A Bamboo Apple- A Few Of The Steps

[zack24]

It's always interesting for me after a major show like Chicago to try to use some of the advice and critique that I picked up from some of the great pipe makers who were there… I thought it would be interesting to show most of the steps that are part of making a pipe.

The finished pipe…

The beginning- briar, bamboo, B&W Ebonite from SEM

Turning the top- This is on my metal lathe, but is done freehand with woodturning tools

Trimming the ends of the bamboo and turning down the left shoulder for a trim ring using a pin gage on the metal lathe…Just upgraded to a Tormek waterwheel for sharpening- makes a huge difference in the way the tools cut…

Fitting the bamboo with a full length carbon fiber tenon

Final shaping on 600 grit wheel before sandblasting…(The grit is overkill for sandblasting, but it's a very soft wheel that blends the little facets left with the lower grit, firmer wheels.

Shaping the stem…

Using a delrin liner for the mortise…

All taped up and ready for the blaster…

Using a 1lb cut of some really great flake shellac- mix is 1oz flake to 8oz denatured alcohol…

Using a cone-shaped sander to finish the inner bevel…

The stamp- I actually stamped it before I masked and blasted- only way to get it lined up correctly…

…and that's all…(the black dots on the bamboo are colored epoxy where the nodes of the bamboo grew…

 

[agnosticpipe]

Very interesting post Zack, thanks for sharing! This is the kind of stuff most of us never get to see. Even with the small machines you use, it's plain to see all the hand work that is involved in making a pipe like that. Beautiful piece! :clap:

 

[ejames]

What keeps that bamboo from spinning on that pin gauge? Why do you use the carbon fiber instead of SS tubing/ Weight?

 

[zack24]

@ejames

What keeps that bamboo from spinning on that pin gauge? Why do you use the carbon fiber instead of SS tubing/ Weight?

The pin gages are in .001 increments, so I can usually get a tight fit. The biggest thing is the tools are incredibly sharp- I polish the edges to a mirror finish on a leather wheel and it doesn't take much force to cut...
On carbon fiber- I saw Joao Reis using it last year on some impossibly small bamboo shanked pipes- Eltang uses it on some pipes as well- the tubing has an epoxy base so it bonds very well with epoxy glue when you're gluing it up. It's also stable up to a higher temp than ebonite...

 

[newbroom]

The grain looked so promising BEFORE you blasted and stained it. I like the idea of the carbon fiber through to the bowl. I think there should be some embellishment at both ends of the bamboo, but, I really like that nomenclature.

Did you make the bowl shaped sanding paper and holder? Great stuff there.

 

[zack24]

@newbroom

Did you make the bowl shaped sanding paper and holder?

Yep- That was turned down out of wood. I use 3M adhesive to glue the sandpaper to it...

I think there should be some embellishment at both ends of the bamboo

I've done it both ways...If I had left it smooth, I probably would have used the trim on both ends
...and it was very nice grain- thought a couple of times about whether to blast it...

 

[newbroom]

The blaster wants you to use it and you want to develop your blasting skills so you 'sacrificed' a potentially nice natural smooth. It's YOUR wood.

I've read that a lot of guys develop different tools to do what they want. That's another whole aspect to the skill set.

Stems by themselves are an art form.

 

[mranglophile]

Looks wonderful. I too love looking behind the curtain, thanks.

 

[okiescout]

Thanks for posting, Zack. Very interesting pics. At one time I thought bamboo was distracting from clean pipe design lines. Over the past several years I have really come to like it depending on how well it fits with the other materials used in the piece. I really like the black blast with the bamboo and dark stem. I particularly like the way you turned the stem to echo or complement the lines in the bamboo.

 

[ssjones]

Fascinating, thanks for sharing this process. NOW I know how at least one maker does the beveled bowl tops.

 

[zack24]

NOW I know how at least one maker does the beveled bowl tops.

Al, the bevel is actually cut on the lathe...The sanding is just to finish it...

 

[jkrug]

Very cool! Thanks for the idside look.

 

[crusader]

Very cool post Zack! My name is Zac, so of course I want one of your pipes when funds are available

 

[ejames]

@ejames

What keeps that bamboo from spinning on that pin gauge? Why do you use the carbon fiber instead of SS tubing/ Weight?
The pin gages are in .001 increments, so I can usually get a tight fit. The biggest thing is the tools are incredibly sharp- I polish the edges to a mirror finish on a leather wheel and it doesn't take much force to cut...
On carbon fiber- I saw Joao Reis using it last year on some impossibly small bamboo shanked pipes- Eltang uses it on some pipes as well- the tubing has an epoxy base so it bonds very well with epoxy glue when you're gluing it up. It's also stable up to a higher temp than ebonite...

Thanks Zack !

 

[newbroom]

It's a beautiful thing. I know that both of you guys are skilled craftsmen, and that you openly discuss your craft right here for everyone makes me feel very fortunate.

 

[cigrmaster]

Zack, thanks for sharing the process, very cool.