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As a newb I am left wondering, What handful of tools minus the obvious lathe do you use the most? Certain files, bits, other shaping tools or maybe some other obscure tool you have found that does a great job.

Good files in various shapes and sizes, ranging from #00 to #4. I can't imagine doing stem work without them. Specifically, pillar files, pippin files, round files, and the fret-seating file. I can now rough shape a stem on the belt sander and go right to 320 grit sandpaper on the stem after about a half hour of file work. The slot saws that Steve Norse now carries are the best I've tried and I can't imagine funneling a slot without them again.

For sharpening tools, I'd have a hard time without my bench grinder and ez-lap diamond hones. I'm about to get a tormek, which I think may replace the hones in my process. The craftsman utility sharpener is a nice alternative.

Oh. And I can't imagine being without good drill bits (Viking/Norseman).

The 36 grit shaping disc and a couple of french wheels compliment my belt sander for shaping. Unfortunately, I have yet to find a good substitute for hand sanding or finishing.

on the subject of newbs and bits: what's the difference between using a spade bit and a regular drill bit for the chamber? is a chipping/cracking issue with a regular bit? I've never drilled briar and only cut one hobby block, but I'd like to drill my own blocks some day if I get more into it. thanks in advance!

You can make a chamber-shaped bit from a spade or a twist drill bit, if you have the tooling. Far easier to do it at home from a spade bit. There's at least 3 distinct bits you can cut a chamber with, a spade that has been ground to shape, a purpose-built twist bit, or a spoon bit.

A big, strong, fast cutting sanding disk.
All the rest is just a matter of preference and habit. Every pipemaker has hundreds of little bits, files, burrs or tools that they find to be useful and they differ from pipemaker to pipemaker. So a lot of tools can be used to achieve the same/similar effect. But the one thing that stays constant in almost every shop is a good sanding disk. Replacing that is just very hard. Unlike a lathe it doesn't really do anything special, you can theoretically remove material in a dozen different way such as belt sander, files, rotary burrs on a dremel-style tool, etc. But non of them really do the job as well as a good shaping disk. So if you ask what's the tool I couldn't live without that would be it.
EDIT: And if you want a little less obvious example of personal preference I will say Iwasaki carving files. They are milled files with incredibly sharp teeth, imagine rows of tiny razor blades. They cut very fast and very clean if you use them correctly and I really like to use them.

Sasquatch wrote:You can make a chamber-shaped bit from a spade or a twist drill bit, if you have the tooling. Far easier to do it at home from a spade bit. There's at least 3 distinct bits you can cut a chamber with, a spade that has been ground to shape, a purpose-built twist bit, or a spoon bit.

thanks! I can shape bits at work, but I'm not ready yet. gonna cut another hobby block or two before I jump into drilling and such.

As far a a bit for boring tobby chambers, I really like to use a cove router bit. Only draw back is that really deep chambers are impossible.

If you're going to shape your own chamber bits, I would recommend silver and deming as opposed to spade bits. They cut cleaner without chatter.

As for hand tools I couldn't do without, my slot cutting tools which includes a handmade slot saw, 1/16" round files, and tapered micro file I couldn't live without. I really like my fret file for shaping buttons (thanks George) although other tools can do the job just not as efficiently. I use round files a lot but use them less since I started shaping with a French wheel. Pin gauges were a deal changer for me too.

My sandblast set-up, pin gage set, sanding disc, all of my home made soft back sanding wheels, a high end slot file and lathe tool sharpening device.

Ummm just about everything in my workshop, it wouldn't be there if I didn't need it Actually I have a lot of tools I just wanted and don't really need, but they are not pipe making tools.

Toilet Paper

PremalChheda wrote:Toilet Paper

soooo many questions...

Nate King

...and all answered by one response! haha

Ernie Markle

He *is* a tool, but you *can* live without him.

Sand paper, but don't get it mixed up with the toilet paper.

mightysmurf8201 wrote:Sand paper, but don't get it mixed up with the toilet paper.

Yeah, but trying to keep them separate is such a pain in the ass.

Ratimus wrote:

mightysmurf8201 wrote:Sand paper, but don't get it mixed up with the toilet paper.

Yeah, but trying to keep them separate is such a pain in the ass.

I just dump (hehehe) them both in the same bin to save space.

500th post. #shellaclivesmatter