Something I haven't worried about before
Something I haven't worried about before
Hey guys,
I was cutting the slot in another stem today and started to worry about something I have just been ignoring up until now.
I drill the airway with a tapered drill bit and then come in from the bit end and drill the last 1/2" or so with a 1mm drill. I then cut the slot with a dremel and widen and shape it with the 1mm drill and files. However, as shown in my diagram there are always some marks left on the top and bottom of the slot from the tapered drill bit.
Does anyone somehow eliminate these marks to get a totally fluid airway (and if so, how? I can't get to that area with needle files or anything), or do you just ignore them? I don't imagine it would have much of an effect.
If this doesn't make any sense please tell me and I'll try to explain better.
Thanks!
I was cutting the slot in another stem today and started to worry about something I have just been ignoring up until now.
I drill the airway with a tapered drill bit and then come in from the bit end and drill the last 1/2" or so with a 1mm drill. I then cut the slot with a dremel and widen and shape it with the 1mm drill and files. However, as shown in my diagram there are always some marks left on the top and bottom of the slot from the tapered drill bit.
Does anyone somehow eliminate these marks to get a totally fluid airway (and if so, how? I can't get to that area with needle files or anything), or do you just ignore them? I don't imagine it would have much of an effect.
If this doesn't make any sense please tell me and I'll try to explain better.
Thanks!
- KurtHuhn
- Site Admin
- Posts: 5326
- Joined: Thu Nov 23, 2006 8:00 pm
- Location: United States/Rhode Island
Re: Something I haven't worried about before
You don't need to worry about those. Leave them. As long as your stem doesn't sound like a bosun's whistle, you'll be fine.
- SimeonTurner
- Site Supporter
- Posts: 750
- Joined: Wed Dec 24, 2008 7:46 pm
- Location: Denver, Colorado
- Contact:
Re: Something I haven't worried about before
Kurt, can you make a diagram to emulate the sound of a bosuns whistle? I don't understand.KurtHuhn wrote:You don't need to worry about those. Leave them. As long as your stem doesn't sound like a bosun's whistle, you'll be fine.
"It is noble to be good; it is still nobler to teach others to be good - and less trouble."
Turner Pipes Website:
http://www.turnerpipes.com
Of Briar and Ashes:
http://turnerpipes.wordpress.com
Turner Pipes Website:
http://www.turnerpipes.com
Of Briar and Ashes:
http://turnerpipes.wordpress.com
- KurtHuhn
- Site Admin
- Posts: 5326
- Joined: Thu Nov 23, 2006 8:00 pm
- Location: United States/Rhode Island
Re: Something I haven't worried about before
Does this cover it?
- SimeonTurner
- Site Supporter
- Posts: 750
- Joined: Wed Dec 24, 2008 7:46 pm
- Location: Denver, Colorado
- Contact:
Re: Something I haven't worried about before
Perfect! Now I understand perfectly.
"It is noble to be good; it is still nobler to teach others to be good - and less trouble."
Turner Pipes Website:
http://www.turnerpipes.com
Of Briar and Ashes:
http://turnerpipes.wordpress.com
Turner Pipes Website:
http://www.turnerpipes.com
Of Briar and Ashes:
http://turnerpipes.wordpress.com
Re: Something I haven't worried about before
I smooth it all out to the point where the taper drill was a true 5/32", which is quite deep into the stem actually, perhaps over 1-1/2" deep. I use "wax detailing" broaches (which only cut on the pull stroke), a modified jigsaw scroll blade in a handle, and needle files.
Re: Something I haven't worried about before
If you were to drill to maybe an inch from the end, with the tapered bit, and then go in from the button side, you would never be able to see any of what you are talking about. The shape inside the stem is moving from round to flat and rectangular, so that's pretty hard to do without SOME kind of overlap of the shapes.
ALL YOUR PIPE ARE BELONG TO US!
Re: Something I haven't worried about before
You'd be surprised how nice of a transition you can get if you have the patience. It's not about "seeing" the transition, I honestly believe the long "quasi-transitionless" funnel improves smoking functionality, at least in my experimental experiences.Sasquatch wrote:If you were to drill to maybe an inch from the end, with the tapered bit, and then go in from the button side, you would never be able to see any of what you are talking about. The shape inside the stem is moving from round to flat and rectangular, so that's pretty hard to do without SOME kind of overlap of the shapes.
Re: Something I haven't worried about before
Agreed - in theory it can be done. I haven't noticed much of a difference between a filed out pre-form and a smooth-tube hand cut to be honest, the very pinnacle of tubiness being my wiley, which is tube right to the button, more or less. I don't prefer that, but I don't find that the other shapes hinder or help a noticeable amount as long as you have a large enough cross section.
There is an artistic satisfaction from the perfect airway, but I'm less confident about the actual parameters of the transition, in terms of it making a noticeable difference in the smoking experience. But then, my idea of a good meal is a few beetle grubs and some berries, so perhaps I should leave these judgments to more refined folk.
There is an artistic satisfaction from the perfect airway, but I'm less confident about the actual parameters of the transition, in terms of it making a noticeable difference in the smoking experience. But then, my idea of a good meal is a few beetle grubs and some berries, so perhaps I should leave these judgments to more refined folk.
ALL YOUR PIPE ARE BELONG TO US!
Re: Something I haven't worried about before
The difference is probably psychosomatilogical, but satisfying. I sprinkle white truffle shavings on my beetle grubs.Sasquatch wrote: There is an artistic satisfaction from the perfect airway, but I'm less confident about the actual parameters of the transition, in terms of it making a noticeable difference in the smoking experience. But then, my idea of a good meal is a few beetle grubs and some berries, so perhaps I should leave these judgments to more refined folk.