Three Year Hiatus

[hawky454]

After a 3 year hiatus I almost forgot how to make pipes. can anyone remind me of the standard air hole size? I think it was 4 MM but i'm not sure any one willing to give me tips is much appreciated! it's not like riding a bike and all my tools are scattered all over the place because I have moved 3 times in the last year. I would like to know just the basics, such as the mortise size, the air hole, the stem size on one end and I remember using a special drill piece i used tapered at the other end of the stem. Videos are great but just suggestions would be fine as well.

thank you for your time! I'm so excited to get back to my labor of love!

Thank you,

Hawky

[Ocelot55]

Welcome back! I've been here long enough to remember you the first time around, but there's a lot of other new faces.

Standard draft hole seems to be around 4mm or 5/32"

As for the mortise, who knows? Your design also has a lot to do with mortise size. For English classics, I find myself using 5/16" quite often. Steeper bends usually benefit from a larger mortise, say 3/8", so you can fit the draft hole in the mortise without notching the bottom.

For stems I use a tapered 5/32" bit and drill from the tenon to the bite zone stopping about 1/2" from the end of the stock. Flip the stem around in the lathe and meet the two holes with a 1/16" bit.

[KurtHuhn]

"Standard" mortis size seems to be 5/16" for most folks. But I use whatever size is necessary to make the pipe. I do a lot of 7/16" mortises these days.

[hawky454]

Thanks guys! ....And it's good to be back! Your info is exactly what I was looking for! Much appreciated.

[PremalChheda]

Drill them how you want as long as the pipes smoke good. I do 5/32" in the Stummel and 9/64" in the stem.

[Sasquatch]

9/64"? You'll never taste the sprinkling of Ostrich Gallbladder essence in Grousemoor.

[KurtHuhn]

Or the camel dung in Black Duck!