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This is a pipe I copied from a well known pipe maker. It is labeled as a Dublin but seems Rhodesianesque to me. Thoughts on that? Looking for critique. There were a number of small pits scattered about and one large one on the shank. I suppose I could have rusticated it but the grain was so nice I d...

I'm not an expert on any of this and I've never owned or used any sort of Foredom tool. However, I have no problem doing rough shaping with a Dremel which is high rpm and low torque. I use it all the time and for me (hobbyist) it works fine. If that is the main thing you will be using the SR for the...

If cost was not an issue I’d get the LX. If you haven’t watched the video that George linked to then you should.

I think the question is, can you afford to send the knock-off SR back and afford to buy an LX. If you can, then do. If the LX is out of your price range then give the SR a try. That's how I'd look at it.

That video is why I want one.....well, that and trying the same thing with a Dremel.

If I was doing this professionally I'd already have one.

The least expensive new Foredom LX is about $250 and that does not come with the hand piece. Not sure how much those cost but I'm guessing a minimum total of $300. The very few used Foredom models on eBay don't show RPM specs on the body of the motor. Typically just volts and watts and other voodoo ...

LL, how can you tell? It says 0-18,000 rpms. What do I need to look for to know low speed/high torque for sure? I guess I need to see top speed in the 5000 range?

I've got a Dremel. do not need another high speed hard to control rotary tool!

Wow. Thanks for the link. I was thinking they were $350-400 new! Wonder if these are legit? Even if they are knock offs, $100 is not a huge risk.

Again, as another noob, the way I'm looking at it is that I'm going to keep making pipes up until the deadline. If I don't have one that I consider worthy of trading then I'll just back out. No harm, no foul, as far as I can tell.

That’s the model I need. Thanks.

LL, which model are you using in the videos where you are making pipe stems. That's what I'm looking for. In the video it looks like it is low speed.

Aside from it actually running, what sorts of things do I need to look for in a used Foredom tool? Certain models better than others for pipe making? Specific specs to look for? Certain speed controllers? They are pretty pricey when new but I see older ones on eBay for much less. Want to make sure I...

There is still a lot of material left on that pipe. Stummel and stem. Keep working on it. Are you basing it off of an existing pipe or just an idea in your head?

Welcome. This is a great place to learn the art and craft.

George

I can't help you much in regard to cutting the rings but despite a lot of other problems learning to use a wood lathe I found that cutting the rings has been fairly straightforward. But......that's just three pipes so maybe beginner's luck. I'm sure there will be plenty of opportunity to screw up in...

Welcome. This is a great place to learn anything and everything about pipe making at the highest level. I am also a relative beginner.

Lane 1-Q and RLP-6 are two common, easy to find easy to smoke aromatics that I like. They are not too goopy. The RLP-6 has vanilla notes but is not 'fruity'. The room aroma is pleasing even to non-smokers and sometimes that is a good thing.

So far I have not bought from a cutter....I don't think. I've been buying from the well known guys who sell tools, briar, stem material, etc. And its not that I'm unhappy with any of them, its just like you say, a low volume thing.

I'll check out Molina.

There are a number of pipe makers that sell pipes on the Pipe Smokers Den website. You can go there and see what pipes are selling for. It seems to me that most of the guys selling there are under $500 with some in the $150 range.

https://pipesmokersdens.com/

In regard to a wood lathe, in my _very_ limited experience I have found between 800-1000 is my comfort zone. Being cautious I started out at slower speeds as low as 500 and found that to be actually more difficult.