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First Churchwarden

Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 9:30 pm
by Joe T
Pipemakers! I made my first Churchwarden! Crappy photo from a phone camera, but I'm pleased and wanted to share. I'll try and get some proper photos for critique when I have time. :)

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Re: First Churchwarden

Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 9:54 pm
by JMG
Did you drill the stem yourself? And what material is the stem?

Re: First Churchwarden

Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 10:01 pm
by Joe T
Yeah, made the stem out of acrylic (imitation briar colors). Drilled it on my lathe. It was a real trick to drill a 12.5 inch stem on a 12 inch lathe. :thumbsup:

Well... it turned out to be a 11.5 inches... I broke the end when finishing the drilling process.

Re: First Churchwarden

Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 10:23 pm
by Sasquatch
All kinds of fun, huh?

Stem aside, and nice job to manage that, your shaping would be more "pro" if the back line of the bowl lined up from above the shank to below. As it is, the bottom indicates a real pick-axe sort of thing that isn't matched by the top.

Re: First Churchwarden

Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 10:40 pm
by Joe T
Sasquatch wrote:All kinds of fun, huh?

Stem aside, and nice job to manage that, your shaping would be more "pro" if the back line of the bowl lined up from above the shank to below. As it is, the bottom indicates a real pick-axe sort of thing that isn't matched by the top.

Hmm... I see what you mean. I was trying to make this shape of pipe with a 'pick' coming out of the bottom. :

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Re: First Churchwarden

Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 10:51 pm
by Sasquatch
Sure, and it's totally do-able ... there's far more ways to get a pipe shape kinda-sorta than to nail it, of course. And that's why no one cuts a perfect anything first try. You cut it, you learn, you see more, you cut another, you learn, you see more...

Re: First Churchwarden

Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2014 9:26 pm
by baiguai
Great lookin 'warden! Would be a great shop pipe. Another try or two to work out the lines and it'll be pwn!

Re: First Churchwarden

Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2014 11:18 pm
by socrates
Nice looking! How does it smoke?

Re: First Churchwarden

Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2014 1:30 am
by Joe T
socrates wrote:Nice looking! How does it smoke?
Really well! Nice and cool, smoke rings just hang in the air. I'm not sure if I'll ever go back to a normal length pipe for an evening smoke! :)

Re: First Churchwarden

Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2014 3:57 am
by socrates
Joe T wrote:
socrates wrote:Nice looking! How does it smoke?
Really well! Nice and cool, smoke rings just hang in the air. I'm not sure if I'll ever go back to a normal length pipe for an evening smoke! :)
Awesome!

Re: First Churchwarden

Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2014 11:56 am
by Mark B.
Looks pretty good. In addition to what's already been said, I think the stem could use a bit more bend. Maybe 12-15° in a gently decreasing radius toward the button. When I'm smoking a pipe, I like the end of the stem at the button to be parallel, or nearly so, to the top of the bowl.

It's easier for me to post a picture than try to explain.

Image

I also think it would look better without the tooth on the bottom:

Image

Re: First Churchwarden

Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2014 10:23 pm
by Joe T
Hmm... I see your point. I put the tooth on there to make the stummel different from another pipe I made.

Now I'm curious about the curve on the stem. I like it with a slight curve like it has, but I have odd taste in some things. Where do the rest of you stand on this? ( All of you! ) :)

Re: First Churchwarden

Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2014 10:37 pm
by Joe Hinkle Pipes
I think this is a case where subtle doesnt work. The stummel has a pretty big bend, and the stem needs one too. You want to kind of match the curve on the bottom of the bowl with the stem.

Re: First Churchwarden

Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2014 12:40 am
by Joe T
Ahh, I see... I'll have to play around with that. Thanks for the rule of thumb. :)

Re: First Churchwarden

Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2014 1:30 am
by JMG
For pipes that will be clenched it certainly makes it better for the stem to run parallel to the rim. I guess there won't be much clenching with a c'warden, but I still agree with Mark's sketch about the bend. BTW, kudos on the drilling that sucker!