PITH 2017!!!!!!!

[mightysmurf8201]

THIS YEAR'S CHALLENGE: OVAL SHANK

Yup, its about that time again.
Here's the low down for those who are new or unfamiliar. The pipe in the hat(PITH) trade is something we do here about once a year. We choose a shape or feature that participants have to make or incorporate into a pipe, and set a deadline. Once the deadline hits, we randomly generate a list of all participants, and you send your pipe to the person below you on the list. You receive the pipe from the person above you. Upon receiving your pipe, you inspect it, smoke it, and give an honest and thorough critique back to the maker. The pipe is yours to keep.
The pipe in the hat trade is designed as a tool to help you grow in your pipe making skills. It can certainly be intimidating to jump into something like this with all these more experienced people participating, but getting the type of feedback that comes with putting your pipe in the hands of someone else is much more beneficial than posting pictures. Plus you get a pipe out of it. Some of the shape requirements might seem like a big challenge, but the PITH is designed to force you out of your comfort zone and to help you get some experience in the art of pipe making.
I can't stress enough, YOUR SKILL LEVEL DOES NOT MATTER! In fact the less experience you have in pipe making, the more you have to gain from participating! The idea here is that the best way to grow is by challenging yourself. This is a great way to get some good practice and helpful feedback. The deadline will likely be around the end of July, 2017.
If you want to participate, just post with the words "I'm in", or something to that effect.
I'm in!

1. mightysmurf8201
2. seamonster
3. Ocelot55
4. thejayrob
5. Vermont Freehand
6. PeskyPrussian
7. DocAitch
8. eric
9 ronps
10. PremalChheda
11. CondorPipes
12. E.L.Cooley
13. N.Burnsworth
14. pmbattles
15 Robert Vacher
16. seanmillerick
17. themanredbeard
18. Bniesen

[JMG]

Hate I will have to miss out on this again. I'm heading back to PNG in February.

[seamonster]

I'm in. what about unique, inventive and interesting rustication?

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[kamkiel]

I'm in. I learned a lot during the last one, and got a nice pipe too!

[Ocelot55]

Count me in on this one!

[Massis]

Depending on subject I'm going to try to participate this year.
So: "I'm in"

As for ideas: I've been wanting to do a 'real' calabash for a while, as in: with a removable bowl and an air chamber below it.

I'm not a big fan of the 'unique rustication' idea as I've seen a ton of 'I'll make a unique rustication because I can't properly finish a pipe'-rustications this past year...

[mightysmurf8201]

What about an oval shank?

[thejayrob]

im in. Im ridiculously excited.

[2combs]

I'm in!

[danielcsan9592]

I'm In!

[oklahoma red]

Here's a thought: mimic what the theme is for the Kansas City carving contest thus using the PITH as a "tune-up". George or Scottie, please correct me if I'm wrong but I had heard that this year anything goes as long as bamboo is incorporated in some manner. Also, the event has been pushed back to September to give some space between the Chicago show and take advantage of cooler weather in the KC area than what is normally seen in June. Put the PITH deadline in June or July and that would give time for corrections before the KC show.
Just a thought.
Put me down as a maybe as I'm in a long and drawn out re-do on my house.

[thejayrob]

oklahoma red you read my mind!!!

[Vermont Freehand]

I'm in (an oval shank sounds cool

[seamonster]

I'm in. I learned a lot during the last one, and got a nice pipe too!

cheers, man! how's it serving you?

also: I like the oval shank idea,
and: bamboo was two years ago, but I'd be up for that too.
or: teardrop shank with cap
or or: pencil shank, out super small and light pipe

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[PeskyPrussian]

I will gladly participate!

[Massis]

I'd be up for bamboo , got my first piece recently.

Also definitively interested in teardrop shanks with accents on 'em...

[oklahoma red]

Remember, unless I have been told wrong, for the KC contest ANYTHING goes as long as bamboo in some form is utilized in the construction. Do bamboo and a teardrop, pencil shank with a chunk of bamboo in it, oval shank with a chunk of bamboo in it, bulldog, poker, author, apple, tomato, acorn, bent, straight, gay or whatever else your beady brains can dream up. Personally, I think the KC club's idea is great.

[LatakiaLover]

Remember, unless I have been told wrong, for the KC contest ANYTHING goes as long as bamboo in some form is utilized in the construction. Do bamboo and a teardrop, pencil shank with a chunk of bamboo in it, oval shank with a chunk of bamboo in it, bulldog, poker, author, apple, tomato, acorn, bent, straight, gay or whatever else your beady brains can dream up.

Yup, "bamboo incorporation" is the next KC contest. The only requirement. Dazzling us with your imagination is part of the 2017 package. (Know that a well-executed classic will always beat a poorly-executed design of ANY kind, though.)

One caution: Rules lawyering, such as making an inlaid stem dot of bamboo, but nothing else, will be appreciated by the judges in direct proportion to the imagined cleverness of the idea in the mind of the entrant. In other words, we want the bamboo to be significant in some way, either functionally or aesthetically (or both).

And yes also to the KC show having been moved to September. Better weather + out of Chicago's wake. (Chicago leaves carvers tired and depleted of inventory, and collectors out of money)

[Tyler]

I'm tempted, but I want to know the plan first.

[DocAitch]

I'm in.
I have also learned a lot from this years PITH. I never would have tried a military mount without some outside pressure. Now I have made 2 other sized bits and have made a few more military mounts with different brass sizes.
I also received a very nice pipe in return, and received a very helpful review on my effort.
I would be up for bamboo or an oval shank.
I am not clear on the teardrop with an extension concept.
Perhaps the proposer could post a photo?
DocAitch