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very cool, Thanks! I have slowly been acquiring the parts needed to stabilize wood with epoxy resin, but haven't finished. (also installing horse fencing with hand held tools) I wonder if the pressure would help with bone or antler? AND, believe me, I wasn't trying to imply your piece above needed t...

Very nice! that's a great shape! Although I cannot believe you "really love working" antler...yuck the smell never leaves me! :) I've made several knives from antler/bone, scary sharp material. I'd sure like to discover a way to fill the pores on the inner sections...that doesn't look like...

Wow, nice tamps!
The Ebonite looks great, and that blasted wood is intriquing. Will have to experiment in my shop...

wow, another retired RN here; 25 years in Open Heart ICU. It's a small world!

Welcome, Adam. Cannot imagine how you find shop time while in residency. Best of luck!

I was afraid the pain would always linger! :) It's not just the $25 briar, it's the hour I spent laying out a whatever, then drilling, sanding the face of the shank, etc, etc. Then find a flaw. I'm certain it happens all the time...just venting frustration. Yes, I'll finish the billiard-fail for the...

I've been unable to buff shellac so far without the heat leaving marks in the finish. Even at low speeds. I've tried very little white diamond on the buffing wheel, and carnauba on the wheel.

I just sand smooth and apply some fine wax. Not happy, but that's where I am for now.

Thrid time in a month I have turned a stummel down to find a flaw. bummer.

How many times will this happen until i no longer care about tossing $25 worth of material?

Thanks pipedreamer.
I'm applying shellac by hand, then sanding it smooth with 1500 grit, not as much shine as I would like...

Thanks for resurrecting this thread! FWIW, this solution sounds like what I've used to ebonize walnut and mahogany. Steel wool also dissolves nicely. Leave the jar in the sun and the solution "cooks" quicker, if you cannot wait two weeks. Headed to town for vinegar! :D edit: Oh yeah, a fab...

Shellac for a finish.

Thanks, Doc. I used a small square while shaping the stummel to keep the sides straight and square with the top.

My second attempt at a Poker.
Please critique.

Sorry the type of stem isn't classic for a poker, just scored a 1x42" sander, and all my stems look like this.

Thanks! I make a lot of stuff from wood, and always thought I had sanding perfected. Briar taught me humility immediately! I was leaving lots of tiny scratch marks that showed when finished. For me, sanding between coats of dye lets me remove them all. I apply the first coat of dye after 150 grit, a...

Done! I'm never sanding this pipe again!

Try to ignore the stem, which is simply a shiny handle.

But, I would like to hear opinions of this finish. Only way I can improve...

edit...sorry, but i cannot reliably insert the photo without making you guys click the link.

This is a Thomas Sheldon & Son back saw that I purchased a few years ago since it was freshly sharpened, but needed a handle repair. I love collecting vintage hand tools, and restoring them to working condition. After much thought, I decided to simply shape a new handle since a repair between vi...

I highly recommend the cheapo cabinet from JobSmart after sealing the joints. Got mine for $99. Even has a few tear off strips for the window.

Thank You, Sir. I feel like the stem isn't as nice as this stummel. Good grief stems are difficult to get perfect! :D And thanks for any tips on stem work. Yes, I shaped this one exactly as you guessed. Will use magnification while sanding next time! I'll look at more photos of Pokers to see a more ...

Have been reading all I can from the archives of posts...didn’t realize I could re-finish a pipe. doh! here is pipe No.8 for me, a blasted Poker. I’ve been smoking out of this one in the shop for the past month, but decided to re-work the stem since it was asymmetric. Still, only 0.177” at the bit, ...

FWIW, although my shank is a lump, my wife never complains!

very clean carving!
they look fantastic!

jarrah, bubinga?

Finally i get to post the usual, IAWJ. :oops: That pipe is a lumpy piece of meat. No, I'm not proud, but I've already learned a ton that my woodworking buddies cannot teach me. This guy has been re-filed and sanded so many times, there's not enough material on the shank to correct the misshapen bott...