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George, After doing this repair, I split the shank on a beautiful Ruthenberg blast while replacing the stem. I am contemplating several ideas to restore its functionality, but am afraid that its collector value is markedly reduced. I am going to purchase it from its unhappy owner (who was going to s...

Nice repair there, lucky you had enough material on the shank. Yes. The fact that the 1/2” tubing would just fit between the mortise and the external surface was what made the repair possible. The minimal tolerances made hand cutting the recess necessary. I was pleased that I could cut it by hand, ...

I recently had one of my pipes come back to me. Produced in February 2017, I was happy to get it back-I really liked it while making it.. Unfortunately, last summer while I was at my outside smoking station, it fell to the ground un noticed, and I shifted my heavy teak chair right on top of it, crus...

The pipe must be completely shaped before blasting, and the stem (for a flush fit) has to be ready to polish. Finishing to a higher grit would be senseless, but I have occasionally been unhappy enough with a finished (polished and waxed) pipe that I blasted it. I sand to 220 on most of the stummel, ...

There are a couple of points I want to stress here. The pipe will sit when the center of gravity is between at least 3 points of contact with the surface upon which it sits. The bottom could look like a 3 legged stool or be perfectly flat (in which case the CG sits in the midst of an infinity of poi...

Well, I am very impressed.
You have to be a self starter and persistent to learn a craft from videos and posts.
I am looking forward to seeing those last 3.
DocAitch

Welcome to the forum. I must say that the pipes that you presented in those photos are quite impressive, especially for a self taught craftsman. Roughly when in your learning process did you make those- i.e. ~how many weeks/months elapsed between the time you started your first pipe and the time tha...

It's been a while since I've checked in. I really like this pipe! Very cool shape and very nicely executed. I'm assuming the airway enters the bowl in the bottom center similar to a Falcon pipe? If so, I don't really see why a pipe cleaner would even have to pass all the rest of the way. I sometime...

It's been a while since I've checked in. I really like this pipe! Very cool shape and very nicely executed. I'm assuming the airway enters the bowl in the bottom center similar to a Falcon pipe? If so, I don't really see why a pipe cleaner would even have to pass all the rest of the way. I sometime...

I like a radius at the button for the same reason that you do -Its easier to polish and maintain.
I have no problem with that.
DocAitch

I think this shape is fine and well done. It has nice symmetry and the shank/bowl transition is nice and crisp. The forward cant of the bowl is more than the classic 3-5 degrees, but I think it is well within an acceptable esthetic range (especially if your taste runs to the Danish school). I would ...

I find that when I am using a bit with a relatively large contact area (such as one of several that I have ground to cut flares on freehand stems), any flexible material tends to get “sucked into” the bit. I have to use a live center.
DocAitch

You should be able to sand it out. The stain doesn’t go very deep. These are sanding mandrels made from dowels. They are turned to chamber shape and slit to accept a piece of sandpaper which is trimmed and taped. These particular ones have lag bolts in the end to chuck in a hand drill, but now I jus...

I like this pipe, especially for a 3rd pipe. Some of us haven’t done that well after 20 pipes. I also think it is remarkable that you were able to make a stem from rod at this stage- again something that I didn’t attempt until I had a lot of pipes done. I am still fiddling with getting slots right a...

Seeing this photo makes me want to see real people face to face again.
I hope that you guys are thinking about another such gathering.
I might even be able to make a contribution or two to the craft.
Please think about it.
Regards,
DocAitch

One area of concern would be whether you detect an odor or taste.Your mention of volatiles leeching out raises this question.
Mike Butera said that he could taste stuff in various commercial shellac preparations. I certainly am unable to do that but I will take his word for it.
DocAitch

Just ordered some of this.
Going to play. I have been using powdered carnauba with good results on blasts and rusticated pipes, but am always happy to find a better way.
DocAitch

Yes- can you replace these iimages?
DocAitch

Odd man out. Go to harbor freight, find the 9 inch angle grinder then with a 9" backing pad for sanding discs using PSA Sanding disc's. Search on line for a speed controller for angle grinders. Put it altogether and create a mount for it. Buy discs from Klingspor woodworking. End result, CHEAP...

You can also make your own J Alan design wheel. PM me and I can send a pictorial.
DocAitch