"Facing" and "Fun Times" both start with the letter "F"
Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2016 7:38 pm
And so does another word frequently heard when the subject of facing shanks comes up, but I won't say that one.
I thought I'd post this for its sheer WTF factor, as well as an example of the sort of thing which makes for so few pipe repairmen in the world.
The pipe is a legit giant. Weighs six ounces. The shank is 1.3" across at its widest point, meaning 35mm rod had to be used.
The problem? The guy who made it, for reasons unknown, dished the face of the shank by hand instead of properly flattening it. I've seen the "dish cheat" done from time to time on round shanks (it makes it easier to get a light-tight gap), but that isn't what this was. The damn thing was "C"-shaped when viewed from one of its flat sides, like a claw: there was a full millimeter gap between the stem and shank face on one side when the rod touched the outer points, and about 3/4ths that much gap on the other.
In case you're wondering, yes, the original stem had been relieved at the touch-points to achieve something approaching a fit. (Still a shitty fit by 2015 standards, but definitely better than it would have been otherwise.)
So... the pin gauge / lathe spin trick wasn't possible because of the pipe's size & weight together with the thin walls of the mortise on two sides.
The tenon plug-in sanding disk widget I made years ago was too small (1" diameter.)
Dragging the end of the shank across a taped-down sheet of 800 grit wasn't possible either, because of the size & weight. That technique requires CONTROL, and even Sas's hands probably aren't big enough to make this stummel his bitch.
My only way out? Improvise a padded ledge on the table of a disc sander, get situated, do a couple dry runs, hit the AC, and eyeball it. No safety net, no rewind button.
No biggie, of course, the pipe is only worth a few grand. Easily one of, if not THE, best-grained giant pipes in the world.
How did it go? Light tight perfect fit on the first stab.
2016 is starting off right, for sure.
I thought I'd post this for its sheer WTF factor, as well as an example of the sort of thing which makes for so few pipe repairmen in the world.
The pipe is a legit giant. Weighs six ounces. The shank is 1.3" across at its widest point, meaning 35mm rod had to be used.
The problem? The guy who made it, for reasons unknown, dished the face of the shank by hand instead of properly flattening it. I've seen the "dish cheat" done from time to time on round shanks (it makes it easier to get a light-tight gap), but that isn't what this was. The damn thing was "C"-shaped when viewed from one of its flat sides, like a claw: there was a full millimeter gap between the stem and shank face on one side when the rod touched the outer points, and about 3/4ths that much gap on the other.
In case you're wondering, yes, the original stem had been relieved at the touch-points to achieve something approaching a fit. (Still a shitty fit by 2015 standards, but definitely better than it would have been otherwise.)
So... the pin gauge / lathe spin trick wasn't possible because of the pipe's size & weight together with the thin walls of the mortise on two sides.
The tenon plug-in sanding disk widget I made years ago was too small (1" diameter.)
Dragging the end of the shank across a taped-down sheet of 800 grit wasn't possible either, because of the size & weight. That technique requires CONTROL, and even Sas's hands probably aren't big enough to make this stummel his bitch.
My only way out? Improvise a padded ledge on the table of a disc sander, get situated, do a couple dry runs, hit the AC, and eyeball it. No safety net, no rewind button.
No biggie, of course, the pipe is only worth a few grand. Easily one of, if not THE, best-grained giant pipes in the world.
How did it go? Light tight perfect fit on the first stab.
2016 is starting off right, for sure.