First Blood

[d.huber]

So I finally managed to do a little hand mangling. Nothing actually debilitating or anything. Just a nice gouge or two in the hand instead of the briar.

Wanna hear the story? Check it out at the blog: http://dshpipes.blogspot.com/

And yeah, it's a little embarrassing.

[RadDavis]

Ouch.

Hope this helps.

Rad

[archaggelosmichail]

I wish you the best!

Your first pipe was beautifull and now you must get better and better with every piece.

[DMI]

Try clamping the briar and holding the drill, after all it is designed to be held onto.

Don't be embaressed about flying briar, I snapped a shank today when the stummel (rim) caught on the polishing mop, one finished pipe in the bin.

David

[d.huber]

Ouch.

Hope this helps.

Rad

As always your words of wisdom transform my understanding of life.

[d.huber]

I wish you the best!

Your first pipe was beautifull and now you must get better and better with every piece.

Thanks! I certainly hope this is the case. Only time(and some more experiences like this, I'm sure) will tell.

[d.huber]

Try clamping the briar and holding the drill, after all it is designed to be held onto.

Don't be embaressed about flying briar, I snapped a shank today when the stummel (rim) caught on the polishing mop, one finished pipe in the bin.

David

Thanks for this tip. It's amazing to me how things that seem so simple and logical can be so elusive sometimes.

[SchmidtN]

Don't feel bad, I've sawed off a finger before. Actually, I don't trust a woodworker who hasn't. [no shifty eyed smilies, huh?]

[DMI]

I put it down to one of the few benefits of being Autistic, I tend to see things in simple ways.

You seem to be set on the idea of needing a lathe to drill your pipes, I and several others use Pillar Drills fitted with a Cross Axis Vice for the job. It does mean that you have to square the blocks before drilling (or the holes don't line up) which to do easily requires a band saw.

Take a look at this : http://www.pdf-archive.com/2010/11/27/making/

David.