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Thanks Sasquatch. Good info, especially how to look at an uncut plateau. I've had mixed experiences with a number of the typical sources. I chalk it up to that just being the nature of briar. Box of chocolates sort of thing. And also when you're buying unseen, in small quantities, it is even more of...

I think the VF jaws in a Nova chuck are an economical way to get into using a lathe. But 'economical' is a relative term. This hobby gets nuts especially when you aspire to make pipes that might pass muster here on Pipe Makers. But, that's a good thing. I figure I might not ever make a pipe that mee...

Adui, just do the best you can. Learning the lathe has been a steep curve for me. Two decent pipes. Two trashed pipes. I'm making Rhodesians. Two so far. Both are decent pipes but not what I'd want to submit for the PITH. Hoping to get a few more made before the deadline but wanting to make other sh...

Let's see if this works: https://pix.nikonians.org/kTLMEfAUzuS1JeCOIQQdCeij-KA=/fit-in/800x0/www.nikonians.org%2Fincludes%2Fsnippets%2Flookup_image%3Fname%3DIMG_1515.jpg https://pix.nikonians.org/VqsttO2lWJv3YPsZ1kI34C0ZSM8=/fit-in/800x0/www.nikonians.org%2Fincludes%2Fsnippets%2Flookup_image%3Fname%...

Now they are not Showing up on my phone.


Edit: 30 seconds later and they’re back.

Sun spots? Commie plot?

Damn. Some can see them. Some can't. Maybe Kurt can weigh in. Not that important. The pipe is a few steps forward in my learning process but nothing to write home about.

They're showing up on my work computer too.

It’s my first totally white pipe.

Not sure what’s wrong. I can see them on my computer and my phone. Will see what I can figure out tomorrow.

Second Rhodesian and second pipe drilled and shaped on wood lathe. I see the scratches in the top view of the stem. Those will be fixed. On the bottom view of the stem there are what appear to be 4 linear scratches but they are actually part of the white 'swirl' in the acrylic stem. Briar block was ...

George, any idea if the heat and sand thing works with or is useful with acrylic?

I love the way you worked with the grain on that pipe.

Smokingpipes.com has a few square shanked pipes with bulldogish stummels and they list them as Rhodesians.

I like it. For a first stem that is excellent. I've done about 10 and none of them are that good. And while it may just be the way it looks in the photos but it seems like a longer stem might work a little better.

I made my first few pipes out of walnut and black locust because I had it lying around. Neither is ideal. The walnut smokes fine and does not seem to burn. They were fine for practice. So if you've got linden then give it a try. As mentioned, getting briar is not a problem. It is not cheap, but even...

I have been told to be prepared to spend as much on tooling and such as you did on the lathe, so be prepared for that. Chucks, jaws, bits, cutters, tail stock drill chucks, etc.

I went the cheap route with my wood lathe and still spent well over $300 on that stuff alone.

Watch some pipe making videos and you'll mostly see metal lathes. The compound is a rig that sits alongside the lathe with a tool holder than can move up and back and in and out. It is moved with little hand wheels and is very precise. I think they will also run at lower speeds than a typical wood l...

Since they aren't, though, what I shoot for is perfection of the intended form. Meaning what the designer had in mind, and what might have actually been produced if the shop workers had been allowed more time plus had today's sensibility regarding what is possible. That is exactly what I'd want.

I had not thought about the fact that they would be purchased for that reason but it makes sense. The ones we use at work only prevent splashing and would not protect you from flying briar but I guess people are getting whatever they can.

That’s great. I hate to suggest that you spend more money but I do recommend a face shield.

LL, do you ever worry that your stems are better than the ones that come on original Dunhills.....and are thus not perfect reproductions? I mean that in jest...sort of...but I still have to wonder if Dunhill ever made stems as good as yours.