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Too thin on my airway

Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2016 9:24 pm
by WillAndersonpipes
I just drilled my airway and just barely made it from the stem to the bowl without drilling through the top of my shank. Can you make this portion too thin? And if so how thin is too thin. I have plenty of meat on the sides and bottom of the shank so it won't break or anything, but I have a portion of the bend in the shank where i cut it really close to coming out of the top of the shank


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Re: Too thin on my airway

Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2016 10:02 pm
by scotties22
does air come out? If not, you are okay 8) Unless you are going to blast it and then it's anybody's guess.

Re: Too thin on my airway

Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2016 10:18 pm
by LatakiaLover
If it is a smooth a dark spot could appear from tar & etc migrating to the outside. (It would have to be mighty thin, though.)

Re: Too thin on my airway

Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2016 10:22 pm
by WillAndersonpipes
Ok it's about 1/16 I think would a dark spot show through that you think?


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Re: Too thin on my airway

Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2016 4:07 am
by Oakbear
Sounds like a good excuse to keep a shop pipe to me.

Re: Too thin on my airway

Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2016 4:31 am
by W.Pastuch
George made a good comment, but I think this problem is related more to the color of pipe the rather than the finish (smooth / blasted).
If you make a dark finish it shouldn't be a problem, but on a natural or light colored pipe, either smooth or blasted, tars/oils/condensation can seep through the briar pores and stain the outside of the pipe.
I've had this happen on a natural smooth pipe with a 9,7mm shank which is not very thin at all. After a dozen smokes the shank developed discolorations along the fibers all around. I've smoked the pipe for a couple months now and the dark spots have become less apparent with the overall darkening, but they're still there.
I think at one time I also posted photos of a pencil shank cutty, natural sandblast, that got pretty serious discoloration on the shank after just a couple of smokes, luckily the customer understood that it was not a flaw, just a natural thing to happen with a light colored, porous and thin material.
When possible, coating or lining the airway will prevent all these problems.

Re: Too thin on my airway

Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2016 10:07 am
by WillAndersonpipes
Alright thanks I am planing on doing a dark finish so I'm thinking it should be fine


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