Timberwolf Pipe #8-002

I have definitely caught the bug to make pipes and I’m having a ball!!

I have minimalist tools, but with the right attitude, and a little ingenuity, I can’t be stopped!!

The pipe below is a simple bent dublin nosewarmer made from Wild Cherry. A few blocks and stems gifted to me by Chris Reynolds – my resident mentor from Rhode Island. Many thanks to Chris for his support!

I drive 30 mins to and from work and I like to have a smaller pipe around for that kind of commute. I am looking for a basic “burley burner” that will keep the ole schnozz warm during the upcoming months.

         

Timberwolf Pipe #8-001

Finally a pipe that I can post!  I am extremely fired up and proud.  These pics are grainy at best as “Thumbs Timberwolf” dropped  the Nikon and the zoom lense is out for repair or replaced (hopefully “repair”…)

This is a PIMO chunk of briar.  Slight issue with the transition from the shank to stem, but I’m working on getting the proper tools.  Thanks for looking and am looking for honest critique.
     

Cautious

It is taking me way too long to build a pipe as of late.  I purchased a nice piece of briar from PIMO and I have been staring at it for weeks trying to figure out what shape will best fit the grain.  There is exposed burl on a portion of it and I kinda thought it would be neat to work that into the pipe.

Being cautious by nature, I am having a hard time diving into it and start making chips.  I really don’t want to screw it up.  Common sense tells me that I need to get started and it’ll all work out.  It’s only a $6 chunk or briar, but I  want an amazing pipe to emerge.

Cautious, or impatient perfectionist?  Maybe a little of both.

I have enlisted the help of a very talented pipe carver Chris Reynolds from www.my-pipes.com.  He is a very giving and helpful individual that I see as my mentor.  He has sent me a pipe that I finished and enjoy very much.  I am sure that by being a bug under his rug, I’ll get the information I need as well as the confidence to get this baby fired up.

I’m looking to get some experience under my belt as I signed up for a pipe ‘draw’ called Pipe In The Hat on www.pipemakersforum.com where a theme is agreed upon on the site and everyone that is participating makes a pipe with their creative rendition of the theme and then names are drawn and the pipes disbursed to the lucky or maybe not so lucky recipient.  Fun idea, just want to make a good showing.

Pics of the ‘caution’ pipe during its creation to follow – hopefully sooner than later.

Thanks for stopping by.

Bob Rivet

Making pipes!!

I have added a new tab to my blog as you will see “Timberwolf Pipes”. I just started with my first pipe and will document my progress on new pipes as well.

Thanks for looking.

A tribute to my son

On the grainy cell phone photographs that I show below, you will see that I have sketches on pipes that I would like to make once I have all the tools.

Whenever I’m at my desk in the basement (Timberwolfers Den =0)) and sketching, my 11 year old son Evan who is autistic, is by my side watching me sketch.  He is amazed at my drawing skills (he must be easily impressed) and states “I wish I could draw as good as you”. I have also attached a sketch of a shark that he drew freehand as a 4 year old. The kid has amazing skills. I told him that he is far advanced that I was at his age.

Anyhew, the first picture is a sketch he made of a pipe that he thought would be neat. Picture number two is my sketches. The one on the bottom is my rendition of this pipe.

Once I start making pipes, I will be refining this pipe and offering it up for sale. Should I sell any of this type of pipe, 50% of the proceeds will go to Autism Research. I want to put a lot of thought into naming this pipe to include his name and a reference to Autism research.

Thanks for reading.

www.autismspeaks.org

A brief thought on the online pipe community

As you may have noted on earlier posts, I am fired up about the online pipe community.  They are a special breed that share information, enjoy playful banter and are generally folks I’d spend time with.  Now I hear that some sites are a little more predatory and inclined to flame folks, but like anything else, it is your choice to stay or go.

When the day is dragging on, it is a real lift to the spirits to access a site and read the posts and info sharing.  What a relief!  What a neat option to reinvigorate your day.

Keep it up guys, I feel fortunate to have found such a crew.

“On Topic” I’m gettin fueled UP!!

I normally do not make too many commentaries that have nothing to do with the enjoyment of pipes and pipe smoking, however, I need to vent for a minute and I hope you all bear with me.

I am a man that works probably too many hours, but at every chance I get I spend time with my family as I truly value them and want them to grow up to understand the value of “family”.

I had a choice when I first got married.  It was to either have “money” or “kids”.  I opted for the “kids” route as I came from a big family and I have gotten so much out of the family unit, that I wanted to continue on the quest for the rest of my days.

With a large family (5-kids from 11 to 1.5 years old), there is not a lot you can do as a family without taking food from the table.   We don’t get to do too much away from home. 

My youngest brother has a heart of gold and has offered repeatedly for me to pack up the family and make the trek 1 hour north to his cottage on Lake Superior.  No strings attached, don’t have to pay for a thing, all the food, drinks and fun I can handle.  I’m a man of integrity and will never take a free lunch and will always commit to bring and share whatever I have.  As I said, he has a heart of gold and wants to spend time with me and the family.  He knows that I will share anything I have with him at any point.

To get to my point, I have this Sunday off from work and I may have to turn down coming up to spending time with him, becuase I cannot afford (1) hours worth of gas each way to take the kids up north to have some fun.

I need to reserve the gas for getting back and forth to work, and the wife getting the kids back and forth to summer camp.

I’m mad, frustrated and all that.  I’m carpooling during the week, but it still is too much.

Thanks for reading…

I’d go kick a dog, but theirs none close… (Disclaimer: “no dogs or any animal has been, or will be hurt as a result of this rant”)

Signs of life

After rejoining my beloved www.my-pipes.com, reading all the posts will shake even the most rigid “pipe blah’s” to their very foundation.

Two nights ago, I put some Peter Stokkebye Luxury Nave Flake into my first born Grabow Freehand and was encouraged that it tasted really good.

Yesterday, as I was cooking ribs on the grill, I put some Waccamaw from www.smokingpipes.com into my Stanwell Zebrano Bulldog #32 (my favorite pipe aesthetically)  see attached

 and again, it tasted really good.

Stay tuned!

Working through the “blahs”

As of late, I just can’t get a pipe to taste right to me.  Maybe its because I have been away from pipes for a while.  Maybe its because my pipes may need a thorough cleaning.  I’m still working through it.

My good buddies at www.my-pipes.com are helping me through it.  The funny thing is, I read their posts and I am starting to get a stir in the ole pipe smoking brain cells.

Who knows, I may be smoldering soon.

I intend to update this blog during the course of the “blah’s” and hopefully, it will be a short trip!

Will I EVER build a pipe?

Ever since a good friend of mine from MPC gave me a starter pipe that he had shaped the stem and bored the bowl so I could finish her up, I have been dreaming of building my own pipes.  The same gentlemen sent me one of his work as a “gift” and the beauty of this pipe has only fueled the flames!!

As you can see on previous posts, I am slowly getting my pipe making bench in order.  I have a buddy from work making a lathe for me (would have been quicker and cheaper to buy my own). 

I think what will get me started is to just go ahead and buy some chunks of briar!!  I know me – I won’t be able to let that briar just sit there without some sort of shaping assault!!

I guess my fear is that they won’t turn out looking like other folks.  You know, the grass is always greener…

I do believe that it may be the ugliest chunk of shaped briar ever, but the fact that I made it will okay.