Blasted Dublin

[LAH]

Here is my first blast attempt. My blasting technique could be improved. I will say that blasting briar is good fun. There are a few things with the pipe I see that needs some improvement. The stain could be a little more even, the buffing wheel lightened up the edge alittle. The bottom of the stem could have a better flow with the curve. I'd like to hear what you fellas think about it. I guess this one will be mine since a dagum fissure appeared in the chamber.
Critiques are greatly appreciated.






Here's the little bugger

[Nate]

Boy, that is a great looking pipe! I like the blast with the smooth top and your stem work looks to be very nice. Too bad about the chamber, but I bet if you coat it and treat it nice, it'll be great!

[Sasquatch]

I like that pipe a lot too. That fissure makes a guy cry, huh? What if you widen the bowl out with a rasp/dremel? Would it disappear?

[JMG]

Given the width of the rim, I bet that fissure won't ever cause a problem...though I'd coat the bowl just to be safe. Beautiful pipe, btw. I'm with Nate...the blast with the smooth rim look really nice.

[LAH]

Sas,
Thanks, I first drilled it with a 3/4" bit, had a few decent flaws, so then I drilled it with 13/16". I could see the fissure just starting and the top of it looked thin, so I decided to poke at it to see how thin it was. It turned out to be very then and broke away. I'd say it's about a 1/16" deep, there is also a few little spots on the other side of the chamber which look fine right now, but I'm afraid they might open up if I go larger, given the nature if this particular piece of briar. I was kinda heart broken when I saw the fissure, but now I have a nice pipe to smoke and to use as a guide for the future. I'm still dialing in on the feel of the bits and the draw, this one is very close to what I like.

[LAH]

Thanks Nate and JMG. Coating the bowl does sound like a good idea. The only bad thing about that is when I buy buttermilk it spoils before I need to mix up more for another pipe. But I guess that a small price to pay.

[wdteipen]

Beautiful pipe and very nice first blast. I love the whole thing. It's very Stanwell-esque. Very cool stamp also. Looks like a bugger to get a nice deep stamping.

[Boekweg]

I must say, that is a nice pipe!

[Abi Natur]

Hi Lah,
i agree with the above said,a really ripe and classy looking pipe.I like the combination of sand & smooth with the dark finish !
Congrats
Best,
Abi

[Charl]

Nice looking pipe! And good blast as well.

[LAH]

Thanks guys

[FredS]

I like this pipe. A lot.