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I'm new to the land of pipe making. I started refurbishing estate pipes about 5 months ago. I recently bought a Peterson 80s with a stem that's beyond repair. I bought a pre shaped P-lip from Pipe makers emporium when I ordered dyes. I've looked on here and found many ways to shape and cut the stem. But, having limited power tools, a drill a dremel a buffer/grinder wheel and a table router, I have no way or idea how to turn the tenon to the correct diameter. Can any one give me a hint or tell me how to cut turn it down by hand?

There's a tenon cutter, kind of like a pencil sharpener, that PIMO sells. Failing that, you can kind of roll up some 80 grit paper and try to grind it roundish and the rightish size.

I use the above mentioned PIMO tenon tool (much cheaper than tenon tools elsewhere) in a hand drill clamped to my workbench. Not surprisingly the results are less than perfect. Without a drill press to hold it steady or one of the more expensive tenon tools from JHLowe or Pipe Makers Emporium your results will probably be less than perfect. I am now exploring the drill press/forstner bit/delrin option.

When I first started re-steming estates I made myself one of these:



It's fairly simple to use and does the job, it takes some time unless you roughly trim the tennon with a file. The first one had a leather hinge at the top but this lead to some tapering of the tennon as the pressure was uneven, the final version I made had a metal hinge which solved the problem.



I still use one to fine tennons

David.

Now THAT is a slap-the-forehead moment of genius if ever I've seen one!

I'm good at them. which is why I'm going bald.

Brilliant, David!

Wow, that is a really cool thing, David. Now I know what I have to do tomorrow next to making pipes...

DMI - just the right thing i was searching for... thank You so much

That is a rather brilliant solution, DMI, thank you for sharing. I am used to using a lathe for that sort of work, and this looks to be a much more convenient method. Consider yourself ripped off, I will be making a copy this weekend.

Bob