pipemakersforum.com

How are you opening them? By removing material or expanding the hole by force? If by force, you'll need heat, but remember that vulcanite had memory. If heated again, the hole will go back to its original size. Removing material is the normal method, either with drills or files, and no heat is requ...

I'm glad someone else is joining in on this... I think 5mm is too small, as well. If there's a lot of tightening and swelling while in use, and you manage to twist it right, the thing may snap at the tenon shoulder and leave you with a frustrating situation. The nice thing about having precision in...

I'm glad someone else is joining in on this... I think 5mm is too small, as well. If there's a lot of tightening and swelling while in use, and you manage to twist it right, the thing may snap at the tenon shoulder and leave you with a frustrating situation. The nice thing about having precision in...

Opened up? Do you mean making the holes bigger? If so, you shouldn't need to heat them first. What are they made of, acrylic of vulcanite? Yup! Expanded the holes to 3 mm, tapering to 2 mm at the bit. Rather they will taper once I have those diamond files in hand. These stems are vulcanite. I didn'...

Thanks for chiming in, tyler! Kyle and I have been going back and forth so much that I didn't even check to see who'd responded. Thanks for the guidance! As far as drill bits go, I went in hoping to find some gimlets larger than 5 mm so I wouldn't have to concern myself with sanding the tenon so th...

I've been posting regularly to a thread at BrothersofBriar.com detailing the making of my first pipe as it progresses. I was hesitant at first to repost here, but Tyler left me some great advice in that thread and I realized that I should post here without fear. http://www.brothersofbriar.com/t15173...

Thanks for the warm welcome, guys! I'll be posting a link to a thread I started on BrothersofBriar.com detailing the process of making my first pipe as I'm making it. Please check it out and feel free to chime in if you spot anything that I could be doing better. Thanks again!

Hello all! I've been a pipe smoker/collector for the last 6 years. Two years ago, I bought a few pieces of briar from Pipe Makers Emporium and fancied myself a pipe maker. :roll: Needless to say, I ran into a whole lot of issues and questions which have been humbling. Now I'm delighted to be perusin...