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Liberal hillbilly? All of my education comes from what I see on tv and the internet, and I can't even begin to imagine what that would look like. Pics?

Will do and thanks again. Yes it was under a flourescent light. Is that not the preferred lighting? I need to make a cheap homemade light box.

Yeti, Thanks for your insight. Yeah, I've got to resand that stem, but I was excited about showing it. I agree about the taper in the stem and length. It's funny before I tried to bend it the length looked ok to me but after is when I noticed it looked a little too long. I'll probably just practice ...

Thank you

It's been a while since I made a pipe, but hear is number four for your suggestions. Thank you and sorry for the rotten pics, I will try a different technique next time. I couldn't insert the image for some reason, but there's five pics. http://www.flickr.com/photos/84298193@N08/7756026248/in/photos...

He's so cool!

I agree with Rad. He's one of the most helpful, kind, experienced professionals on this board and deserves nothing but respect from all of us. How was that?

I was looking on online industrial supply and the priced between the Norton and the generic are substantial. Is it worth buying a more recognized brand like 3m or Norton? Do you reall notice a difference in quality?

Thanks again for all the help. This discussion brings up another question. I notice some of you sand your stems to 400-500 then buff, and a lot of others go to 1000+. From what I have read on here I though it was pointless to go past 400-500 because the tripoli is a similar grit. Personal preference...

Thanks everyone for always being so helpful

I did notice after bending a slight bulge in the top of the stem that wasn't there before, and the stem looks a little longer now, like I should have made it a little shorter.

Silicone carbide for stummels also? I've been using those woodturner packs of four, the one inch strips, which are 150, 220, 320, 400. Have you guy's used those, any opinions? I bought some wetdry paper sheets from a local tooling store, but they don't seem to cut the wood like those strips, they ju...

By touch up of shape do you mean filing and or sanding some more?

Yes, I have two stitched muslsin wheels. One for white and one for tripoli. I remember reading not to go to heavy with the filing because this has happened on my last one. This time I thought I went very easy with the file, but maybe not. I read another post where you said something about the qualit...

When is the proper time to bend the stem. Before finishing, after, in the middle... I think I messed up. I tried to bend one after it was completely finished and it messed up the finish. It had a bunch of little scratches on it anyhow, but now it really looks like garbage. Thank you very much.

I can't seem to get fine scratches out of this damn stem. I sanded very carefully and meticulously up to 400, tripoli, and white diamond, but I still have fine scratches. I'm a little bummed out because I really took my time. Any suggestions? Please. Thanks again everyone.

Sorry. Never thought about it from that standpoint. I don't do this for a living, haven't even sold a pipe. Just curious. Now I have my answer.

Just wondering why more pipemakers don't sell flawed pipes. Especially high grade makers. Will it hurt their reputation? Do they find a way to work around flaws? Is it acceptable to sell flawed pipes at a heavy discount?

What type of files do you use and what do you use them for? Currently I am working with those Nicholson files that come in the set of four with wooden handles, a larger Nicholson bastard file, and one small diamond file. I reall like the wooden handle Nicholson files, but wish they were small needle...

Yeah, yeah. Practice, practice, practice. Everything is practice around here. My attempt at humor. Sorry, I posted this before reading, like I usually do. I read wdteipen's post after I posted mine. I saw that he wrote that he cut some of the stem off, does that mean the slot should be a little wide...