Olive Billiard...

[JMG]

Set out to make a billiard, but didn't really turn out too well as far as shaping goes. Thankfully, this piece of olive wood is so pretty that I think it makes up for some of my mistakes. One of these days I will make a proper billiard...I swear it. I really struggle with the cheeks. I would greatly appreciate your critiques on my shaping and also on my button/slot. I tried to pay a lot more attention to opening the slot. I greatly admire many of your guy's work in this (and many other) area. I know the slot picture isn't the easiest to see, but maybe it will do good enough for critique.

Thanks guys.

[Literaryworkshop]

I like the pipe. It's definitely a billiard. The top of the shank/bowl junction might have had a tighter radius, but the sides of the junction look good to my eye. I'm thinking that the bowl tapers just a little too much. The olive wood looks good.

[wdteipen]

Nice one, JM. Only two minor things could be improved. The shank is a bit too long. The top of the shank to the bowl should equal the bowl shank junction to the rim. And, I agree with Steve that the transition at the top of the shank to the bowl could be a bit tighter. I think the bowl taper is just right.

[JMG]

Thanks for the advice guys. Definitely right that the transition is too "wide." I used the same round rasp I typically use for that transition, but I think with the bowl slanting forward a bit that it widens that entire transition out.

I'm attaching a better picture of the slot. I tried to open it up a lot more this go around, but worried I may have overdone it a tad...?

[Literaryworkshop]

You might try a chainsaw file for that transition. They're cheap, but they load up fast, so you have to clean them out frequently.

[i.keenum]

Looks great stem looks great. Want to try olive wood pipe soon looks like a fun material. I use sandpaper wrapped around a needle file to do the transition.