Pipe carving

Rshey1

Not sure if this is the place to talk about pipe carving. I know this is typically for pipe tobacco, but thought I would ask. I know there's a few sites out there about it but,this community seems to be more active. I guess the post could always be deleted.

PappyJoe

We can talk pipe carving too. 

I have carved 4 briars and 2 cherrywood pipes though none in the past couple of years. 

I bought the briar from Mark Tinsky. His website is http://www.amsmoke.com/

ghostsofpompeii

How about posting some pictures of your work. I can't carve myself but I do appreciate and enjoy looking at the handiwork of others.

If I had the talent I'd carve a pipe to resemble the elongated head of H.R. Giger's ALIEN design from the movie.  

tbonevffv

 thuis

tbonevffv

those are pictures of a meerschaum that my wife carved for me.  

ghostsofpompeii

@tbonevffv Tell her she does beautiful work.

mfresa

@tbonevffv, yes excellent work!
@ghostofpompeii, regarding the alien, where would you put the tobacco chamber?

ghostsofpompeii

@mfresa It's taken me this long to respond because you presented me with quite a problem. I guess you couldn't have the complete elongated ALIEN head because the shape is quite unlike any common pipe style. So I'd suggest something more akin to the Meerschaum pipes I've seen of carved skulls - with the chamber at the top in the back and a majority of the intricate artwork focused on the face.  

mfresa

@ghostsofpompeii - yes, the pipe would probably have the smoking chamber at the back/top of the head, the rest of the briar, or whatever wood, up front.
Similar to what I did with the Dane Ironfoot pipe.  Haven't tried to smoke it yet, though.  I think the heat would build up pretty quick in the briar, as it's a chunk of wood.
IMHO thinner walls radiate the heat faster (which can be great in the winter time on one's frozen fingers).

ghostsofpompeii

@mfresa I must have missed your picture of the Dane Ironfoot pipe. Would you mind re-posting it. I'd be interested to see it.

mfresa

OK but don't laugh....

mfresa

@ghostsofpompeii these were my first.  After these, I really respect the guys who work briar for a living. 

ghostsofpompeii

I think they look pretty damn cool. Have you ever used them yet or are they purely decorative?

mfresa

@ghostsofpompeii Decorative at this point.  I need to use them as nobody else probably would want to.  Maybe this weekend.

motie2

This impresses me as a marvel of carving:

PappyJoe

@motie2 - I am impressed with that one also.