Castaway Kirsten Cargo Craft, Cape Horn - Tiki Travel

T TorchGuy Member Renton, WA Joined: Apr 24, 2008 Posts: 242	T TorchGuy Posted posted on Tue, Mar 15, 2011 7:53 AM Are your blanks drilled as per Kirstens or are they just raw material? And, if the latter, may I ask as to the source of the meerschaum blank? Kirsten meerschaum bowls are carved in Turkey, but Turkish law prohibits the export of uncarved block meerschaum, so many "blocks" available for carving are what's called 'chip' or 'pressed' meerschaum which is meerschaum carvers' scraps, either chipped or powdered, then pressed into blocks with a binding agent; it will neither carve well nor color at all. If your blanks of briar are just raw blocks, let me know and I'll try to pick up some Kisten blanks that are pre-drilled with the bore.

Are your blanks drilled as per Kirstens or are they just raw material? And, if the latter, may I ask as to the source of the meerschaum blank? Kirsten meerschaum bowls are carved in Turkey, but Turkish law prohibits the export of uncarved block meerschaum, so many "blocks" available for carving are what's called 'chip' or 'pressed' meerschaum which is meerschaum carvers' scraps, either chipped or powdered, then pressed into blocks with a binding agent; it will neither carve well nor color at all.

If your blanks of briar are just raw blocks, let me know and I'll try to pick up some Kisten blanks that are pre-drilled with the bore.

Post #580370 by TorchGuy on Tue, Mar 15, 2011 7:53 AM