Swooped shank Brandy? First pipe completed

[Dixie_piper]

Nothing to write home about, but a lot was learned in the bastardizing of this one. The ring is hiding a huge fissure that made a flush fit stem out of my reach. Stem is Tim West fancy (lucite) slightly altered, briar is from Tim as well. Hope to make VAST improvements with pipes yet to come!

[Dixie_piper]

Oh, forgot to add that the chamber is 3/4", left the other measurements at home, but that's a 100g tin if that gives any idea on size of the pipe. And the stain is black/natural contrast, and yes, my methods are in dire need of tweaking

[taharris]

I like it.

That pipe is miles ahead of my first pipe.

[Dixie_piper]

Thanks!
My first attempt was a disaster, I got careless at the sanding wheel and destroyed the rim. That poor piece of briar turned into an experimental piece for certain odd angles, staining, polishing, etc. I still smoke it, but it look like Dr. Frankensteins handy work
This one I spent an easy 20+ hours on collectively. It was originally intended to be an apple, but that idea was changed... many times. The ultimate decider was that I (merely by chance) saw this shape forming at the wheel and just went with it.

The best advice ever was to just make one, I learned so much here I figured it'd be cake, boy was I wrong!
Thanks again!

*EDIT* I meant to add, one reason it took so long was in attempt to learn as much as possible, and trying not to rush things (which I did anyway in the end) and Steffan, kudos for having the patience and to shape @ 40 grit, I tried it, man alive it takes forever to get those scratches out with 220. So bravo and much respect, but it's 80 grit for me

[Sasquatch]

Have you thought about putting a slight bend in that stem Adam? I'd call that stummel 1/8 bent, and the pipe would look good that way.

[Dixie_piper]

Honestly I have, I may actually do that now that you mention it. I was a little hesitant because I'm not 100% sure where I would need to start the bend. But I do think the bend would look better.
I'll search around for pics online to get an idea tonight and try the bend in the morning.
Thanks Todd!

[Abi Natur]

Hey Dixie,
I like the looks of this pipe ,it has a ripe appearance and the coloring is underlining the shape.The ring fits as it should on the whole idea .
Congrats !

Best,
Abi

ps; thou the pictures could have been clearer and brighter.

[Dixie_piper]

Thanks Abi! The kind words are much appreciated
I feel the same about the pics, I tried using my fiancee's camera but my memory card is shot so a no go there. Face to face, it's a bit lighter. Not to mention the scratches that reared their ugly head after polishing; 2 on the left of the shank and a couple on the ball of the stem. Just trying to be honest about it
Thanks again!

[KurtHuhn]

Honestly I have, I may actually do that now that you mention it. I was a little hesitant because I'm not 100% sure where I would need to start the bend. But I do think the bend would look better.
I'll search around for pics online to get an idea tonight and try the bend in the morning.
Thanks Todd!

Have you got a heat gun? Failing that, you can try the alcohol lamp method. Or, if you have neither, Bob Gilbert (I think) once described using a Bic lighter. Failing all of that, or not wanting to put open flam near your stem, you can bring a bit of water to a boil and stick the part you want to bend into the water. Keep the tenon out of the water, because you don't want that to change shape or dimension. Check it regularly, and when it's pliable, give it a slight bend. I used this method for my first dozen pipes or so - it's slow, and tedious, and doesn't get Ebonite quite hot enough (vulcanite is usually okay though), so I switched to the heat gun.

[taharris]

If you put a bit of salt in the water it will boil at a higher temperature.

I just put two cups of water in a bowl with about a tablespoon or two of salt and the stem.

Pop the whole thing in the microwave until it is boiling merrily.

Bend the stem to where you want it and then run it under cold water to set.

[Dixie_piper]

I used the trusty home made alcohol lamp. Better? I'm still adjusting to figuring out the pliability factor, so probably not great at bending just yet. Thanks again folks! Any other suggestions are welcome and appreciated as well

[KurtHuhn]

Much better!

Now make another pipe.

[Dixie_piper]

Much better!

Now make another pipe.

Thanks!

Aww, do I HAVE to make another one? *sigh* if you insist
Thanks again for all the help with my inceasant questions

[Sorringowl]

Wow! That slight little bend makes a huge difference. I like it even more now. Great work!

[Dixie_piper]

Many thanks!
I have to agree, in hindsight I should've bent it from the beginning. Got a bit anxious to finish, as well as nervous about screwing up the last stem I had at the time.
Thanks again!

Oh, and P.S.- just to be a bit more honest, that ring? Yeah, came out of a bubble gum machine many many moons ago Best 25 cents I've spent yet

[bandkbrooks]

Dixie,

That little bit of a bend just brought the whole thing together. Great looking pipe.

Okay while we are on bending stems....acrylic is a pain in the a$$. Any recommendations for bending the stuff without cracking it?

BB

[Dixie_piper]

Thanks for the kinds words!
I have no advice to give on bending acrylic, all I've dealt with thus far is Lucite, sorry
But if I had to guess, the boiling water trick may work? Dunno, never tried it.
Thanks again!

[KurtHuhn]

Acrylic (also called Lucite), can be a real pain to bend. Especially if the stem is injection molded instead of machined, and if your rod stock is extruded instead of cast. Just go slow, and apply even heat to all sides of the stem.

[Dixie_piper]

My bad, for some reason I was thinking they were different
In that case, all I can say is that whatever Tim uses at JH Lowe, isn't too bad to bend with the alcohol lamp. The heating is tricky because it goes straight from warm to OMG it's gonna melt! but once it gets malleable, you've got about 8 seconds before it stiffens up, I usually hold the bend at least 10 seconds and that cuts back on it straightening once I let off.
I've yet to tempt fate with the rodstock from PME just yet, but I can't wait to try it