Rusticating Tool

Sparks had PM'ed me about tools for rusticating other than chewing up the wood with a dremil.

Like I got nothing better to do; I dropped everything and in the midst of a shop overhaul went out of my way to find this object. Bud, you owe me big time. I learned of it from a guy named Tyler Beard on the PM Forum and did my best to make something similar. I went into a Rocky's Ace hardware and got the pipe fittings to make the T shape and ran into a problem with the compression fitting. Finally I found some adapter that fit the smaller pipe into the T. I then purchases 1 1/2 inch brads. When I got home I assembled the thing and tightened all the joints. I then loaded the compression fitting with the brads (heads snipped off) and leveled them off even and tightened it up. You really have to put the thing in a vise and torque the hell down on the fitting to squish the brads tight so they do not slip.

Once done, take a pipe that was from a crap block, has unremarkable grain and maybe bald on a side or even pitted. Yes, this baby is not for a nice straight grained pipe. Some experienced pipe makers suggest doning some kelvar gloves to protect the hands should the tool slip while twisting and pressing it into the wood. What wimps, I just dyed it oxblood to match.

The brads give a medium fine craggy feel to the pipe. It is not sharp to the hands and the texture is fairly even when finished. Don't try to wax and buff you will just make a bigger mess. Best finish is dye only or dye and shellac IMO, but a natural may color nicely also.

I figured nobody but Sparks would be interested in this but decided to post it cuz I need some points.

Anyway Spark, enjoy the foldout.

Oh yea, It is my belief that different size nails will change the manner the tool effects the pipe. Some larger nails would be less points digging into the wood and probably produce a craggier rustification. If anyone tries it give me a shout here and let me know.