#26 - Nearly Naked Turnip - Feedback Appreciated
Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2018 10:46 pm
Standard gallery post boilerplate: my self critique is below the pictures - I'll point out the specific things that I know I struggled with to let you guys know where I know I've missed the mark so you don't have to waste time repeating things - I'm deeply appreciative of everyone's time and help.
So I spend too much time looking at pipes on Instagram. Specifically, I spent too much time looking at gorgeous strawberries and acorns and various other footed-or-spurred pipes by Chris Asteriou, Michail Kyriazanos, and to a lesser extent C. Kent Joyce and Grant Batson, so I got a wild hair up my ass and decided to try one. Since it was me carving it and not someone who knows what they're doing, I dubbed it the turnip because a less glamorous name seemed fitting. I like it on the whole but there are a few areas I know I missed the mark on pretty bad.
The Good:
1. I'd said this on my Instagram, but I feel a little like I tried to shoot the moon and even though I didn't score a direct hit, I maybe hit a glancing blow in this case, and I'm pretty happy about that at this point.
2. Feeling a lot more comfortable shaping and putting lines where I want them in all aspects, although I fell a little too in love with my Abralon pads and lost some edge definition and line cleanliness in spots.
3. Crease still isn't great but it's much better than I've done previously and I think I've figured out a way to continue to improve it.
4. Stem is mostly better than previous efforts, lines of the stem definitely better.
5. Probably the nicest pipe I've made so far.
6. First time using Mimmo briar. It's pretty.
The Bad:
1. The button is a big step back from my last couple. I'm trying a different way of cutting them that's a whole lot faster, but I'm not as good at it yet. I do think it will be better in the long run as my hands learn how to do what I want them to.
2. I probably should have oriented the block the other way. I liked the idea of a live edge on the foot, but the grain would look better the other way I think. Would have especially looked better if I'd learn to shape and then drill.
3. Shape on the bowl leaves a lot to be desired, I think more plumpness lower down the front line would have looked better.
4. Lines got a little wobbly, especially on the shank (see my "too much love for Abralon" above)
5. Crease still isn't great.
The Ugly (AKA things I think I need the most specific help with):
1. Really screwed the pooch on the tenon- not sure if the ebonite flexed because I'd already tried cutting the saddle in some on the lathe or what, but the airway went in a little off center on the stem. The countersink is rough. And I can't figure out how the hell to polish the tenon and stem face and still keep a good fit for the life of me.
2. Slot is ghastly. I'm not entirely sure what happened but I bet I could fix that problem by slowing the fuck on down a little.
I know I messed up more than that, but my old ass is tired and I can't remember what else I was unhappy about at the moment. Plus side, this is the first thing I've posted on Instagram that people tried to buy, so that's something. Anyway, thanks as always y'all.
So I spend too much time looking at pipes on Instagram. Specifically, I spent too much time looking at gorgeous strawberries and acorns and various other footed-or-spurred pipes by Chris Asteriou, Michail Kyriazanos, and to a lesser extent C. Kent Joyce and Grant Batson, so I got a wild hair up my ass and decided to try one. Since it was me carving it and not someone who knows what they're doing, I dubbed it the turnip because a less glamorous name seemed fitting. I like it on the whole but there are a few areas I know I missed the mark on pretty bad.
The Good:
1. I'd said this on my Instagram, but I feel a little like I tried to shoot the moon and even though I didn't score a direct hit, I maybe hit a glancing blow in this case, and I'm pretty happy about that at this point.
2. Feeling a lot more comfortable shaping and putting lines where I want them in all aspects, although I fell a little too in love with my Abralon pads and lost some edge definition and line cleanliness in spots.
3. Crease still isn't great but it's much better than I've done previously and I think I've figured out a way to continue to improve it.
4. Stem is mostly better than previous efforts, lines of the stem definitely better.
5. Probably the nicest pipe I've made so far.
6. First time using Mimmo briar. It's pretty.
The Bad:
1. The button is a big step back from my last couple. I'm trying a different way of cutting them that's a whole lot faster, but I'm not as good at it yet. I do think it will be better in the long run as my hands learn how to do what I want them to.
2. I probably should have oriented the block the other way. I liked the idea of a live edge on the foot, but the grain would look better the other way I think. Would have especially looked better if I'd learn to shape and then drill.
3. Shape on the bowl leaves a lot to be desired, I think more plumpness lower down the front line would have looked better.
4. Lines got a little wobbly, especially on the shank (see my "too much love for Abralon" above)
5. Crease still isn't great.
The Ugly (AKA things I think I need the most specific help with):
1. Really screwed the pooch on the tenon- not sure if the ebonite flexed because I'd already tried cutting the saddle in some on the lathe or what, but the airway went in a little off center on the stem. The countersink is rough. And I can't figure out how the hell to polish the tenon and stem face and still keep a good fit for the life of me.
2. Slot is ghastly. I'm not entirely sure what happened but I bet I could fix that problem by slowing the fuck on down a little.
I know I messed up more than that, but my old ass is tired and I can't remember what else I was unhappy about at the moment. Plus side, this is the first thing I've posted on Instagram that people tried to buy, so that's something. Anyway, thanks as always y'all.