'm much happier with the mechanics on this one. Thanks to Bryan, my new modified drill press vice helped with the side to side draught hole to tobacco chamber alignment, and I've also developed a new technique for the depth alignment. Not perfect, but much much better. I still had some shaping issues. This was a very small ebauchon, so I had a lot of limitations in terms of how to approach it. For one, I did not get enough of the traditional Billiard tilt forward. The symmetry is a little better, but I still see issues that I really want to get nailed down. The stem insert on this is briar, cut off of the stem side of the ebauchon I used for the pipe, with an attempt to match up the grain (seems to have worked pretty well, but it does not have a pronounced figure to it).
Specs: The bowl is 1.17 wide, by 1.75 tall. The Chamber is .75 (3/4) by 1.55 deep. Overall length is 5.7.
Ok, here is the sad confession picture (you new that was coming, right?):
Well, my symmetry is better than it was, but I am still having "issues". This time on the stem. The stummel symmetry tuned out pretty well this time. This picture makes the stem look worse than it is, but it's certainly an issue. I noticed this late in the process. The molded stem was a bit bent or twisted somehow. Perhaps I did this while effecting the Delrin tenon and inserts, but I tend to think it was defective out of the mold. I tried bending it straight and reshaping, but not very successfully.
This kind of issue is is why I'm still not wanting to let anything out of the shop yet. Hope to nail these issues down soon. So, meanwhile, another great learning experience!
Tear it up folks. I'm here to learn!
