Blow Fish Study

[d.huber]

Hey guys!

Since I tried (and failed) to make a blowfish at the pipe making seminar, I've been doing a bit of research on the subject. I've seen a ton of different pipes with the shape assigned to them and have learned a lot by doing so. The next thing I did was go back to the source. Check out this video. It's probably the most informative thing I've ever seen in reference to the personality of a fish and the way they move. There's also some beautiful shapes created at moments in the video. I hope it inspires some pipes!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2219ml_J ... re=related

A moment that I find particularly stunning is the 0:00:00 mark on the video. The fish starts in this extreme shape in profile that I find to be beautiful. Have a look:

[JonBood]

To be honest, I have never been able to see the resemblance of a actual blowfish in these pipes..does the name really come from inspiration of the fish?

[d.huber]

That's a great question. Based on the info I have, I don't think the pipe shape was named for the fish... so why the shape was named "blowfish" one can only guess. Frankly, I don't see an exact resemblance either, except in the attempt to capture its energy and motion. The fellow who presented his blowfish collection at the Chicago Show put together a great pamphlet on the subject, seen here: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BxRl5BF ... dit?pli=1# It's very informative and a great way to get familiar with the shape.

[d.huber]

Not sure why, but the link in the original post isn't working when I click on it. Copy and paste into a new tab/window and it works fine.

[JonBood]

Nice one, thanks!

[andrew]

I think the pipe is called a blowfish because it's puffy and round-ish, I'd agree the resemblance stops there.

[e Markle]

Hey guys!

Since I tried (and failed) to make a blowfish at the pipe making seminar, I've been doing a bit of research on the subject. I've seen a ton of different pipes with the shape assigned to them and have learned a lot by doing so. The next thing I did was go back to the source. Check out this video. It's probably the most informative thing I've ever seen in reference to the personality of a fish and the way they move. There's also some beautiful shapes created at moments in the video. I hope it inspires some pipes!

Hi David,
Enjoyed meeting you at the show. I don't think I'd recommend this approach to pipemaking for the beginner. It's a cool idea, but I think your time would be better spent studying the lines on an Ivarsson pipe rather than its namesake.

Just my opinion - either way, be sure to post your results!

[d.huber]

Hi David,
Enjoyed meeting you at the show. I don't think I'd recommend this approach to pipemaking for the beginner. It's a cool idea, but I think your time would be better spent studying the lines on an Ivarsson pipe rather than its namesake.

Just my opinion - either way, be sure to post your results!

Hey Ernie,

It was great meeting you at the show as well! Odds are you're right. I can and do get ahead of myself.

That Ivarsson shape is one of my absolute favorites. I've seen several interpretations of it from several different carvers now and I'm always delighted by the way different makers interpret the line that flows from shank to bowl rim. It's like a signature on each pipe. Just beautiful.

Any idea why so many pipes that look so different are referred to as "blowfish?" When you've got a pipe that looks like this, a pipe that looks like this, and one that looks like this confusion can arise. What are the qualifications?

[Hudson]

It seems to me that most of the ones I've seen that are labeled as blowfish look as much like the fish as a bulldog named pipe resembles the actual dog. But I think if you can figure out how to make a pipe that changes shape like the real thing you should call it an Uber Blowfish and be on your way to fame and fortune.

[d.huber]

It seems to me that most of the ones I've seen that are labeled as blowfish look as much like the fish as a bulldog named pipe resembles the actual dog. But I think if you can figure out how to make a pipe that changes shape like the real thing you should call it an Uber Blowfish and be on your way to fame and fortune.

LOL! So all I'd have to do is get the briar to expand and contract, huh?... I'm open to suggestions.... I'll even split the money 90/10 with the guy that figures it out. Sounds fair, right?

[d.huber]

It seems to me that most of the ones I've seen that are labeled as blowfish look as much like the fish as a bulldog named pipe resembles the actual dog. But I think if you can figure out how to make a pipe that changes shape like the real thing you should call it an Uber Blowfish and be on your way to fame and fortune.

BTW, you make an excellent point here. Kinda makes me wonder where ALL the names came from now...

[geigerpipes]

Here is a good explanation for you guys:

http://www.pipendoge.de/Blowfish_info.htm

Scroll down if your not into German
sometims a missunderstanding can become common fact

[wdteipen]

Thanks for that link, Love.

[d.huber]

Here is a good explanation for you guys:

http://www.pipendoge.de/Blowfish_info.htm

Scroll down if your not into German
sometims a missunderstanding can become common fact

Thanks a lot, Love! That link is very helpful.

[e Markle]

As far as I can tell, there are basically two types of blowfish: crossgrain (or fugu) and Ivarsson/Danish which are generally straight grain. I don't know much about the history that Love's post refers to, but I think nearly all current blowfish fall into those two categories.

I'm not sure how many people would call a disc a blowfish - I would certainly draw a distinction.

[Sasquatch]

Damn I thought I was being pretty technical delineating billiards and freehands.

[geigerpipes]

Ernie as I've been told by my fellow scandinavian makers who came before us the Lars shape is the original Blowfish



A shape Lars made inspired by a blowfish in his aquarium..

The disk,discus or Bridseye delight as it was originally called is rumored to have originated from Former and came later than Lars shape and was adoped by many other scandinavian makers at the time. Lars made such a pipe with fabuluous grain and graded it with his fish stamp and that is where the confusion arose the collector who bought it misstaked it for being a blowfish and today that is the shape many assosiated with the blowfish.

Fugu is simply the japanese name for blowfish..

But as with everything else history gets distorted with time and the crossgrain assymtric pipes we make today we call blowfish as it is simply the name most assosiate with that shape.

Here is a recent one we made


I guess whatever you call it it is still just a pipe

[d.huber]

The disk,discus or Bridseye delight as it was originally...

Lol! I'd never heard "Birdseye Delight" before, but I like it!

Here is a recent one we made...

That is one fine pipe, sir.

Thanks a lot for some of the history behind this shape. It is most helpful.

If it isn't too much to ask, would you be willing to post a few more photos of that pipe?

[d.huber]

I'm not sure how many people would call a disc a blowfish - I would certainly draw a distinction.

I would like to as well, it just sounds like the waters have been muddied by people and time.

To summarize our info so far, Lars' original shape is the blowfish shape and the variations on the discus or "birdseye delight" are all discus pipes but have become known as blowfish. Does that sound correct?

If so, do we go with the flow of the market and lump all of these pipes together under the title "blowfish" and forget about distinction within the category or do we continue to insist there's a difference while most consumers don't recognize one? In the end, does it matter or are we reaching a point of semantics?

[RadDavis]

or do we continue to insist there's a difference while most consumers don't recognize one?

You'll be banging your head against a wall. Dave Field tried a few years ago to get everyone to call cumberland by its correct name of red brindle. That didn't work either.

Rad