Growley Digtoad

[Growley]

I was having a little fun in the shop and came up with this. The name comes from a mythical creature created by one of my favorite artists Andrew Peterson. I'm reading his Wingfeather Saga to my children at nights and the Bumpy Digtoad is mentioned several times in the book.

Here's a pic of the creature:

And here's a few of the pipe. After looking at the pipe more, I think I'm going to give it another go and make it more bulbous. It's still a fun pipe though.

I posted this in the Gallery because this one isn't for sale. It's a prototype and I'm going to smoke it...you know...product testing and all. I just thought I'd share it with you all.

PS. HAPPY FATHERS DAY!!!!

Brian.

 

[Stick]

That's amazing as a piece of art work Brian, let alone a pipe.  You've got some stunning lines in there. How on earth do you machine the air passage through the shank?  Is there a compromise with where the air passage enters the heel?

I love the flair of colour on the front, and I can see the similiarities with your inspiration too.

As an aside, it reminds me of a pitcher plant...  

 

[Growley]

That's amazing as a piece of art work Brian, let alone a pipe.  You've got some stunning lines in there. How on earth do you machine the air passage through the shank?  Is there a compromise with where the air passage enters the heel?

I love the flair of colour on the front, and I can see the similiarities with your inspiration too.

As an aside, it reminds me of a pitcher plant...  

Thanks Stick. The airway is why I despise making these pipes. As it turns out, is has just as much flow as any other pipe I make, but it takes careful planning, and just a touch of luck to make it happen. It's easy to make the wall too thin between the bowl and airway, and it's easy to drill too deep which would lead to wasting a bunch of tobacco each smoke.

If I could ever find a way to drill a curved and controlled hole, I'd be happy as a clam.

 

[alandadp]

Hi Brian,
That is a beautiful pipe.
It reminds me of a Ramses in general shape. That revelation, coupled with your comment on drilling, reminded me of an article I'd read some time ago about the genesis of the Ramses and how Bo Nordh got around the problem he had drilling that pipe.
The article is Here
Just thought that might be of interest.
(this from a man who has sausages for fingers and couldn't make a pipe if his life depended on it  :lol!: )

Adam

 

[Growley]

Hi Brian,
That is a beautiful pipe.
It reminds me of a Ramses in general shape. That revelation, coupled with your comment on drilling, reminded me of an article I'd read some time ago about the genesis of the Ramses and how Bo Nordh got around the problem he had drilling that pipe.
The article is Here
Just thought that might be of interest.
(this from a man who has sausages for fingers and couldn't make a pipe if his life depended on it  :lol!: )

Adam

Adam,

Yes, it's very reminiscent of the Ramses. In fact, I was making a Ramses (shown below) when I decided to change the shape just a tad due to a flaw in the bottom tip. Once I started re-shaping it, I found I thought it would be a nice sitter, and once I made it a sitter, it reminded me of a fat open mouth frog, hence the Digtoad. I think to be a true Digtoad, I'll need to change some things, but for now, it's a start.

Thanks for the link to that article. I think I may have read that before, or pieces of it at least from somewhere else. The idea of drilling incomplete and tapping in from the side is what I've always done. It works well, but somehow it's still really easy to mess up. Just when you think you've got everything lined up and measured perfectly, some minor detail will escape you, like the fact that the hole you drill for your airway will be slightly wider than the bit you used, so it can easily end up hitting higher up in than you think. Again, I love and hate these shapes!  :twisted: :evil: 

Here's the Ramses I was working on at the time...

 

[Briar Spirit]

Brian that is simply stunning, a very unique take on an already astounding pipe shape, I've tried twice to make a Ramses, neither turned out very well but I will get one done right in time, seeing your work is nothing short of an inspiration, BRAVO.  :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: 

 

[pepesdad1]

Both are masterpieces. Gorgeous work, Brian.

 

[Brewdude]

Brian, that toad is wild. Very well executed in the Ramses style. You seem to have a handle on that design.



Cheers,

RR

 

[Mozjo33]

Absolutely beautiful Brian!

 

[monbla256]

Brian,
Aren't you glad they allow porn on the web?  :twisted:  And you make and photograph some of the BEST pipe porn !! :twisted: :twisted: BOTH of those pipes are STUNNING  :bounce: :bounce: 

 

[Growley]

Brian that is simply stunning, a very unique take on an already astounding pipe shape, I've tried twice to make a Ramses, neither turned out very well but I will get one done right in time, seeing your work is nothing short of an inspiration, BRAVO.  :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: 

Thanks. When I first started making them, I swear it took me at least two blocks, sometimes three to get just the drilling right. Then after that, there are so many curves and lines to chase down. But you can get it!

For me, I just try to take things off as symmetrically as I can (a little off the right, then the same amount off the left) until it starts taking the right shape.

 

[Growley]

Brian, that toad is wild. Very well executed in the Ramses style. You seem to have a handle on that design.



Cheers,

RR

Thanks RR! I'm getting a "handle" on it, but mastery is a long ways away.   

 

[Growley]

Absolutely beautiful Brian!

Thanks Mozjo. I appreciate it.

 

[Growley]

Brian,
Aren't you glad they allow porn on the web?  :twisted:  And you make and photograph some of the BEST pipe porn !! :twisted: :twisted: BOTH of those pipes are STUNNING  :bounce: :bounce: 

As always, you crack me up, and even make me blush a little    Thanks for the kind words. I appreciate it.

 

[huffelpuff]

Both are absolutely stunning! I get the challenge of drilling an airway like that as my former career involved working in 3D with tiny pieces. I still can't for the life of me figure out how you pull it off. That's part if the magic though. Keep cranking these beauties out!

Jim

 

[Hawker]

I love bent pipes and Brian you take them to the 3rd degree. Masterfull pieces of art.

Both are stunning looking pipes but the Ramses still is the hands down winner, there is no other pipe out there that can display birdseye porn that that one can.

I can't imagine them being able to smoke as good as they look as that is a taller order to fill.

Maybe someday the pipe jar will be full enough to find out. ( And with a little luck the wife willing to OK such a purchase). Someday.

 

[LordTemplar]

Excellent Growley!

 

[i.keenum]

Brian your pipes are killer brother and I would love to watch work you magic one day.

On a did note. Where do get briar that had grain as fine as what was in that link. Freaking amazing!

 

[RAlden]

Excellent pipe Brian, love the lines of it.

 

[DrumsAndBeer]

Yeah man, I absolutely love your work. That's a fantastic drawing too!