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I'm a complete newbie, still working with kits. Is it better to bend the stem while its in the stumel or bend it by itself?

How much extra thickness would you say needs to be left on the tenon in order to sand it smooth and polish it? Are we talking turn the tenon to the point where it'll barely insert, or so wide it won't insert at all until after the sanding and polishing? And by polishing - you mean polishing it on th...

Pooka that's ingenious. I had been wondering the same question, and your answer sounds like it'd work well.

Scott,

Sorry to hear about your problems. That must have been frustrating.

I'm working towards getting a wood lathe - the model I have in mind is a Delta Midi. Are those recomended or should I keep looking? I'm going to wait to buy it until I'm ready to buy all the attatchments, bits, chucks, etc. I'll need to use with it. I want to use it for drilling chamber and air hole...

I've been interested in this draft hole question too. My favorite pipes are the ones with the easiest draw. Once I move up to drilling my own blocks I'll probably shoot for 5/32 or maybe 11/64, but making my own stems is way way down the line so I'll be using pre-made stems. Is there a standard size...

I sarted with one of the kits from pipesandcigars, then a couple Pimos, and I just received three more kits from Tim West. I didn't crunch the numbers, but I'm not convinced Tim West's kits cost much more, but if they do, I'm willing to pay that, and then some. Tim West lets you choose exactly what ...

Thanks Kurt. I just talked to him - sounds like a really nice and helpful guy. And the price is reasonable.

This might be a dumb question, but what stage do you usually stamp the pipe? I'm guessing after the last sanding before the final stain goes on?

Though I'm just a hobbiest, I'd like to put my name or initials on pipes I make for myself and friends. Can someone suggest a maker of the custom stamps and let me know a ballpark figure on how much it might cost?