@Zouave Yes, it is plated brass. There is a brass tube that runs through the wood also. This particular tamper was a “kit”. I just turned the wood, unlike the previous two I made from scratch. This one was a bit tricky getting it chucked in the lathe though.
Since I purchased this Radice Aero Reverse Calabash Billiard as an estate, it did not include the tamper/“cleaning rod” that normally come with these pipes, so I made one tonight from a couple of Olivewood blocks. There is a seam at the middle groove, you can see the tamper end is a bit darker wood. I added the grooves to hide the seam...and for some visual and tactile interest. There is a slight cup in the tamper end and there is a groove in the other end to hold a cleaning patch, or two, for cleaning the condensation chamber. It is the same basic design as the Radice originals, except for my addition of the tamper end cup and the five grooves. It did not take very long and was fun to build.
@TaylorJDutton I think a combination of all three would make for a great competitive Olympic sport ... snowboarding while drinking a cup of coffee with the left hand, and shooting a pistol at random targets with the right hand. I'd love to see that included in the next Winter Olympics. And also keep in mind that this is the last James Bond film featuring Daniel Craig - so a skill like shooting down a mountain on a snowboard while drinking (you'll probably have to substitute coffee for a Martini *shaken not stirred), might give you a leg up on the competition as the next Bond.
I am not sure if I had posted these before. Some years ago I took up making "Display Quality" Duck Decoys. Over the years I went in big time with buying carving knives, a Foredom "Mototool", and tons of word burning equipment, paint brushes and tons of paint. I used to work about 10 hours a day, then come home and hit my basement workshop until late at night carving, texturing, painting and then I would go to bed to repeat the process the following day. I have sold a few, but honestly with some of them taking me over 100 hours I just could not part with them. So my kids have a couple each, and when I hit the old tobcco shop in the sky they can (if they wish) divide up what I have kept for my own. The sad thing is I have not resumed this activity in over 10 years.....just too busy.
Almost finished rebuilding this old tobacco shredder/slicer. I just need to repaint the wheel as the rust remover I had to use to break all the rusted screws free took off most of the paint. I decided to slice some of my homegrown pressed tobacco, I do not have any whole leaves anymore. It worked very well and the tobacco is smelling pretty darn good. I guess I will have to smoke some 🙂
I actually passed up two of them at a traveling antique show in my location. One was a bit more ornate than the other - but both were around $150.00. A little more than I wanted to spend on myself with Christmas so close at hand ... and a few other people on my list that needed to be considered over myself. But I discovered one of the two tobacco cutters ( the more ornate of the two) was and still is in a antique store just an hour or so out of town, so I may still get a crack at it. And hopefully the price will be negotiable.
@Zouave There are usually several on eBay. I have been watching them for awhile. They go for about $150 as Ghost said, if they look to be in in decent shape. They ask $300 or so if really nice looking (whether or not they function is something else still), not sure if they ever sell that high though. The shipping on this one was $40 and they were asking $40 OBO.....I offered $15 and it SOLD! So $65.00. I had to work a bit to get the blades off and true them and then sharpen them. I think I will buy some whole leaf tobacco, just so I can try it out. I don't want to wait until I grow more...and that's IF I get lucky enough to have it ripen and get it cured so it is smokable. Montana is a bit dry for air curing...without help (i.e. humidifier).
"Tobacco cultivation entails seven to eight months of constant attention to the plant in its various stages from sowing the seeds to transplanting the young plants, irrigating, weeding, pruning suckers and topping flowers when necessary.... [MORE]
My next project....well, another project anyway. When the weather gets better, I plan to sit out on the “veranda” with a mint julep and a pipe (ok, more like patio with a bourbon and a pipe) and carve out a couple of diamond willow walking sticks. I have the raw material, now just need warmer weather. My hands don’t work as well as they use to, especially in the cold🙁
I like to fly fish, shoot black powder and I collect fire system sprinkler heads. I have over 200 and there are no two alike. I started collecting when I was on the fire department. The oldest dates to 1909. They are getting hard to find. People like to melt down the brass. I find one on eBay now and then.
Comments
Yes, it is plated brass. There is a brass tube that runs through the wood also. This particular tamper was a “kit”. I just turned the wood, unlike the previous two I made from scratch. This one was a bit tricky getting it chucked in the lathe though.
Go to the "what are you guys smoking right now" thread and give us a post next time you bowl up... 😁
KB7WRW here
KE7WXF here
It has been quite awhile since I have heard the expression "no duh"
coffee
Snowboarding
Everything except the snowboarding👍🏻 I would break myself😳
Those are awesome!
Thank you sir.......
There are usually several on eBay. I have been watching them for awhile. They go for about $150 as Ghost said, if they look to be in in decent shape. They ask $300 or so if really nice looking (whether or not they function is something else still), not sure if they ever sell that high though. The shipping on this one was $40 and they were asking $40 OBO.....I offered $15 and it SOLD!
A PERFECT DRIED LEAF
https://www.alpascia.com/moments/en/detail/44/a-perfect-dried-leaf"Tobacco cultivation entails seven to eight months of constant attention to the plant in its various stages from sowing the seeds to transplanting the young plants, irrigating, weeding, pruning suckers and topping flowers when necessary.... [MORE]