I've had a problem while blasting when there is a significant flaw or fissure. My blasting technique tends to blast these things wide open--to the point where they are really much worse. I gather flaws have softer wood in and around them? Here is an example of one that blasted out on me:
Should I try masking these things somehow before blasting? Anyone got any tricks for these? I've got a pipe on the bench now that looks like a blasting open type
Guess I can always go back to rusticating anything with significant flaws, but I really like sandblasting a lot better for most pipes.
That's just one of the drawbacks of blasting. Sometimes you uncover the mother of all flaws. If the flaw is there, and you blast it, it almost certainly will grow. That's just the nature of the finish.
If a stummel has a really bad fissure, I just toss it as soon as I uncover it. No need to waste my time on it in hopes that it won't be too bad.
KurtHuhn wrote:If a stummel has a really bad fissure, I just toss it as soon as I uncover it. No need to waste my time on it in hopes that it won't be too bad.
Thanks Kurt! Yes, I'm beginning to get to that too. Right now I'm short on briar and trying to salvage everything I can. Figure I need the practice anyway and can always keep them for myself. The thing is, I'm getting more pipes than I can smoke this way! I may try selling off some of the factory pipes in my collection to make more room for cast offs from my pipemaking effort. Then I can buy more briar
I don't think this particular flaw you uncovered is too ugly. I've seen others worse than that and it was sellable, at least as a lower grade. I for one would like to have a high-grade like it, providing that the flaw doesn't go all the way to the bowl or draught hole.
Some of those flaws make really interesting blasts. I like the ultra knarly look. I mean if your buying a blasted pipe, then you know right off the bat its been blasted because af a flaw. Blast the shit out of it and make the flaw a highlight.
