Pipe Makers: Is it hard make a smooth rim on sandblast?

hiplainsdrifter · Dec 7, 2014

Today, I had a pipe maker tell me that he tried to make a sandblast finish pipe with a smooth rim, but that it didn't turn out so he sandblasted the rim instead. I don't know a lot about making pipes, but does this make any sense? It seems to me like having a smooth rim would be simple- even if you jacked the rim up while sandblasting the bowl, you could just sand the rim smooth again. Is it more complicated then that?

condorlover1 · Dec 7, 2014

If someone tried to sand blast my rim I would punch him on the nose!

mephistopheles · Dec 7, 2014

I think you're right. I'm not a pipe maker so take my thoughts with a grain of salt, but it seems to me that as long as there is enough material to keep playing with you can always sand something smooth.

zack24 · Dec 7, 2014

It' s simple- You stick a cork in the tobacco chamber and blast at an a slight upward angle so the blast doesn't touch the smooth rim. You'll get a little minor bounce back that requires touchup with a fine grit, but that's it…The only reason for having to blast the rim would be if you screw up and blast too much off the upper edge leaving a ragged circle at the top…in which case, the reputable pipe makers wouldn't sell it, but would just add it to their collection of shop pipes….…

Chasing Embers · Dec 7, 2014

I would just cover the area I didn't want blasted with a couple of layers of electric or vinyl tape.

wayneteipen · Dec 7, 2014

It may just be a miscommunication. Some pipe makers' standards are very high when it comes to sandpits and flaws. He may have meant that he shot for a smooth rim but there were flaws in the briar so he had to sandblast it. If a pipemaker said what you described to me, that's how I would interpret it if they were a reputable maker.

wayneteipen · Dec 7, 2014

Otherwise, no, a smooth rim on a sandblasted pipe isn't all that difficult to do. Getting a piece of briar that cooperates and gives you a flawless rim is a bit more difficult.

hiplainsdrifter · Dec 7, 2014

It may just be a miscommunication. Some pipe makers' standards are very high when it comes to sandpits and flaws. He may have meant that he shot for a smooth rim but there were flaws in the briar so he had to sandblast it. If a pipemaker said what you described to me, that's how I would interpret it if they were a reputable maker.

Turns out, this is exactly what happened. Thanks for the thoughts all...

phil67 · Dec 7, 2014

I would just cover the area I didn't want blasted with a couple of layers of electric or vinyl tape.

The purpose of sandblasting is to remove material, ergo... there goes the electrical tape.

If someone tried to sand blast my rim I would punch him on the nose!

Had my rim sandblasted back in 1967 by a... never mind, but I survived (not at all sure about her anymore). :lol:

okiescout · Dec 8, 2014

Thought that was going to be a war story, phil67. Well come to think of it, maybe it was. :lol:

mkelaw · Dec 9, 2014

There's nothing hard about it. When you're blasting near the rim you simply blast with the chamber & rim facing away from the blasting gun.

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Pipe Makers: Is it hard make a smooth rim on sandblast?

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