Show me contrast stains

[GPipe]

Assuming "there is no stupid question" and "a picture is worth a thousand words" I would like to see photographs of contrast stained pipes to determine JUST WHAT CAN CONTRAST STAINING LOOK LIKE?

I have read multiple threads here regarding contrast staining and thought I knew what it looked like. I am new to pipe making and have recently been experimenting with Fiebings dyes to learn how to stain. My test pieces of briar have got me thinking maybe what I thought was contrast staining was just naturally dark grain and a good job of staining. I am certain, for example, that Eltang pipes are contrast stained. Other pipes, I'm not so sure now.

Please post photos of pipes that are contrast stained but may not be all that obvious to the newcomer.

I'll start.

Not contrasted
http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/c ... _id=110932

Possibly contrasted (leaning towards yes)
http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/a ... _id=118649

Yes
http://www.alpascia.com/detail.asp?detail=21730

[The Smoking Yeti]

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mcy15 ... 0_1280.jpg

[Sasquatch]

"Contrast Staining" is just that - staining in some way such that you achieve a significant contrast in the wood. You're right, Gpipe, the first one, the Cavicchi, is probably just an orangey sort of stain. It shows some grain, but not as much as the other examples.

Speaking very generally, it's done by staining dark and careful sanding.

[GPipe]

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mcy15 ... 0_1280.jpg

That's gorgeous.

Can anyone point out photos of pipes that look contrast stained, but aren't?

[Leus]

I don't think a pipe would "look" contrast-stained if it isn't.

That J. Alan pipe that you labeled as possibly contrast stained, I say "aye."

Now, this is what I call contrast:

DSC_0097

But we all know Tom does some pretty dark magic to achieve this contrast.