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If you guys don't hear from me in a week, Rad's "people" have probably got to me.

Unfortunately, the pipe doesn't actually sit under its own weight. There are 5 dimes in the chamber to make it stand. Next time!

Video: http://youtu.be/3UcEJdZ5Lkg

PS - Could someone help me figure out how to post video directly to a thread? I've tried just about everything that I know how to and only succeed in getting a big space where the video should be.

looks really nice david... but you gotta start sanding your stems better. those little scratches take away alot from an otherwise lovely pipe. nice blast too, where you blasting?

Wow, Dav, looking good. It's a shame it won't sit on its own.

I didn't know you had the equipment to blast. How long did this pipe take you? (honestly curious, not a jab at all )

Won't stand you say? Scratches in the stem? I'll give you $50 for it to help cut your losses. Just kidding. That is an excellent looking pipe! But the offer stands...

Really pretty pipe. I never saw the scratches, even after they were mentioned. Love the shape. Love the blast.

Great pipe- regardless of scratches. I've found sanding really well through 320 is most important. You can sand up from there to 500ish, and buff heavily with tripoli to get out all that remains.

The Smoking Yeti wrote:Great pipe- regardless of scratches. I've found sanding really well through 320 is most important. You can sand up from there to 500ish, and buff heavily with tripoli to get out all that remains.

Yeah, scratches kill me, but I find myself still compromising the most on small stem scratches. I wind up thinking, "That's looking pretty good. I bet most of those will come out with buffing." Then I buff, they're too deep and don't come out and I throw my hands in the air cursing and don't go back.

I really do just need to spend 5 to 10 minutes more sanding the stem. *sigh*

sam a wrote:looks really nice david... but you gotta start sanding your stems better. those little scratches take away alot from an otherwise lovely pipe. nice blast too, where you blasting?

I paid Alex Florov a visit last Saturday and blasted a few pipes while I was there.

Ocelot55 wrote:How long did this pipe take you? (honestly curious, not a jab at all )

Drum roll please... 14hrs.

Me Tarzan wrote:Won't stand you say? Scratches in the stem? I'll give you $50 for it to help cut your losses. Just kidding. That is an excellent looking pipe! But the offer stands...

I probably shouldn't have let the scratches go, but I'm actually giving this pipe away to a friend. There were a number of small things that made this pipe unsellable in the end. However, it'll still be a sweet smoker.

UberHuberMan wrote:

sam a wrote:looks really nice david... but you gotta start sanding your stems better. those little scratches take away alot from an otherwise lovely pipe. nice blast too, where you blasting?

I paid Alex Florov a visit last Saturday and blasted a few pipes while I was there.

And let the name.......... derrrrraaawwwwppppp

I wish I could spend a couple hours with that guy, man is he incredible.

rev

That's a really, really nice looking pipe, David. It's a bummer it won't sit. It looks like the bottom could be more flat. For a sitter like this to sit you really have to have maximum surface tension on the bottom. That means it has to be perfectly flat. For this design, a little slant forward would help too to get the center of balance where you need it. On this one, however, I don't know that it would help because the stem length is too long giving it too much weight. I'm sure I'm telling you what you already know but thought I'd type it out for some of the other folks that may not. Whether it sits or not, it's still a really attractive pipe. It's one that I could see in my personal collection.

As for the scratches in the stem, no need to separate sanding and buffing tasks entirely. I keep 400 and 800 grit sandpaper next to my buffer and go back and forth from red tripoli to sandpaper as needed. Don't be afraid to really charge up your red tripoli wheel to get those fine scratches out.

wdteipen wrote:As for the scratches in the stem, no need to separate sanding and buffing tasks entirely. I keep 400 and 800 grit sandpaper next to my buffer and go back and forth from red tripoli to sandpaper as needed. Don't be afraid to really charge up your red tripoli wheel to get those fine scratches out.

Great tip. Thanks, Wayne!

I think some of my frustration is brought on by my brand new buffing wheels. I followed Chris's advice about breaking in the wheels, but now I'm walking away from buffing looking like a bunny with mange instead of a fluffy one. It's still surprising to me how parts of the process that seem so simple still have a learning curve that can make such a huge difference.

I seriously considered reshaping the bottom before I finished it, but decided not to because it feels like there isn't a ton of leeway between the bottom of the chamber and the bottom panel. I'm probably wrong there, but I erred on the side of caution instead of risking the pipe this time. Next time, I'll plan better. It sits really well without the stem though!

Nice pipe David. You did a great job on it. I've nothing to offer other than what's been stated already, but you certainly are progressing fast.

The more I look the more I love the finish. You need to make a name for yourself and your style of finish. I offer you the "Beef Jerky" line of Uber's. That pipe makes me want to smoke!