Freehand with Inlay Shank Extension

[taharris]

I made this pipe for a customer who wanted a pipe with "pop".

I think the bowl is a little too high or the stem is a little too short (or both), but I am happy with the shank extension.

The extension is Ebony and then Blood Wood with Ebony inlay. I had originally only planned to use the Blood Wood extension, but when I cut the shank to size I discovered a huge fissure. So, faced with a "design opportunity" I opted to add an Ebony extension ahead of the Blood Wood.

Comments and critiques appreciated.

Thanks for looking.

Todd

[Ocelot55]

That is an impressive extension! How were the ebony strips through the blood wood created?

[taharris]

Take a piece of Blood Wood about 3/4 x 3/4 and cut at a 45 degree angle with the band saw most of the way through.

Glue in a pre-cut strip of Ebony.

Go back to the band saw and cut at 45 degrees from the other side most of the way through and glue in a second Ebony strip.

Todd

[Ocelot55]

That's what I thought. I haven't done too much of that before. One time I glued some strips of walnut and oak to achieve a similar effect. Eventually the wood split away form each other. Each type of wood had a different expansion rate.

[Gig]

Nice work Todd

[taharris]

That's what I thought. I haven't done too much of that before. One time I glued some strips of walnut and oak to achieve a similar effect. Eventually the wood split away form each other. Each type of wood had a different expansion rate.

I was a little concerned about long term strength, so I glued a brass tube inside.

Todd

(And thanks Gig.)

[frazeeg]

I love bloodwood, but I hate that it just turns brown after a while. Hopefully yours keeps for a while (or still looks good when it does change).

[taharris]

I stabilized the Red Heart with thin CA glue, so hopefully that will help maintain the color.

Todd

[andrew]

The extension work does add pop. I think the CA should keep the oxidation at bay. Sunlight was the color killer for a redheart extension I made for one of my own pipes. I didn't seal it properly though, just waxed it. Stupid sun with it's burny burny UV rays....

[wdteipen]

That's cool Todd.

[Sorringowl]

That's a nice pipe. The stem could have maybe been a tad longer but I think it still works. And, yeah, really great extension! Reminds me of a fancy rifle. Nice work!

[taharris]

Thanks

Todd