Interesting opportunity to carve a Meer'

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Briar Spirit

Briar Spirit

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I am being granted a very interesting opportunity, Brenden has purchase a Meer' 'carve your own' block from fleabay and is giving me the opportunity of carving a pipe from it for him.

This is a first for me in more ways than one, initially of course it is a first time at carving a pipe from a 'carve your own' block, and it's a first at doing anything with Meerschaum.

This is what the block is to be when it arrives on my end:

2_zps67e9787b.jpg


1_zps36346018.jpg


Having only basic hand tools to work with and few of them in truth and they're all old and pretty shabby to tell the truth I am not so keen to try anything truly elaborate. Besides which I feel pretty sure my attempts at doing so would fall well short of the mark

I have spent well over 7 hours in Photoshop manipulating the images of the block that I have available. I have tried to make dozens of shapes work with the block but at some major point the design structure has failed. As boring as it is the best design I have come up with that looks like it will work well and not be overly dull is a wide walled Poker of sorts,

This is the Poker shape I hope to be able to do for Brenden:

2b_zps5999abd0.jpg


I have no idea if I can actually pull this off on a professional level but I am going to give it my best damn shot and will ensure I do the best job I can possibly do for Brenden.

What do you guys think to the proposed shape?
 
I like it. 'Standard' shapes in Meer are very interesting to me, looking forward to seeing how it turn out!
 
Good luck Kirk. I look forward to seeing your progress. As far as a shape, poker is as good as any to get started.
 
Good choice.
I've come to realize that with kits, the block, the placement of the chamber, and the angle of the shank definitely dictates the shape(s) that can be attempted with a realistic chance at success.
My first pipe kit was a poker, because the briar just demanded that it be one.
Have fun.
 
Harlock999":5436f5b5 said:
Good choice.
I've come to realize that with kits, the block, the placement of the chamber, and the angle of the shank definitely dictates the shape(s) that can be attempted with a realistic chance at success.
My first pipe kit was a poker, because the briar just demanded that it be one.
Have fun.
Click to expand...
That is just what I have found with this block, I toyed with a great many 'artistic' shapes that are also possible with this block but for my first attempt I want to stick to something 'attainable' whilst not being overly simple when finished. I think a Poker is a nice shape and although a basic shape is not actually so easy to achieve, what ever happens, I am going to enjoy the experience. :)

Just got to wait for it to arrive from Brenden. :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:
 
It still has a little ways to go but this is where it is at just now:

IMG_1646_zpsf19097e9.jpg


All done using a penknife and some wet&dry sandpaper, yeah I know it aint perfect, first time trying anything like this, I know it's shite but whatever............. :p
 
lookin pretty good Kirk, after this you can start on the piece of Briar ;)
 
You're getting there mate!
Looks symmetrical and balanced to my eye, which are the hardest things to get right in a classical shape..
 
BigCasino":1zovsooc said:
lookin pretty good Kirk, after this you can start on the piece of Briar ;)
Click to expand...
Thanks Buddy, that piece of Briar was destined to never be a pipe chap, there is no way that I can bore the bowl or the shaft, not with the drill I own mate, the very idea of using my drill for precision work scares me and my fingers!!! A chap on SF has sent me 3 ratty estate pipes to work on and in return I am making him a Briar tamper as a trade, I may even make myself one whilst I am at it, I'll show you it when it's done. ;)
 
Kirk Fitzgerald":xuodjnm2 said:
BigCasino":xuodjnm2 said:
lookin pretty good Kirk, after this you can start on the piece of Briar ;)
Click to expand...
Thanks Buddy, that piece of Briar was destined to never be a pipe chap, there is no way that I can bore the bowl or the shaft, not with the drill I own mate, the very idea of using my drill for precision work scares me and my fingers!!! A chap on SF has sent me 3 ratty estate pipes to work on and in return I am making him a Briar tamper as a trade, I may even make myself one whilst I am at it, I'll show you it when it's done. ;)
Click to expand...
thats cool, like I said use it for what ever ya like it all just for fun
 
The first stage of drying the stummel has passed, today I gave the stummel some touching up with fine wet&dry to remove some of the rough edges and to smooth out the base and rim. Now it's sitting in the airing cupboard for the second stage drying, so much drying time, it is proving agonising having to wait it out.

Here's how the stummel looks now:

IMG_1648_zps15941d70.jpg
 
Lookin' good, Kirk. Do you have some plan for beeswax or anything? Not sure if you're at that stage quite yet...

8)
 
Kyle Weiss":u4f2yff3 said:
Lookin' good, Kirk. Do you have some plan for beeswax or anything? Not sure if you're at that stage quite yet...

8)
Click to expand...
Thanks Kyle, yeah, there is a little bag of clear wax pellets in the kit box, the stummel needs a couple of days in the airing cupboard, after this comes the final fine sanding for the ultra smooth finish then there is a process of heating the wax & the stummel, applying the hot wax to the heated stummel, a process to be repeated until the stummel will absorb no more wax, then it has to cool and buffed by hand with a soft cloth.

After all this I can then ship it off to its owner. :)



BigCasino":u4f2yff3 said:
looks like its perfectly round
Click to expand...
Thanks BC, it really isn't perfect, but I have done the best job I can for Brenden. :)
 
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