List and Pictures for Acrylic Stem Stock?

Pipe Makers Emporium has a lot of lucite (acrylic) rod stock, as well as stem blanks...
http://www.pipemakers.org/

MORE to look at.

You can also find really interesting options from knife-making supply companies. Jantz and masecraft come to mind.

You can also find really interesting options from knife-making supply companies. Jantz and masecraft come to mind.

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Yes, and I've dealt with them for years when it was Koval before they became known as Jantz when I used to make handmade custom knives years ago However, that material is not conducive for stems as it does not come in rod stock except for some of the pen blanks which is obviously too small. Even then, I seriously doubt that a pipe maker is going to bother with turning a stem from their block material when there is so much rod stock already readily available and easily obtainable from pipe making suppliers. Even then, some of that material, albeit beautiful, could be poisonous for use as stem material.

This thread is pretty informative reading too,

Kashmir did alot of research on various material...

http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/fancy-lucite-stems
There's also a rarely seen material called Tuskanite:

http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/rad-davis-tuskanite-best-stem-material
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However, that material is not conducive for stems as it does not come in rod stock except for some of the pen blanks which is obviously too small.

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I use a lot of different pen blanks for stem material. They are usually 3/4" square which is big enough for most stems. Also they're available in about a million colors and patterns.
Check out what Penn State Industries or Exotic Blanks has to offer.

ejames, thanks for those links. It looks like these are excellent resources for stem options.

I use a lot of different pen blanks for stem material. They are usually 3/4" square which is big enough for most stems. Also they're available in about a million colors and patterns.
Check out what Penn State Industries or Exotic Blanks has to offer.

Click to expand...

Yes, when I come to think of it even though there is a multitude of rod stock available to make pipe stems there are times when some stem designs when one must be able to turn one out of square stock.
I think I was more in the realm of thinking, and or the concern about the choice of material that is available/conducive which should not be used as many can be toxic, or at least cause some caution. Many woods and synthetic materials, albeit beautiful, should never be used for a stem. Some that could possibly be of concern are: Alder, Ash, Beech, Birch, Bubinga, Ebony, Maple, and there are others albeit most of them would not be considered for making a stem. Then of course there are some synthetic materials which abound and would not, in my mind are safe. One that immediately comes to mind and that I’ve used extensively for making knife handles would be MIcarta which comes in a multitude of various designs and is quite beautiful. However, it is made of phenolic resin which contains phenol and is considered to be quite toxic to humans via oral exposure. I’ve worked with a multitude of exotic woods and synthetic materials, but I’ve always worn a respirator while doing so. Just because some material is beautiful and available (pen blanks) and seems like the ideal answer to making that ‘special’ stem one should step back and take extra caution. All that ‘glitters’ is not safe is all that I’m trying to say. :wink:

Scotties from Ladybriar has been using some real cool looking faux tortoise shell Bakelite. I think it is pretty rare stuff. I have not seen an acrylic equivalent yet.

Premal, did you ever find a retail location?