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There are other polymerizing oils out there- among them tung and walnut. If you read up on wood finishes you might get some idea of what is appropriate. I believe Todd Bannard (Sasquatch) has used most of these finishes and one his major objections has been the curing time as mentioned by Kurt. The ...

I generally sandblast the plateau at some point- usually early in the operation.
Before I had a sandblast set up, I picked off the briar with a curved pick after a wire brush.
DocAitch

Much improved. There are aome comments on the original thread.
DocAitch

I would not sell a pipe of this quality. You will trash your name. You still have a way to go before that level is reached. As an example the stem/shank junction is screaming “beginner”. This pipe is likely a decent smoke, and your friends will probably be happy to have it, but outside of that limit...

Looks much better.
I do agree about the thickness of the stem and the bend.
DocAitch

Admittedly an extreme example, but check out what happened to non European populations (esp Native Americans) when small pox (a novel virus to them) was introduced. Herd immunity by exposure did work ....sort of... There were enough left to maintain a presence, but they did not do well culturally or...

Agree with UnderShade.
Technically well done, but the shape does nothing for me, nor does the whole “reverse Calabash” concept.
I liked the more conventional Dublin-ish/Rhodesian-ish pipe that you published with this one on FB.
DocAitch

As I noted above, I cut a shallow bevel with the rotary drum. You can leave it flat- that is least interesting, but many do, you can round it , or you can make a shallow inward bevel, then smooth it by sanding. The beveling tool/sander will work on any configuration and you don’t have to do any cutt...

I mean that I never have a stummel on the lathe. This is a sequence with a plateau top, but I use a similar procedure with a smooth top, cutting a very shallow bevel and smoothing by hand before using the beveling tool. I also use this tool to bevel the mortise in the shank face. I hand cut the beve...

Thanks Doc. I will do that but I can't chuck the pipe again so it will have to by the old 'Kentucky Windage' rule. The old mark-1 human eye-ball. seamonster, I always go with 'elegant' so I'll go with the longer stem and slight bend. Great advice from all. I don’t use a lathe- its all “Kentucky win...

Good for you. It is a difficult step to take a “finished” pipe back to the file/sander or whatever. It gets easier with more pipes under your belt. Removing the plateau made your options simpler. I think that the bottom line- the entire length of the stummel, is an appropriate stem length, but I hav...

I am seeing an asymmetry between the front line of the bowl and the rear line. I can’t tell if this is real or a camera affect. The top portion of the front line has more convexity, and the “belly” appears flattened. If you turned this on the lathe, then what I am seeing is not real. The bowl is als...

I don’t turn stummels on a lathe.

DocAitch

When you refinish, fo ahead and reduce shank diameter.
DocAitch

I am happy that these videos are again accessible.
DocAitch

Welcome to the forum. You will find the majority of your questions that develop during your attempts already discussed on the forum. Try the search function first. Post pictures of your work when you are ready for a critique. I will tell you that there is a strong sentiment on this forum that you sh...

I can’t speak to the aesthetics of the general shape, At first glance, to me, this is an attractive pipe. I would also like to see a little chamfer in the rim of the chamber as well. Not only does this appeal visually, but it also removes a sharp edge which might become a point of ignition for a slo...

It’s not super easy in the US either. New York is 4+ hours North for me, Richmond 4 hours South, Columbus is 7 hours West and Chicago is 14 hours West. Luckily there are 5 pipe makers here in Maryland within a 1 hour radius. I think the guys in the middle of the country are even more spread out. A f...

Those are just the basics. Cleaning it up with sandpaper and polishing are also necessary.
DocAitch

IAWW. The length of the stem as you have it may break some rule, but it would be too short if you followed the “rule”.
I also agree with a bend in this stem perhaps as much as 20 degrees.
DocAitch