A couple pipes in the works...

[PhilipMarc]

Alright, the two pipes below are obviously unfinished, but I'm wondering if you guys have any last minute critiques that I might be able to incorporate into the finished product(s). I'm not sure i'm going to finish the canted egg/lovat thing due to the enormous flaws . Does someone with sandblasting experience know if it would be possible to sandblast the egg and hide those flaws? Seems like they might be too large to hide. Would rustication do it? I've never rusticated a pipe before because I hate the way it looks but I'd rather rusticate it than throw it away.

[The Smoking Yeti]

Rustication'd be possible if it was nice n' deep. I think something to watch on the egg'd be the taper of the shank. It doesn't look seamless all the way down. Right up near the bowl on the top can you see how it sorta flattens out?

[PhilipMarc]

Yes! You're right. I still haven't finished shaping the shank yet. I stopped when I realized how deep those fissures went.

[collinthib]

I really like the first one. What are your plans to finish it? It'll be interesting to see it finished.

[The Smoking Yeti]

But yeah, given the flaws in the briar I am all for practicing your rustication on the second one. It's why I did my first rustication.

[Sasquatch]

Sandblasting in a very real sense hides nothing. You can get around certain basically cosmetic issues with blasting, but a big fissure like that might look worse after blasting.