. When you're struggling, you're figuring things out and addressing new questions. This will immediately decrease the quality of your work from the high point you just achieved. Take note of the new level you're working at, though. It's likely higher than it was before the breakthrough.

This is the process of progressing towards mastery and everyone goes through it.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

[The Smoking Yeti]

When this happens I just make something utterly absurd. I think it helps.

[andrew]

Yes. I have a small (fortunately) graveyard of stems and briar. When I get sick of looking at them I throw them unceremoniously into the garbage.
Messing stuff up is part of learning.

andrew

[Sasquatch]

I agree with the "do something different" take.

Go make an Oom Paul or something geometrically difficult, give yourself a new set of challenges for mind and hands.

[Vermont Freehand]

I'm in the same boat with billiards right now. I'm trying to copy a Dunhill LB, and the first one was a joke. Then I borrowed a Dunhill from someone to have in hand, and the second try came out way better. I'm still not pleased with it, but it's getting much closer.

[WCannoy]

I've had a bad week in terms of pipe making and haven't been able to put my finger on it. I made 5 attempts at a billiard stummel and didn't like any of them.

Congratulations! You are becoming more discerning, and less accepting of mediocrity!

[Joe Hinkle Pipes]

Wow, he even used the same word I did. like I said on IG, you are just noticing the problems that were always there. Another few months of this type of scrutiny and you will have almost all of those tiny problems ironed out.

[pipedreamer]

When you call yourself everything in the book, You say;;Thats not me, and do something different like stated, and focus on your good points.Buy more Briar.

[sandahlpipe]

Thank you all. I spent some time studying my Cannoy billiard and this forum and have a new recognition. I know I've been told before that a billiard doesn't have a fully symmetrical bowl, but this explains why I haven't been able to make a billiard.

And thank you for encouraging me to keep pressing on. I like the idea of making a crazy shape. I'll keep that one in mind for the next time I get stuck.

[Ratimus]

I'm experiencing the same thing right now. For me, I think it's a two-parter. First, I've been trying to stretch myself and take some risks, which is bound to bound to be met with some initial failures. Second, what Walt said:

Congratulations! You are becoming more discerning, and less accepting of mediocrity!