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I've used them mostly on stemwork, but I've been know to do some detail work with them where the shank and bowl meet on the stummel...

I personally think that a freehand is a pipe that has had most of the shaping done by hand (i.e. no brazer involved).

I have also used emery boards, but I have also used buffing files for nails on detail work and finishing buttons on stems... The buffing ones do a really good job.

Exactly!

Of course there are naturally dark spots in the plateaux already, so we might both be full of crap, but certainly the rule "use whatever works" should come into play here. Best, Todd That is interesting, because I also used a cheaper brass wheel and left, well i guess we could call it a &...

I've done as Todd described... and hour-hour and a half boil... Electric oven at 150 degrees for 6-7 hous and then into the attic for a week (in the summer). Was it worth it? Probably not... Did it make any difference? It made the stummel a tad lighter, and there seemed to be some crap at the top of...

I also use a fine brass wire wheel...

BUT, in my experience, I have seen a big difference between brass and stainless steel... The SS always seems to leave a darkness to the wood, while the brass leaves nothing behind...

I just finished a big ass plateaux...

http://ripplingbrook.com/Brutus.jpg

I have also found that a pilot will cause more chatter...

I use no pilot, and it seems to drill nice and smooth... though, the thought of using a pilot as a depth gauge make sense... interesting idea...

Oh, I'm being a pipe smoking pirate...

Yar...

I like the Einstein idea...

I've alreadyy been called a Freehand, so I'll stick with that...

Dave,

A slam dunk...

Do yourself a favor, and don't sell it right away... let it settle in our mind before you finalize your price... setting the tone is important as random mentioned... the first move sets the game up...

I have a flaw hall of fame... I should take a few shots of it...

Nice! I have had so many requests for bridges since I finished my first one... people love 'em...

Good job!

Looks real nice aaron...

heh... yep it ain't cheap...

Good work...

Where did you get Cherry wood kits?

Next thing we could do is Tiger and Gorilla pipe pouches...

Am I the only one that has a problem using a product from an endangered species?

You need a self-centering vise... it's made my life tons o better...

http://ripplingbrook.com/Vise.html

Yes, I do as John and square 3 sides...

I also use a self-centering vise... It's made all the difference in the world...