wood grain... which way

[BillyPM]

I don't think there is any "should" about it. Crosscut pipes, most often with the bird's-eye end grain on the sides of the bowl and stripes of straight grain along the front and back, have devoted fans. As do straightgrain pipes, with stripes of grain going up and down around the bowl and bird's eye on the rim and bottom. I own and admire both. But most of my pipes are somewhere in between, with asymmetric patterns on each side of the bowl or with angled grain or less than organized flame grain here and there.

I've not found any measurable difference in smoking qualities no matter the grain orientation (although I reckon some hereabouts will have opinions about that), so the easy answer to your question is: Figure out a pleasing or creative plan for your particular piece of briar and then have at it. You'll likely change your plan a few times as the wood surprises you, but that's part of the fun. It's what makes pipe carving as much an art as a craft.

Don't forget to show us what you come up with!

[RP McMurphy]

I don't think there is any "should" about it. Crosscut pipes, most often with the bird's-eye end grain on the sides of the bowl and stripes of straight grain along the front and back, have devoted fans. As do straightgrain pipes, with stripes of grain going up and down around the bowl and bird's eye on the rim and bottom. I own and admire both. But most of my pipes are somewhere in between, with asymmetric patterns on each side of the bowl or with angled grain or less than organized flame grain here and there.

I've not found any measurable difference in smoking qualities no matter the grain orientation (although I reckon some hereabouts will have opinions about that), so the easy answer to your question is: Figure out a pleasing or creative plan for your particular piece of briar and then have at it. You'll likely change your plan a few times as the wood surprises you, but that's part of the fun. It's what makes pipe carving as much an art as a craft.

Don't forget to show us what you come up with!

Couldn't have said it better Billy!

[craigmillar]

Good thread Nicky and 2 more Beauts Ron, Is the Danish for sale Ron?

[RP McMurphy]

Good thread Nicky and 2 more Beauts Ron, Is the Danish for sale Ron?

Sorry Joe, it sold back in June.
I've made three twisted pipes so far and I'm afraid it's going to be awhile before I make another, they're really a whole lot of work.
But, with the endless pipe shapes available I'm sure I'll hit on something sooner or later that catches your fancy again sir.

[RP McMurphy]

Thank you for the reply and photos. Those pipes are amazing !!!
Nicky

This is the 2nd time this week I've missed someone's reply, please forgive me I wasn't ignoring you, just missed it somehow.
Your very welcome sir, I hope it helped answer your question, although I think Billy did a much better job of it.

[daveinlax]

Keep in mind that the rarest pipes are a true straight grain on bowls that don't naturally follow or as we say "chase the grain". It's much easier to get a "straight" grain on a dublin or V shaped pipe than on a billiard.

[Slowroll]

Thought I'd add my observations here to give some comfort (or exasperation ) to others with the same questions as brought out here. While I haven't made 100's of pipes yet, it's been my experience that with the blocks we can buy, one doesn't have a lot of choice how the grain orientation ends up, unless one is I'd making a really small pipe. I find that typically I can only lay out a pipe in one direction, maybe 180 degrees around, but not even that always. So, the grain you get is whatever is there.