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I don't think there's a "right" way. There's ways that work, and ways that work not so good.

I know what my pipes smoke like, they smoke good for people who smoke the way I smoke. Some dude could come to me and say "These don't work that good for how/what I smoke." and I'd say "Well, that sucks, I guess you better buy some other kind of pipe that works better for you."

Luckily, Wayne builds his all wrong, so I have someone to send them to.

I'll take whatever business you want to send my way except for the "I'd like to commission a pipe carved in the shape of Gumby" work that you're always getting. You're much better at that kinda stuff anyways.

That gumby pipe came out great, I thought.

For me there are two things I want to hear. One is (Thats a great smoker.) and two is (Theres something about this pipe that reaches out to me.) Newcolmbe gets a little carried away to most since it's new ground. I've observed that not only does a pipe smoke better with less condensation, but cooler also. Variations have to be on a pipe to pipe basis. How big , chamber size 6 or 9mm filter,etc. In short, the Sasquatch is right. All of my pipes have been opened up,with good results. 11/64 seems to be the magic number for draft hole to stem.From tenon to bit,not positive yet but a taper seems to work for me. Many pipe makers cut what they were trained to cut. Many didn't want to chance burn outs or a client biting through a stem, survival.This is all my opinion and I'm new to posting. Oh well, I still talk to the briar. Forgive me if I offended, not my intent.

Sasquatch wrote: my usual setup is 11/64 airway at the chamber.

That's what I use. I can tell the difference in draw, even though it isn't much. 11/64ths all the way through actually. I have a 9/64ths for smaller stems, but usually it is the tapered 11/64ths that does it. I have both 8 inch and 4 inch...

So, glad to see Sas finally using what I recommend. Anything I can do to help you out in your progress buddy...

Jonathan