I received my first pipe kit a few days ago and have had great fun shaping it with a belt sander, a palm sander, various rasps and files and some hand sanding to 150.
https://picasaweb.google.com/PhilipH.Go ... directlink
But several issues have reared their ugly heads so I have a few questions as to how to proceed.
I had hoped to leave it smooth but several pits/blemishes have become apparent so I'm wondering at what point do you stop trying to make them disappear and commit to rustication?
I did have a belt-sander user malfunction and took too much off the end of the shank. I would assume there's no real fix for it short of adding a cap of some sort. (maybe it should cover the whole shank)
The photos highlight both the grain and the scratches I've yet to get out. If I were to rusticate it, I'm guessing it's okay to go from here. But if I want to leave it smooth, would I go back to 100 grit and then go from there? I guess I'm wondering at what point the shaping ends and the rest is scratch removal (it looks pretty good but I can still feel that it's not quite round).
I welcome any advice you might care to share. Thanks in advance.
First Pipe Finishing advice
First Pipe Finishing advice
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"Creativity is the residue of time wasted."
Albert Einstein, famous pipe smoker
"Creativity is the residue of time wasted."
Albert Einstein, famous pipe smoker
Re: First Pipe Finishing advice
In my limited experience you can still do some subtle shaping with as high as 150grit. If I decide to rusticate or sandblast I usually stop at 150 except for the spot I put the nomenclature which I sand down to 600.
Re: First Pipe Finishing advice
Hudson,
Nice job so far. You've got a good shape going there. There are a lot of different answers to your questions depending on what's important to you. You can definitely leave pits, fill pits, rusticate, blast...and so on. You could easily find a solid argument for all. There is plenty of controversy around filling pits and leaving them there.
In general, if I find pits, I'd rusticate. For my smooth pipes, I shoot for pit free and quality grain. On this particular block it looks like your grain is a bit bland. That in itself could lend to rustication or a very dark stain. On a very dark stain you really want your shape to be precise and it will show everything. I'd say rustication is the most forgiving approach you can take.
I do most of my final shaping with 220 and 320 grits if I'm going for a smooth finish.
I'm not sure any of that will help.
Brian.
Nice job so far. You've got a good shape going there. There are a lot of different answers to your questions depending on what's important to you. You can definitely leave pits, fill pits, rusticate, blast...and so on. You could easily find a solid argument for all. There is plenty of controversy around filling pits and leaving them there.
In general, if I find pits, I'd rusticate. For my smooth pipes, I shoot for pit free and quality grain. On this particular block it looks like your grain is a bit bland. That in itself could lend to rustication or a very dark stain. On a very dark stain you really want your shape to be precise and it will show everything. I'd say rustication is the most forgiving approach you can take.
I do most of my final shaping with 220 and 320 grits if I'm going for a smooth finish.
I'm not sure any of that will help.
Brian.