Todays work consists of a very special project. One that I m proud I was asked to participate in. John Tillman of ASP is getting married in June and he asked me about 3 months ago to make a matched set of pipes to celebrate the occaission. He sent a pix of a Peterson that he wanted modified. I made a model that was acceptable. From there I hit on the idea of making them both out of a single large piece of Plateaux briar. I searched for a block that could handle both pipes. Luck was with us as they both turned out well and I was able to use the Mocha stain that he wanted. The pipes were then sent to a silversmith for engraved silver bands with their names and the wedding date. It was a pleasure to work on such a memorable project. That s my side of the story; here s Jon s.
The Wedding Pipes
As Jennifer and I were discussing our wedding plans, we came to the subject
of what kind of gifts to exchange. Many ideas came and went, and then we
hit upon an idea that we both fell immediately in love with. We would design
a pipe that met both of our aesthetic requirements, and have a matching set
made. What better than briar to signify so long-term a commitment?
Many long hours were spent agonizing over the proper shape and size of such a
pipe, but eventually, we came up with a design, based on a standard Peterson
shape, but highly modified into a cauldron-esque shape, and contacted Mark
Tinsky to see if he would be interested in making these pipes.
Luckily for us, he was enthusiastic about the idea, and we began to trade
emails, hammering out the details of the pipe shape, and trying to figure out
what it was we were asking for.
Then the torture began. Mark would send a picture every once in a while,
showing just a bit more detail as the project progressed. We began to hover
near the computer, waiting for the next email from him, hoping for another
glimpse of our in progress beauties.
Well, several months have gone by, the pipes have been to the jewelers and
back to have the silver bands (one with each of our names, and both with our
wedding date) installed, and finally the pipes will be ours!
Now the real torture can commence. There will be two Tinsky's in our house,
and we can't smoke them until June 29th! Oh willpower, don't fail us now!
Here s a pictoral of the production of the Wedding Pipes:
Note pipes came from a 27 oz block, about as large as they get
Before bands
| 1/14 | 1/21 | 1/27 | 2/2 | 2/7 | 2/14 | 2/28 | 3/1 | 3/2 | 3/5 |
| 3/6 | 3/7 | 3/8 | 3/16 | 3/21 | 3/28 | 3/29 | 3/30 | 4/4 | 4/8 |
| 4/9 | 4/10 | 4/11 | 4/12 | 4/13 | 4/13 | 4/14 | 4/17 | 4/20 | 4/22 |
| 4/23 | 4/24 | 4/25 | 4/29 | 5/15 | 5/17 | 5/26 | 5/29 | 6/2 | 6/7 |
| 6/8 | 6/14 | 6/15 | 6/26 | 6/28 | 6/30 | 7/2 | 7/5 | 7/16 | 7/17 |
| 7/18 | 7/22 | 7/26 | 7/27 | 7/31 | 8/1 | 8/2 | 8/3 | 8/7 | 8/8 |
| 8/10 | 8/11 | 8/14 | 8/16 | 8/16 | 8/17 | 8/20 | 8/22 | 8/24 | 8/28 |
| 8/31 | 9/3 | 9/4 | 9/6 | 9/10 | 9/16 | 9/18 | 9/19 | 9/20 | 10/11 |
| 10/12 | 10/16 | 10/19 | 10/20 | 10/22 | 10/23 | 10/26 | 10/27 | 10/29 | 10/30 |
| 10/31 | 11/3 | 11/11 | 11/14 | 11/17 | 11/20 | 11/21 | 11/22 | 11/25 | 11/27 |