Stem finish

[lancefisher51]

I have looked through this forum. Im not sure if i just cant find what I'm looking for or maybe the info was deleted in that crash? Either way. Im currently on the final stages of sanding my pipe (without stem attached). I was wandering. At what grit sand paper should I start sanding the stem?

Lance

[NathanA]

The short answer is : whatever grit you need to get out the scratches from your previous tools/paper. If you have used a file start with 150 or 180.

[scotties22]

If the stem is a flush fit ALWAYS shape and sand them shank and stem as one piece. This will prevent you from rounding the edges of the shank and creating a gap. If it is a fancy stem you can sand it whenever you want and it doesn't have to be on the pipe. I would suggest making a handle to put the stem in to cut down on hand cramps. If it is a preform stem I start at 180 and work my way through the grits. This is after I have adjusted the bite zone and button.

Hope this helps.

[caskwith]

What Nathan said. With good file technique and maybe a scraper you should be starting at about 150grit, maybe 240 if you have a fine file. The only exception would be when working with bamboo shanks, then I start at 320 but only after very carefully filing as smooth as possible.

[lancefisher51]

This pipe I'm working on now is by far my best one to this point. However. The stem and shank are not flush (not even close) but that's something I'm gonna have to work on. When pipe os finished ill post that way you can all yip an yell an holler an tell me everything I did was wrong lol

Lance

[E.L.Cooley]

Just file it down first make us all work for the flaw.


Sent from my banana phone.