Taig Mirco Lathe

[tigercasual]

Is this a good deal?

http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/tls/2206341513.html

I contacted the seller who said that it is in working order and that he has extras (will send pictures of said extras)

In light of my recent tenon problems, I am considering this, but thought I should run it up the flagpole first.

Cheers,
TC

[Tyler]

Yes. That's a good deal.

There are two points in my pipe-making career that I made exponential leaps in quality from one pipe to the next:

1. When I got my Taig
2. When I got back from my first show (Chicago).

Of course, I'd now love a "real" metal lathe, but I don't need it. There is nothing holding me back from making great pipes with my wood lathe/Taig combo of tools.

That set-up would cost you about $500 new. After extras probably several hundred more than that. Here's a reference for you: (http://www.cartertools.com/package.html) If you scroll to the bottom, he even has a "pipemaker's package" he has put together!

[KurtHuhn]

I have no experience with Taigs, so I can't offer advice on what to look for in this. If it's complete and ready to use, $250 is a tempting figure. I'd still try to talk him down though.

[crichton]

I picked up mine for $325 and thought that I did well.....$250 sounds great!

[tigercasual]

Tyler, (or anyone else)

How did the Taig help you take such a big leap in your pipemaking?

Thanks,
TC

[Tyler]

I got the throw the Pimo Tenon turning tool in the trash.

Of course, that was before Delrin was all the rage. So many of you might not have had the delightful experience of that tool.

I could also do inlays in stems with it.

Bottom line is my fit and finish went WAY up.

[KurtHuhn]

I also made quite a leap when I got a metal lathe. You CAN do the same thing (in terms of pipes) on a wood lathe as you can with a metal lathe. The thing is that a metal lathe does it faster, more accurately, with better repeatability, and with less practice. And even with delrin there's some styles of stem you simply can't do - like military, steck, and ultra short saddles.

[baweaverpipes]

styles of stem you simply can't do - like military, steck, and ultra short saddles.

I understand that most of you know me as a hillbilly, but you might not know that I have the IQ of a Neanderthal and the disposition of a true curmudgeon. Much like that Rod Davies feller, but much smarter than EMalarkey, Pohldancer and certainly Sasquat, combined.
BUT, exsqueeze me cuz I ain't never hear of a "steck" stem. Whut iz a steck? My inquiring brain cell, singular, needs to know. Y'all.

[Sasquatch]

Mine only get steck if I make em too toit.

[KurtHuhn]

Thems lak millutories, septin' when they ain't....

[RadDavis]

BUT, exsqueeze me cuz I ain't never hear of a "steck" stem. Whut iz a steck? My inquiring brain cell, singular, needs to know. Y'all.

Butch,

Steck is German for stick. It's a taper bit that just stecks into the pipe with a military type taper and no tenon as such.

Love,
Rad.