Metal Ball in Pipe Photos?

[d.huber]

A quick question to the pros:

I've noticed that a few pipe makers have started placing metal balls at the bottom of their chambers during their photo shoot and leave them there when a photo of the chamber is taken. I'm guessing that this is a magnet that is being used to pose the pipe, but my consumer's brain says, "Why can't I see the draft hole? Are they hiding something?" or "Wait, that's a poker and it's standing up. Can it actually stand or is the metal ball making that happen?"

What has led some folks to use this method? If you have tried this, what have you found are the ups and downs?

[SimeonTurner]

Yep, it's a magnet. It's easy to pose the pipe that way without needing to use tape or something on the back side of it. Simple as that.

If you are questioning the integrity of a maker's photography and their desire to hide something like a bad draft hole, you probably shouldn't be buying a pipe form them in the first place. Any artisan maker isn't going to be very succesful if their pipes are drilled crappy and hidden by a ball bearing, because the word would get out fast that their pipes are crappy. Anything a pipe maker could "hide" with a ball bearing could just as easily be "hidden" with some simple photoshopping. Hell, I have photoshopped the ball bearing out of some of my pics, just because it took away from the presentation of the pipe.

If a pipe is a sitter, generally it can be posed quickly and easily without tape or a magnet, and it is generally advertised as such.

Of course, most makers I know offer a return policy on their pipes, so if something was not to a customer's liking, it's probably no big deal.

[d.huber]

Yep, it's a magnet. It's easy to pose the pipe that way without needing to use tape or something on the back side of it. Simple as that.

If you are questioning the integrity of a maker's photography and their desire to hide something like a bad draft hole, you probably shouldn't be buying a pipe form them in the first place. Any artisan maker isn't going to be very succesful if their pipes are drilled crappy and hidden by a ball bearing, because the word would get out fast that their pipes are crappy. Anything a pipe maker could "hide" with a ball bearing could just as easily be "hidden" with some simple photoshopping. Hell, I have photoshopped the ball bearing out of some of my pics, just because it took away from the presentation of the pipe.

If a pipe is a sitter, generally it can be posed quickly and easily without tape or a magnet, and it is generally advertised as such.

Of course, most makers I know offer a return policy on their pipes, so if something was not to a customer's liking, it's probably no big deal.

Excellent points and thanks for clearing that up. I haven't seen a single pipe maker doing this who doesn't have an outstanding reputation, so it's less of a worry more "huh... I've noticed people using this recently who weren't using it before. I wonder why the change?"

[RadDavis]

Excellent points and thanks for clearing that up. I haven't seen a single pipe maker doing this who doesn't have an outstanding reputation, so it's less of a worry more "huh... I've noticed people using this recently who weren't using it before. I wonder why the change?"

It's pretty simple: These devices became available.

Anthony Harris of Acme Wood Turning makes them. I got mine at this year's Richmond show. They just make it so much easier to set up pipes for pics.

Why are people always so freakin' suspicious?

Rad

[SimeonTurner]

Why are people always so freakin' suspicious?
Rad

Well, to be fair, Rad, you are a shady character. Never trust a guy with a beard, that's my motto.

[d.huber]

Excellent points and thanks for clearing that up. I haven't seen a single pipe maker doing this who doesn't have an outstanding reputation, so it's less of a worry more "huh... I've noticed people using this recently who weren't using it before. I wonder why the change?"

It's pretty simple: These devices became available.

Anthony Harris of Acme Wood Turning makes them. I got mine at this year's Richmond show. They just make it so much easier to set up pipes for pics.

Why are people always so freakin' suspicious?

Rad

Guilty as charged.

It's funny how easy it is to be suspicious of small changes in otherwise steady routine. You'd think folks (myself included) would simply say, "oh hey, isn't that an interesting new way of doing that?" Looks like I've got some attitude adjusting to do!

Thanks for clearing this up!

[d.huber]

Looks like a right upstanding feller to me!

[RadDavis]

Why are people always so freakin' suspicious?
Rad

Well, to be fair, Rad, you are a shady character. Never trust a guy with a beard, that's my motto.

Poor Simian, bless his heart.

Even his missing teeth are lopsided.

Rad

[SimeonTurner]

I lost all my teeth trying to rusticate my pipes by chewing on them. It was a technique Bruce Weaver suggested. I guess his dentures are made of sturdier stuff than my chompers. *sigh*