The best of the best
Posted on: Tue, 06/03/2008 - 03:38
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The best of the best
Everybody has a favorite, and most carvers can figure out how to turn a bowl (assumption, assumption). But .. Some just seem to do a better job at it than others.
A standard billiard shape may not seem like a big deal, but when it comes to making one of them, details that may seem trivial makes all the difference with the resulting pipe.
How about you show the rest of us what you consider to be the perfectly shaped billiard / zulu / bulldog / prince / whatever tickles your fancy?
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A good example of the golden ratio, height is about 1:1.6 of the width, shank to front is about 1:1.6 of height, stem is about 1:1.6 of shank. Overall good preportions for a billiard. The shank should increase in width (just a little 1-1.5mm wider) as it meets the bowl.
An option could be a 3 degree forward cant on the bowl.
Fume in pace, ckr
Perfection in design. (yes, it helped that he showed a dunhill) ... but the billiard shape is pipe smoking heaven for me. And Dunhill's proportions are what I prefer.
Rick Piatt
Vollmer & Nilsson is not a maker I am very familiar with but this IMO is one knock out billiard. Great proportions, a good cant on the bowl and the girth increase on the shank at the bowl end. Those attributes are more important than he absolute kick-u-in-the-ass contrast stain.
Not at all keen on the blast, too washed out and lacks any definition, but there is consistancy in the shape of their billiards.
Fume in pace, ckr
I love the work those guys turn out .. and they live just next door to me (ok, we're in the same city).
They have only been at it for a handful of years, but they are creating some stunning pieces already.
I agree completely, that's one stunning billiard.
MPC administrator, moderator and overall member wrangler.
My name: Lars Wiberg | My alias: slartie
My blog: website | My photos: Flickr
LAMY Safari
the top one is a stunner, but the bottom .... I just noticed the walls are really thin also.
You should find some nice dogs and post them, whats good/bad etc. about them. I believe you are familiar with the shape.
Fume in pace, ckr
Yeah, I'll come up with some good specimens soon.
MPC administrator, moderator and overall member wrangler.
My name: Lars Wiberg | My alias: slartie
My blog: website | My photos: Flickr
LAMY Safari
Thats the first thing I noticed about the bottom pipe but it might not be as bad as you think - the sandblast finish will make the pipe smoke cooler to the touch ... it might not be all that bad. But that top one is gorgeous. I'm kind of torn over liking / disliking the slightly canted forward bowl though. Its not a make or break thing, but its just different.
Rick Piatt
On a standard billiard, I prefer the bowl centerline to be perpendicular to the shank (i.e., no forward tilt).
The above examples are great billiards, but I would chose the same pipes with a saddle bit any day of the week.
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I'd take any of those Billiards!
I love billiards!
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