Virgin Sandblasted Olive Billiard, Bocote Extension, Cumberland

A few years ago I had a few squares of olive tree and I finally took the time to work this wood. It was a first for me and it was a real pleasure to discover another way of working compared to briar, a wood with more open pores and at the same time less reactive to sandblasting but which gives off a very pleasant scent when working but also once the work is finished. This is a rather large and imposing billiard shape, with a generous chamber which I think would be quite suitable for smoking Semois tobacco. The finish is sandblasted to highlight the darker growth rings and left natural, without waxing or staining, which will allow it to develop a natural patina. The extension is made of bocote, an exotic South American wood that has beautiful yellowish colours with dark brown streaks, this extension is obviously lined with briar to avoid contact with smoke. The shank continues with a stem cut from German quality red-black cumberland bar. The flock is teflon and the shank is drilled to 4.2mm. The button is wide open in a V-shape for optimal draw. This olive tree square, of Italian origin, has benefited from four years of drying in my storehouse.