Cutting a Stem - Video

[WCannoy]

So, I don't know how everyone else does it, but here's a condensed look at my process. I made this video as a bonus for my mailing list subscribers. I know I still need to post a video on slot work, but there's some included in this one.

[LatakiaLover]

For the terminally curious, this is (I'm pretty sure) the saw blade used for the slot:

http://www.ottofrei.com/Mono-Tooth-Wax-Sawblade.html

They cut like a fiend, and never load like a file.

[WCannoy]

For the terminally curious, this is (I'm pretty sure) the saw blade used for the slot:

http://www.ottofrei.com/Mono-Tooth-Wax-Sawblade.html

They cut like a fiend, and never load like a file.

That is what it looks like. Specificaly, mine is a Kemper K-31
http://www.creativecoldsnow.com/browse. ... 18564.html

[andrew]

Geez, I just use a jigsaw blade glued in a stick.....

That blade thingy is too fancy for me

[Ocelot55]

Geez, I just use a jigsaw blade glued in a stick.....

That blade thingy is too fancy for me

I used to use the same thing. Walt let me know about those kemper tools and they are amazing! And cheap too!

[andrew]

Yeah, I just ordered a couple. Cheap is good!

[caskwith]

I use a modified hacksaw blade. I tried use the abrafile type blades mentioned here but I just found that that they wander too much and mean you have to widen the slot with files to neaten things up. Just my experience though.

[heri]

nice video! What brand of files do you use please?

[UncleDraken]

These videos are incredibly helpful for noobs like myself, Walt! I'll watch as many as you can put out!

[wdteipen]

Nice video but why not a tapered bit? Don't you get a step in the top and bottom of your airway where it meets the slot?

[birba]

very cool!

[wmolaw]

Great video! Thanks so much. Another question, though. Why do you drill your draught hole after turning the tenon down?

I am trying to embark into the arcane area of cutting my own stems and thank you much for your videos. I too have a Taig, so these are great for me.

[pipedreamer]

Well done video. Enjoyed it Thanks.

[Red]

Thanks, Walt.

[WCannoy]

Nice video but why not a tapered bit? Don't you get a step in the top and bottom of your airway where it meets the slot?

No, between the file work and polishing the airway it ends up a fairly smooth transition. That's just the way I've always done it (before I knew there was such a thing as a tapered bit), and between the customer comments, and my own experience smoking my own work, I don't want to change my engineering. Here's a pic of a clear stem that I made. This was done probably almost ten years ago and I make the transition much smoother these days, but it will give you an idea anyway...

[WCannoy]

Great video! Thanks so much. Another question, though. Why do you drill your draught hole after turning the tenon down?

I dunno... Why not? I could lie and say that I flipped a coin!

I've done it both ways, depending on the day of the week and what color shirt I was wearing at the time, but it didn't seem to make a difference.

If anyone has a good argument for one method over the other, I'm not too old to learn something new!

[WCannoy]

nice video! What brand of files do you use please?

For the slot work, I use the Kemper K-31. There's a link in one of my comments above.

For shaping the stem and button, I just use a half-round bastard file with a safe edge ground on one side.

[wmolaw]

Great video! Thanks so much. Another question, though. Why do you drill your draught hole after turning the tenon down?

I dunno... Why not? I could lie and say that I flipped a coin!

I've done it both ways, depending on the day of the week and what color shirt I was wearing at the time, but it didn't seem to make a difference.

If anyone has a good argument for one method over the other, I'm not too old to learn something new!

I asked that as it just seems so much safer to drill a hole with a large volume of vulcanite to cushion/control the bit and drilling. With such a thin skin between the bit and the air, I would be concerned about heat expansion, bit movement, etc., etc.

Other than that, who knows.

I also ordered a couple of your files for the slot also. Thanks for the link!

[WCannoy]

Great video! Thanks so much. Another question, though. Why do you drill your draught hole after turning the tenon down?

I dunno... Why not? I could lie and say that I flipped a coin!

I've done it both ways, depending on the day of the week and what color shirt I was wearing at the time, but it didn't seem to make a difference.

If anyone has a good argument for one method over the other, I'm not too old to learn something new!

I asked that as it just seems so much safer to drill a hole with a large volume of vulcanite to cushion/control the bit and drilling. With such a thin skin between the bit and the air, I would be concerned about heat expansion, bit movement, etc., etc.

Other than that, who knows.

Valid concerns. I take very small bites with the drill bit and clear the chips often. I have not had a problem with it myself...

[5277a124]

Walt,

Great and informative video. Where did you get that small cylindrical dremel bit that you were using where the stem slopes up toward the shank?

Thanks,

Jeff