What makes a good assymetrical pipe?

[bscofield]

I'm making my first assymetrical pipe (on purpose ) and I'm wondering what everyone thinks makes a good assymetrical pipe? Perhaps some symmetry to the assymmetry, if you get my drift? Post a pic of a good assymetrical pipe. Especially if you know of a particularly pretty one with a flat sided bowl (which is what I'm doing).

[KurtHuhn]

I think you've got the right idea - there has to be symmetry in the asymmetry. While it might not be identical from side to side, it should be *balanced*. How to do that is particularly difficult to describe, and even more difficult to execute. Kind of like the infamous "I'll know it when I see it.".

[RadDavis]

Hi Ben,

Go to Todd Johnson's site and check out a few of his pipes.

There are some beautiful asymmetrical shapes there!

Rad

[magruder]

Rad's suggestion is excellant. To quote Todd: "There has to be a reason for the asymmetry."

Also see these Tokutomi pipes:
http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/t ... allery.cfm

He is a real master at asymmetry. I love the way he "echos' shapes throughout
the pipe.
Please post photos and good luck :thumb:

Best,
Steve

[magruder]

Oh YEAH, check out Cornelius Maenz too!

[bscofield]

:dunno:

Well cRap... My first attempt certainly won't look like any of those!

[StephenDownie]

Like Kurt says, it's all about balance.

[JHowell]

My view is that asymmetry is something that comes from symmetry. And looking at the pipes referred to above, they don't seem so much asymmetrical to me as symmetrical in unexpected ways. Also, I think that the best way to make any pipe is to see it in your mind's eye first, then try to make it. If it's beautiful in your mind AND asymmetrical, there's one answer.

[bscofield]

My view is that asymmetry is something that comes from symmetry. And looking at the pipes referred to above, they don't seem so much asymmetrical to me as symmetrical in unexpected ways. Also, I think that the best way to make any pipe is to see it in your mind's eye first, then try to make it. If it's beautiful in your mind AND asymmetrical, there's one answer.

Well I didn't have an assymetrical idea in my head. I'm salvaging a mis-dril. I mis-driled the airway deep into the corner of the block. Did some measurements, drilled the tobacco chamber and got the connection almost spot-on... a seller for sure as far as the drilling is concerned. BUT that left me little-to-no balance in the block. So I made one side in the planned design (something sort of like Kurt's avatar) and the other side flat. I'll post pictures this week.

[LexKY_Pipe]

The assymetricals allow for artistic flare in a different way than do the symmetricals. Very nice.