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Unless you're been living under a rock for the last week, you're aware that a Category 4 hurrican, named Katrina, slammed into the Gulf Shore of Lousianna, Mississippi, and Alabama. The devastation there is mind numbing, and is certainly worse than anything I've ever seen in such vivid detail. Relief efforts are stretched incredibly thin, resources are few or non-existent, and aid workers are stymied at every turn by the sheer volume of destruction.
Many folks are volunteering time, money, effort, and personal time in order to help out. I have two close friends that are, as I type this, headed down into the "destruction zone" to help out any way they can, and more are attempting to get time off work to go help. I fear for their safety, but admire their courage and praise their sacrifice.
I wish I was also going, but familial and work obligations keep me here in the Northeast. So, in abscence of my physical presence, I've decided to donate in other ways. This weekend I will be making a pipe. This pipe will be auctioned off to the highest bidder, and every last penny will go to aid the victims of the hurricane. I'll update this page with the progress of the pipe, as well as the current bid.
Final bid: $425
Bidding ended September 12 at 12:00 PM Eastern (that's GMT-5)
The Pipe
Will be:
- made from the finest block of briar I posess
- a shape that takes full advantage of the grain of that block
- taking my entire weekend to make (yup, all three days)
- shipped to the winning bidder via FedEx Overnight at my expense (none of the monies bid will be used for shipping)
Donations will be made immediately, in full, along with my own contributions, to a select few agencies. To start, I've chosen:
I will post pictures and descriptions throughout the weekend. Starting bid is $225.
Progress
| Date | Details |
| Sept 1 |
23:30: Messages sent to alt.smokers.pipes and a private mailing list announcing this relief auction. More announcements to follow. |
| Sept 2 |
00:15: The block to be used was chosen. It's a mid-sized block of very fine Algerian briar with an incredibly tight plateaux pattern that will show some stunning birdseye and straight grain variegation with a contrast stain. As I consider the block, I'm seeing an elpephant's foot or a volcano. I'll look at it more in the morning and see what shapes pop into my head.
18:30: I've decided the pipe will have a bamboo shank and a vulcanite stem. I've already got three knuckles cut from a piece of bamboo I aqcuired from Todd Johnson about a year ago and have been saving for something special. This seems like the perfect opportunity to use it, doesn't it?
20:45: That's it! The block demands to be an elephant's foot. I tried drawing a volcano on the sides, but that shape simply didn't work. I also tried to make a dublin, but the grain simply wasn't going to cooperate. The cut of the block, the size, everything about it screams "elephant's foot". So, tomorrow morning, I'll begin shaping the block into an elephant's foot. Three knuckles of bamboo and a short piece of vulcanite will join forces with it, and some time on Monday we'll have a beautiful pipe.
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| Sept 3 |
21:30: Posted some pics below of the pipe starting to take shape. I little bit of shapeing needs to be done before the shank can be permanently attached, and the tenon on the stem needs to be shortened somewhat to fit the mortis in the bamboo. By tomorrow at this time we'll have something that looks like a finished pipe, and only in need of some stain, a final sanding, and some polishing.
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| Sept 4 |
18:30: The last set of intirim pics is below. Right now the briar must rest slightly before final sanding, staining, and polishing. Tomorrow the pipe will be finished. It's difficult to make out below, but the birdseye is absolutely stunning. I'll have better pics in the early afternoon.
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| Sept 4 |
22:00: The pipe was finished earlier today, and I just now had a moment to snap some pics and post them here. As you can see, the birdseye is great, and the bamboo shank is of very high quality. I can't say enough good things about this pipe. I absolutely love how the shape turned out. It was exactly what I aiming for. The grain could have cooperated more, but overall I'm very pleased. See the pics below and judge for yourself.
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| Sept 10 |
20:30: I've had a couple emails asking if I would consider accepting bids for the auction, but for a pipe to be determined instead of the one pictured here. After some thought, I've decided to accept those bids - after all, this auction is not about the pipe, it's about helping people in the best way I'm able. So, with that in mind, please let me know when you're bidding whether you're bidding on this Elephant's Foot, or if you're looking to have something made.
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| Sept 12 |
12:10: Bidding is over, and the final bid is $425. Thank you all! I'll be working with the high bidder to get funds dispursed in a convenient manner, and packing up the pipe for immediate shipment. Again, I thank every one of you who bid, helped spread the word, and got the word out.
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Important Specs
Length: 6"
Height: 3"
Chamber Depth: 1.75"
Chamber diameter: .75"
Weight: 54g
Bit Material: Vulcanite
Bit Thickness: .13" behind the button
Airway Diameter: 9/64"
Grade: Nobleman
As mentioned above, the shank is bamboo of the highest quality. This is some stuff that I've had sitting around a while, waiting for a good reason to use, and I figured that this benefit auction was the right time to use it.
Also, this pipe marks the first of my pipes to be constructed using new techniques learned from some rising masters of pipe carving here in the US.
The bamboo is permanently afixed to the bowl, and the removable portion of the stem is just that little bit on the end.
Speaking of the stem, I pushed myself further than I've ever pushed before to get that stem as thin and as comfortable as possible. As listed above, it's about .13" thick right behind the button, and gradually thickens towards the bamboo - very gradually. It's wide, flat, and is exceedingly comfortable.
I've stained this pipe using a contrast staining method that I spent nearly a year on before I got something I was happy with. I've used it on a few pieces here and there, but not all pipes are deserving of a finish so striking.
The grain is very nice as well, which is why it got the contrast finish. One side, the top, and the bottom all display a wonderful straight grain, while the right side tends toward a flame grain. The front and rear of the bowl both are covered in birdseye, and are an absolute joy to look at.
Got a question about the pipe? Click Here to email me, or use my contact form.
Thank You!
Pictures
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