newest pipe, #11

[Bear]

I've been fooling around with rustication techniques and came up with this. I don't know what to think about it yet. Also I don't quite know how I feel about the white stem. In general I'm rather iffy about this pipe in general. Your thoughts and critiques are more than welcome.

[Sasquatch]

Bear, I kinda like that alligator-belly rustication. I am currently searching for a rustication technique that would allow some grain/color but not look totally cheesy, and you may be on to something there.

In general, I like the pipe, particularly the bowl shape. The only thing that catches my eye is the bottom of the bowl and that part of the shank - it fattens out there, but the top of the shank is pretty straight. So it kinda looks saggy or something. I think the pipe would look better with a straighter line along the bottom.

In terms of proportion, to my eye, the shank of the stummel looks long, given the stem. It would look pretty flashy if you got rid of most of the "thick" part of the stem, and left only say 1/4" of round, shank sized material, before the saddle constricts to the flat part of the stem. This would shorten the pipe and I think look pretty cool.

My .02

[pipeguy]

I love what you did to the rim BIG contrast with the stem it may have to grow on me Bob Clark

[Nick]

The rustication kinda looks like a crackled finish a la faux finishing Really cool IMHO

[TRS]

I think it's very cool rustication! I'm with Sasquatch; kinda like alligator belly or snakeskin. I can't abide the white stem though....

[Bear]

The more I look at the pipe the more I'm not loving the white stem, but we'll see, my opinion on my own pipes swings wildly from one moment to the next.

[caskwith]

I love the white stem, but i am biased, lol. Not so sure abou the finish, i tend to dislike anything that looks man-made.