Cant leave well enough alone...

[Bobby Stubbs]

I rusticated this pipe about a month ago..put beveled holes in the stem as well..now I feel the finish is too dark..so I will strip it down and start over..its a learning process
I think I will lighten the panels and leave the rest dark

 

[holymolar]

I've never seen beveled holes in a stem before. Is it just an esthetic thing?

 

[SteveS]

Beauty being in the eye of the beholder and this being your pipe, not mine whatever I think doesn't really count ... BUT

If it were mine, I'd lighten the rustication some and do the panels in a red/brown ... something that would really highlight the grain.

 

[Bobby Stubbs]

I've never seen beveled holes in a stem before. Is it just an esthetic thing?

I got the idea from a picture of a high dollar freehand pipe(custom..one off ) Told myself I can do that !
The holes will only work on a very wide stem pipe..I took extreem care to stay clear of the draft hole..various Dremmel bits (tapered ) drilled the holes lay out the hole spacing so it is all equal..polishing was done with a conical Dremmel buff..shaped on a grinder and loaded with marine fiberglass polish..the rest of the stem was polished with a buffer..With a name like holymoler this should be right up your alley LOL
I am eyeballing a Peterson African Meerschaum in my collection that is short and squatty with a very wide stem..its next LOL
Thanks go out to my friend Coastie3202 for getting me back into rustification

 

[LordTemplar]

I like the pipe the way it is, but I would lighten the panels as well, just for personal preference. It is really nice work!

 

[Bobby Stubbs]

Sanded the pipe...restained the rusticated area with mahogany and left the panels unstained..polished the pipe and this is the result..

 

[Bobby Stubbs]

I believe the pipe is a Danmore
I found one just like it before the rustification
I wonder if the pipe is oil cured as the panels seem to darken on their own after sanding to bare wood ..
the briar is very hard on this pipe as well..it took some effort just to rusticate it and outlineing the panels was a chore