After scrubbing with a nylon brush, I did a light sanding before wetting the briar to see what flaws, etc. might be there. That's when I found some pits, 3 sections where the stummel had different shades/colors, and nice size "grain dead spot":
Remember, these stummels are what I call "apprentice" or "practice" stummels. They usually aren't the best briar (grain-wise), and they sometimes aren't drilled (mortise and/or draft hole) accurately. Also, when you're talking 2 or more lathes doing the drilling and/or turning, you rarely have a perfect match up.
Example: I turned a tenon on a stem to fit this stummel. It resulted in a good tight fit, but the stem wound up slightly off center. This happens more often than not...
Consequently, sanding down the shank and/or stem is required to get a balanced look. Unfortunately the result is a stem that must be placed in the fixed position or it will look "off". This isn't an issue with bent stems since there's only one way to place it, but not so with a straight stem. Anyway, I completed the the stem.
Considering the grain, or should I say lack thereof, along with the flaws, I decided to use my newly acquired rusticating method. Besides, I consider it good practice. Then I experimented with my stains until I got the look I was going for: 10 drops tan 30 drops buckskin 4 drops oxblood Here's the final:
3 more practice stummels from the batch @mapletop gave me at the STL pipe show. These stummels are identical. The only difference is the number of pits and chips each one has and their positions.
I decided to start with the middle one. There were only 2 major pits and the grain looked decent (as far as practice stummels go). Started by drawing a pattern to rusticate and cover those pits:
Here's a stummel from that St Louis Pipe Show group that @mapletop gave me. The chamber had been drilled, but I had to drill out the mortise and airway. The stummel was pretty rough, but I really liked that semi acorn shape.
Making a long process short, I knew what my objective was going to be; make a pipe that would pair with my readings of The Hobbit and LOTR. First I rusticated the stummel. Then I had an fairly long stem that I had to enlarge the tenon and sand the stem to match the shank. Note the 2 cracks I had to fill on that stummel? One more of many reasons I rusticated this guy. As you can see, the stem has been rough sanded to match the shank.
So I sanded the stem: 220, 400, 600, 800, 1000, then stepped through 7 micromesh pads. Then bent the stem. Coated the stummel with a combination of buckskin and oxblood. Once that set up, I then overcoated it with black. Once dried, I hit the high points with 400 grit, exposing the under layer. Waxed, buffed, polished and now I have a pipe for those "Middle Earth" moments:
Remember the 3 "sister" stummels I starting working on? The first one (the middle one) was completed and posted. Just completed the second one (the top one)
Here's the last of the "3 sisters" pipes. Took a stem I've had for quite a while. I turned the tenon to fit and reshaped it from oval to round. It used to look like the other one pictured:
Comments
Yea, I get it...
🙏🏻
This is the last of the 3 billiards that @maple gave me at the pipe show.
Decided to start by giving it a thorough cleaning:
That's when I found some pits, 3 sections where the stummel had different shades/colors, and nice size "grain dead spot":
Also, when you're talking 2 or more lathes doing the drilling and/or turning, you rarely have a perfect match up.
I turned a tenon on a stem to fit this stummel. It resulted in a good tight fit, but the stem wound up slightly off center. This happens more often than not...
Unfortunately the result is a stem that must be placed in the fixed position or it will look "off". This isn't an issue with bent stems since there's only one way to place it, but not so with a straight stem.
Anyway, I completed the the stem.
Then I experimented with my stains until I got the look I was going for:
10 drops tan
30 drops buckskin
4 drops oxblood
Here's the final:
You are amazing. I may have mentioned that before.
I consider it unmerited, but still very nice of you "birthday boy"...🙂
Tnx brother, much appreciated...
These stummels are identical. The only difference is the number of pits and chips each one has and their positions.
Started by drawing a pattern to rusticate and cover those pits:
Here's the final:
That pipe has what I would call “a wide open draw” by the diameter of the airway in the bowl.
You're right. It's almost as much draw as a MM...
The chamber had been drilled, but I had to drill out the mortise and airway.
The stummel was pretty rough, but I really liked that semi acorn shape.
First I rusticated the stummel. Then I had an fairly long stem that I had to enlarge the tenon and sand the stem to match the shank.
Note the 2 cracks I had to fill on that stummel? One more of many reasons I rusticated this guy. As you can see, the stem has been rough sanded to match the shank.
Then bent the stem.
Coated the stummel with a combination of buckskin and oxblood. Once that set up, I then overcoated it with black.
Once dried, I hit the high points with 400 grit, exposing the under layer.
Waxed, buffed, polished and now I have a pipe for those "Middle Earth" moments:
Magic...pure Magic. Middle Earth...hell that's other worldly.
Much appreciated...
The first one (the middle one) was completed and posted.
Just completed the second one (the top one)
Took a stem I've had for quite a while. I turned the tenon to fit and reshaped it from oval to round. It used to look like the other one pictured: