pipemakersforum.com

(If this post would get more critique in the image gallery, please let me know, or could a moderator move it? )

The better looking of the two was my first pipe and currently my only. The ugly duckling in the picture was a second block that I had. I wanted to try a few things (expecting to ruin something) so I used that one for a tester. I made a nail tool similar to others that I had seen.

How do you go about finishing the textured area without getting it packed full of crud? How terrible does the texture that I have achieved look?
Please tear it apart! I love the rough look from a nail tool over the texture that rusticating with a small round bit gives you, and ultimately I would like to make a semi large rusticated poker, so I need some advice!

I don't do any rustication, so this is based solely on what I've seen and my own aesthetic.
The flat spots/unrusticated/undisturbed surface area in between the nail strikes indicate to me that the pipe is not finished.
I have in mind a Castello that I owned years ago. the only flats were the areas where the imprint was masked.
Think of the rustication as the equivalent of a sandblast. It hits everything that is not specifically masked.
This is only my point of view, and I hope that the folks who do rustication chime in.
I like the other pipe, BTW
DocAitch

What The Good Doctor says is correct. You want to chew the briar up until you can't see any of the original surface. Then give it a good scrubbing with a wire brush to remove all the lose bits that are lodged in the crags. Stain it if you want, then add a few coats of thinned shellac. A quick search will yield many additional insights.

Wire brushing is good or if you have the set up you can glass bead blast to clean it up.

If you have a setup for a glass bead blast, you can also sandblast your pipe instead of rustication...

I use a small brass wheel on a dremel to clean up my rustication. Works well for me.

Thanks guys. I get some more digging and it looks like one of the most popular mistakes is exactly what I did. Which was not going far enough!

Sandhal-your apples are awesome! I'm really into your style.

Mightysmurf - I have plenty of those, so I will have to try that out. Also, I really like the poker on your website gallery!

sandahlpipe wrote:If you have a setup for a glass bead blast, you can also sandblast your pipe instead of rustication...

Quite true. However sometimes the flaws can be ugly enough that blasting alone won't make them any less ugly whereas rustication will help.
Put some makeup on that pig.