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Thanks Mike! Yes, that does look like a crack, but it's not. Paduak has a few strands of long porus grain running through it, in addition to the more shallow figured grain (sort of like mahagany only longer). What looks like a crack is actually grain. It's less distracting in person, but still looks...

Happy Easter! I'd heard stamping pipes with these little figures was tough, and thought I was prepared, but it was much tougher than I thought! In fact, I messed it up the first time, sanded and tried again. :boohoo: Not at all happy with this, but afraid to try anything more with it: http://pipedre...

Thanks all! Yes, the rounding on the button on this had me alarmed too, but it still clinches well. Any more rounding and I'd have been sunk though, that's for sure... I'm a clincher sometimes, like right now, while typing, but also like holding some. I have one beloved GBD Virgin with a worn button...

That's very nice Mark! I like it a lot... Your new rustification looks great! You've inspired me, and now I want to revisit a Poker variation again soon (my first attempt at one left me completely unsatisfied).

I think I turned a corner on this one... Thanks to all the help in stummel thread on drilling and alignment issues and some other help here on the forum, the boring and related mechanics turned out much better (nearly perfect), and I really like the shape. Still some symmetry issues, but much better...

Yes, it's simple, and makes perfect sense, Thanks Kurt! In addition to taking precautions about the speed of drilling (heat) maybe we will need a slightly smaller drill for the mortise in the Lucite than we will for the Ebonite or Cumberland in order to acheive the same fit with the Delrin tenon, ri...

The only problem I had drilling, and it was minor, was the mortise I drilled for the delrin tenon was fractionally too large (probably a couple thousanths). I used the same drill bit and the same drilling procedure I use for ebonite and briar so I'm not sure why it was larger in acrylic. Maybe some...

Follow up on this thread... The drilling on #8 is bang on! A great big thanks to all of you! Truthfully, I think every single issue mentioned in this thread contributed in one way or another. I found the press did need truing. The shorter bit helped, but still drifted. The brad point nailed it. Appa...

Very nice David! I think the stem would be a bit wild for me, but it's certainly an eye catcher. I see what Marks is saying about the shank/bowl junction. It looks a little thick to me too, but it's not unattractive, and it should hold up well. Reminds me of an old Marxman I have in my collection. I...

Hello Alex, I like both your #4 and #5. I love bent pipes, and the over all shape of #4 is the most appealing to me, but I think your concept and execution on #5 is excellent. It's always hard for me to tell from pics, but your symmetry looks like it turned out well after all on this one, and you es...

Thanks very much for the encouragement and comments. The black insert is just the sliced off face of the preformed vulcanite stem (I used a Delin tenon). With Heinz going with hand cut for his amazing first pipe, and seeing David's beautiful number 12 with his hand cut stem, I've decided to swallow ...

Was looking at this again, Dave. Gosh is it ever apealing! Very nice shape, and I'm impressed with the symmetry of it, which I find especially challanging. Your flare on the shank extension has grown on me and now I can't see it any other way. It works great as a transition to your stem. I'm amazed ...

Very nice pipe Dave! I've run into to the circular grain patern too. I like straight grain and birdseye better, but I find it all interesting as it reveals itself in the process. I'm still trying to learn how to take full advantage of that while shaping, or laying out shapes. So far I'm using ebauch...

Ok, sorry to keep buggin you all, but have really appreciated the help and comments here. I figured it was time to try a billiard. I was surprised by how difficult this shape is. http://pipedreams.radioministries.org/ptp7_right.jpg http://pipedreams.radioministries.org/ptp7_left.jpg 'm much happier ...

Wow Heinz, that is very impressive for your fist pipe. And a hand cut stem? Very ambitious, and you pulled it off very well! Congratulations! I have yet to do a hand cut stem, but hope to soon. I would say the shape is closser to a Pot than a Billiard, but it's a great looking pipe, what ever you ca...

All great info guys... I'm still trying to get a pipe to the point where I'm not ashamed to identify it as mine! Supposing I eventually do want to stamp one, at what point in the process do you do it? After all the shape tweaking and most of the sanding, but before staining/finishing, or when the pi...

Yes, you guys are right, the press could be part of the problem. I had to true it up a bit when I got it (20 years ago). Hmm, come to think of it, it took a little fall recently. I'll check it out and give it a whomp or other adjustments if needed. Thanks!

Ok, I got my new Bryan like vice jaws made. First I did a practice run on a 2x4 and it worked out great! The alignment was near perfect! Then I went ahead and bored a stummel that I hope will be a billiard when it's finished (I'm having a heck of a time shaping it though). The holes aligned nearly p...

Wow, the one John posted is a beautiful pipe... Like Rad, I think once that one was in smoking position the cant would not be near as pronounced. Boy is that ever a nice pipe! The Tokutomi looks to me like it would staighten out when in smoking position too, but it's hard to say without trying it ou...

The only thing I have a question about is I remember reading something in P&T when they had a pipe design contest--it was something about the bowl shouldn't be canted forward more than a certain degree. Anyone remember what I'm talking about? Anyway, how much of a cant forward is too much? Oh, ...