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Yeah, Al Pascia has been posting videos for a while now. I had thought about, and even recorded a few, videos in the past. None managed to make their way online. In 2006 I made a good video detailing the shape first, drill second method--but thought better of posting it to youtube when thoughts of i...

I've had some VERY wet blocks warp on me before. That's why most pipemakers who buy large bags of briar regularly rotate their stock. Their wood comes in still in need of air curing because they're noticeably wet. As they dry, they need to be rotated to ensure that the drying happens evenly. The res...

I had to put a shirt on for the video. It is Youtube, after all. Pipes and shirtless men are all too common and I had to set an example there.

Perhaps I'll grow a beard for the next video.

Hey folks

I just made the first video upload to my blog. I'll be taking time in the future to discuss things related to my pipes and pipes in general. Please do stop by the blog to view the video and offer comments, critiques, and suggestions for future episodes.

Thanks,

Jeff

Get yourself a really fine paintbrush and go to it.

...or buy a cross-cut, "ebauchon" cut block, or a plateaux block on its side.

The drilling angles in the banner are not too bad. The main problem is that the bowl could be a bit deeper if a V shaped bit were used or if it were shaped into a Rhodesian without a diamond shank. Of course, then we have the problem of using a shape that for many people does not smoke well. Diamond...

It's gone up since last year and is now priced at $190, but it's worth the money. Check it out here:


http://www.mytoolstore.com/cyclone/dustcol.html#dc1500

I bought a vacuum made for blasting through Cyclone. They're pretty inexpensive at ~$150 and will save your shopvac motor from burning out when the media eventually makes it through the filter.

You should always use a vac system when blasting. Blasting into a cabinet pressurizes that space and needs somewhere to vent the excess air. That might be the seals, bolt holes, or an actual vent on the back. The problem is that it carries the media with it when it goes and this can get in your lung...

Whoops! Nope, that's an example of a well buffed and shined pipe.

Ebay is the place for motors. Try Craigslist too. I have a collected a pile of motors through the years of various speeds and hps. You'll do well to buy any motor between 1/4 and 1/2 hp that spins below 2000rpm. That said, I actually do my rough shaping with 24 or 36gr resin disks at 3400rpm. It mak...

Here's a good example:


http://cgi.ebay.com/1-3-HP-1140Rpm-GE-M ... dZViewItem

Buffing compound grits vary by supplier. I only use Matchless compounds and have been very satisfied with their products. All of the green compounds that I've seen or used are in my opinion too aggressive for briar if you are sanding to 400gr or higher. You may actually be going backwards when you u...

These days I actually do a lot of lathe shaping with a wheel spun by a motor. Not a lathe, per se, but similar in idea. I've been doing a ton of shaping on the belt grinder, but recently decided to try the wheel for rough shaping in addition to the finish sanding that I normally do. I took a cue fr...

Nooo! Scott, you should really ditch your kids and come to the show. Really.



Have fun, and you will be missed. I'll have a tumbler of fine bourbon in your honor.

Best,

Jeff

Chris, Those of us on this board who are professionals, who support our families with briar and ebonite, are here to help others develop their skills. I suspect that the following is true for my colleagues, as it is for me. When I first started out making pipes, my best and most important teachers w...

What else can I say, but "nice pipe," Daniel. Well done. The shape is refined, elegant, and well executed. I'd lengthen the saddle on the stem a touch to adjust the shank/saddle/stem proportions, but otherwise it's very nice. I'm sure you are well aware of the flaws on the bowl's rim, but ...

Old Man Davis wrote:I would love to have a Jackalope for my trophy wall. Preferably one that sings "Powderfinger". I just love that song.

Rad

It's already on its way from San Diego--complete with Powderfinger sung by Dave Coulier, and an inappropriate Southern Oregon wooden appendage.

Hey Bob,

I'm suggesting that the stem needs slightly more bend in it. If it is bent currently, it is underbent to the point where it looks straight. Slightly more bend will let the line carry through and unite the constituent parts of the pipe in a more harmonious way.

Best,

Jeff

Nice lovat, Charl. Can't complain about the grain at all, can we?! I'd echo the comment above about the angle on the top of the bowl. It should cant forward just a touch as should the rest of the bowl. I would add to this that the shot of the front of the bowl (3rd picture I believe) shows that the ...