How to Make a Thick Walled Billiard Not Look Amateur

[wdteipen]

Here's something I've been pondering lately: is it possible to make a thick walled billiard that doesn't look amateurish and, if so, how? I mean, aside from making it bigger or the chamber smaller, what are the tricks? I've tried and am never really satisfied with the results.

[Sasquatch]

I guess "amateur" is relative, but there are a few tricks. If you are really making a fatty, I think the idea that it's going to be entirely English/French in nature is probably wrong, that the thing de facto is Italian-ish. So slightly exaggerated curves, slightly more taper on the shank (especially the top of the shank, and this is one of the tricks, there's less through-and-through symmetry in these big boys. But I guess the first question is, do you see "amateur" in this, and if you do, let's talk about what it is that's getting you.







I think the Dunhill LB shape is the chubbiest "English" pipe I would shoot for, and anything large than that, I start looking for more lively lines and ways to make the pipe more mouth friendly and hand friendly.

[wdteipen]

Your chubby billiard looks very pot-like. This is actually very similar to where I'm landing as well. My eye wants to put more taper on the bowl to the rim but ultimately that leads to a thinner overall pipe. Here's where it's at:


I haven't shaped the top of the shank where it meets to bowl yet.

[LatakiaLover]

The only way to make an eye-pleasing thick-walled billiard, imo, is simply to make a normal proportioned one extra large a la Dunhill ODA.

[wdteipen]

I think that's the conclusion I'm coming to.