I've kind of hit a wall.
Posted: Sat Sep 28, 2019 5:34 pm
New pipe maker here. I think I've made about 10 pipes. I do not have a lathe. Despite that I feel like I'm doing a fair job of getting the stummel shape right. I'm getting the basic drilling parts down, which has been a bit hard with nothing but a sloppy old drill press, but I'm getting there.
Where I'm not improving much and where there are obvious flaws in my pipes is the stem-to-shank junction. They aren't horrible but they aren't perfect either. In other words, if I hold the pipe up to the light I can see a slit of daylight between the stem-to-shank junction. It might be small but its there. And with my current methods and tools I don't see this getting a lot better.
I tried facing the stem end of the shank with a Forstner bit but that hasn't helped. Otherwise it is just tedious filing and sanding which sometimes makes the fit even worse.
A metal lathe is probably not in the cards. I've looked at the $600 Harbor Freight units from China but I worry that would be $600 for poor quality for a hobby that isn't ever going to become a profession for me.
So I'm wondering if there are other options? I see that Vermont Freehand has a tenon cutter that can be used on a drill press (they even say it can be used with a hand drill). I don't know if that just trues the diameter of the tenon or if it also trues the face of the stem that meets up with the pipe shank. And even if it does that still leaves the face of the pipe shank to be trued up.
Any work arounds would be much appreciated. As it is, and being a bit of a perfectionist, if I can't figure this out I might have to give up on the hobby or see if I can find a lathe........and funds for a lathe are simply not there.
George
Where I'm not improving much and where there are obvious flaws in my pipes is the stem-to-shank junction. They aren't horrible but they aren't perfect either. In other words, if I hold the pipe up to the light I can see a slit of daylight between the stem-to-shank junction. It might be small but its there. And with my current methods and tools I don't see this getting a lot better.
I tried facing the stem end of the shank with a Forstner bit but that hasn't helped. Otherwise it is just tedious filing and sanding which sometimes makes the fit even worse.
A metal lathe is probably not in the cards. I've looked at the $600 Harbor Freight units from China but I worry that would be $600 for poor quality for a hobby that isn't ever going to become a profession for me.
So I'm wondering if there are other options? I see that Vermont Freehand has a tenon cutter that can be used on a drill press (they even say it can be used with a hand drill). I don't know if that just trues the diameter of the tenon or if it also trues the face of the stem that meets up with the pipe shank. And even if it does that still leaves the face of the pipe shank to be trued up.
Any work arounds would be much appreciated. As it is, and being a bit of a perfectionist, if I can't figure this out I might have to give up on the hobby or see if I can find a lathe........and funds for a lathe are simply not there.
George