Pipemaker Tooling
Posted: Sat Feb 26, 2011 1:51 pm
Gentlemen,
I've been working with a number of pipemakers over the course of the past several years, and I've found that one of the biggest obstacle for aspiring pipemakers is tooling. I tend not to mince words, so I will say simply that everything I've seen out there is either crap, or ridiculously expensive for what it is.
When guys come and visit me, part of what I teach them is tool making. None of the things we need are off the shelf items, so if you can't either make or buy pipemaking tools, your results are always going to be less than satisfactory.
I'm going to be setting up a new website that offers profiled S & D bits for way less than you'll find them for anywhere else. They will have better edges, better reliefs, and cut smoother holes. I will also be offering both two jaw self centering chucks and two jaw independently adjustable chucks (my personal preference for turning).
I will also be offering spoon bits that are designed correctly with sharpened edges and backside reliefs that prevent burning and make them much safer to use. They will also come with the pilot bit necessary for using them affectively.
I'll also be offering shaping and sanding wheels that, if mastered and used correctly, can eliminate 90-100% of the hand sanding you're currently doing.
Finally, I'll be offering cost-affective lathe tools that will help with stem work, squaring shanks, cutting countersinks, etc.
If you guys can think of anything else that you want/need, just drop me a line and let me know what it is. I expect to have a table set up in Chicago with some examples of the tooling I'll be offering. It may not always look especially fancy, but one thing I can guarantee you that none of the other "tool makers" can is that it will work and work perfectly. I do not mess around with sub-standard tooling because if I did I would lose time and money. This is obviously not going to be a big money maker for me, but it will hopefully provide a much needed resource for guys who are trying to get to the next level in their craft but are hampered by bad tooling. That's all for now.
TJ
I've been working with a number of pipemakers over the course of the past several years, and I've found that one of the biggest obstacle for aspiring pipemakers is tooling. I tend not to mince words, so I will say simply that everything I've seen out there is either crap, or ridiculously expensive for what it is.
When guys come and visit me, part of what I teach them is tool making. None of the things we need are off the shelf items, so if you can't either make or buy pipemaking tools, your results are always going to be less than satisfactory.
I'm going to be setting up a new website that offers profiled S & D bits for way less than you'll find them for anywhere else. They will have better edges, better reliefs, and cut smoother holes. I will also be offering both two jaw self centering chucks and two jaw independently adjustable chucks (my personal preference for turning).
I will also be offering spoon bits that are designed correctly with sharpened edges and backside reliefs that prevent burning and make them much safer to use. They will also come with the pilot bit necessary for using them affectively.
I'll also be offering shaping and sanding wheels that, if mastered and used correctly, can eliminate 90-100% of the hand sanding you're currently doing.
Finally, I'll be offering cost-affective lathe tools that will help with stem work, squaring shanks, cutting countersinks, etc.
If you guys can think of anything else that you want/need, just drop me a line and let me know what it is. I expect to have a table set up in Chicago with some examples of the tooling I'll be offering. It may not always look especially fancy, but one thing I can guarantee you that none of the other "tool makers" can is that it will work and work perfectly. I do not mess around with sub-standard tooling because if I did I would lose time and money. This is obviously not going to be a big money maker for me, but it will hopefully provide a much needed resource for guys who are trying to get to the next level in their craft but are hampered by bad tooling. That's all for now.
TJ
