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I Want to Be a Master Stem-Cutter. Where Do I Start?

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AroEnglish

AroEnglish

Rehabilitant
Jan 7, 2020
5,149
15,134
#62
I aspire to eventually make my own pipe(s) from briar and rod but right now I’m pretty limited on time with young children. I thought a place where I could put my energy towards right now is learning how to cut stems and get good at it. I’m coming to realize how much of a difference a finely (or poorly) cut stem makes. I I love all the stummels on my pipes but not necessarily all of their stems, whether it’s looks, comfort/function, or both.

But where do I start? I have no tools, no knowledge, and no pipes that I’m willing to sacrifice for the sake of learning. Can the stem-cutting powers that be on this forum give me a crash course on what I’ll need as far as tools, resources, and a game plan?
 
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cosmicfolklore

cosmicfolklore

Lifer
Aug 9, 2013
34,765
79,170
Between the Heart of Alabama and Hot Springs NC
I've cut a few, enough to realize that I prefered casting my own, as opposed to carving one from scratch. Vulcanite of smoke stinky, messy, shit, that will stay in your clothes and you can even smell it on your hands after bathing. Sulfur, gotta love it.

Are you good at carving? If someone gave you a block of soap and asked you to carve a likeness of someone, could you? It may not seem relevant, since stems are different from a small portrait sculpture, but if you are going for attention to detail, one might even say that a stem is more difficult.
 
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AroEnglish

AroEnglish

Rehabilitant
Jan 7, 2020
5,149
15,134
#62
cosmicfolklore said:
I've cut a few, enough to realize that I prefered casting my own, as opposed to carving one from scratch. Vulcanite of smoke stinky, messy, shit, that will stay in your clothes and you can even smell it on your hands after bathing. Sulfur, gotta love it.

Are you good at carving? If someone gave you a block of soap and asked you to carve a likeness of someone, could you? It may not seem relevant, since stems are different from a small portrait sculpture, but if you are going for attention to detail, one might even say that a stem is more difficult.
Click to expand...
I may have carved something for a middle school project but it’s certainly been years. I don't think my hands are particularly good but I have a good eye for seeing slight details and differences. I’m hoping that with practice my hand will catch on.
 
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TheIronMonkey

TheIronMonkey

Lifer
Dec 3, 2021
5,434
46,702
Pennsylvania & New York
AroEnglish said:
I aspire to eventually make my own pipe(s) from briar and rod but right now I’m pretty limited on time with young children. I thought a place where I could put my energy towards right now is learning how to cut stems and get good at it. I’m coming to realize how much of a difference a finely (or poorly) cut stem makes. I I love all the stummels on my pipes but not necessarily all of their stems, whether it’s looks, comfort/function, or both.

But where do I start? I have no tools, no knowledge, and no pipes that I’m willing to sacrifice for the sake of learning. Can the stem-cutting powers that be on this forum give me a crash course on what I’ll need as far as tools, resources, and a game plan?
Click to expand...

You might want to check out this forum:


You’ll find lots of info about tools and techniques there.
 
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AroEnglish

AroEnglish

Rehabilitant
Jan 7, 2020
5,149
15,134
#62
kcghost said:
Pipemakers forum is a good place to start. There are numerous video on YouTube for you. I can't remember if @georged. included any stem making in his videos, if he did those would be excellent.
Click to expand...
Thanks! I subscribed to his channel way back but lost it in the sea of subscriptions.

George is one of my inspirations after seeing this stem that he made. I want to eventually do a tapered version of it one day:

P1060039.jpg
 
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georged

georged

Lifer
Mar 7, 2013
5,994
16,164
That's a hell of an ask. Zero to 1000 mph in one question. :)

First thing? Calibrate your head to appreciate that stem creation is 100% subtractive. It's not like sculpting with modeling clay or similar "shaping arts". The old joke "just start with a chunk of raw material and remove everything that doesn't look like the stem you want" is literally true. Not a joke.

Next, understand that the necessary accuracy/precision of that removal is around a thousandth of an inch on some parts of a stem. Meaning hand tools alone won't be enough. You'll need a $hop and several machine$

Actually, here's a good way to test the waters (so to speak).

If the following narrated project flips your "Cool! I wanna do it even more, now!" switch after watching, your desire is real and likely to be long lasting.

If it has the opposite effect, it's good you found out sooner rather than later:


 
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AroEnglish

AroEnglish

Rehabilitant
Jan 7, 2020
5,149
15,134
#62
georged said:
That's a hell of an ask. Zero to 1000 mph in one question. :)

First thing? Calibrate your head to appreciate that stem creation is 100% subtractive. It's not like sculpting with modeling clay or similar "shaping arts". The old joke "just start with a chunk of raw material and remove everything that doesn't look like the stem you want" is literally true. Not a joke.

Next, understand that the necessary accuracy/precision of that removal is around a thousandth of an inch on some parts of a stem. Meaning hand tools alone won't be enough. You'll need a $hop and several machine$

Actually, here's a good way to test the waters (so to speak).

If the following narrated project flips your "Cool! I wanna do it even more, now!" switch after watching, your desire is real and likely to be long lasting.

If it has the opposite effect, it's good you found out sooner rather than later:


Click to expand...
Haha yeah the question is definitely 0-1000 mph but I know I'll need a lot of road and hit a lot of bumps before hitting that top speed. I'm in my mid-30s right now and I don't have any assumptions that I'll be anything but decent in the next 10 years (though I hope for it).

I haven't watched this specific playlist of yours but I have watched others and I've always though, "I want to do something that precisely!" I just watched the first video about this Tokutomi pipe and I'm really geeked to see how it all comes together.

I think desire and vision are there but funds are currently the limiting factor. What would you recommend in for going 0-10 mph with stem cutting? Should I just buy a bunch of estate pipes and start trying to repair them? And what are the tools that would go along with this modest start?
 
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AroEnglish

AroEnglish

Rehabilitant
Jan 7, 2020
5,149
15,134
#62
mortonbriar said:
Given your opening statement, I still think the place to start is with the right tools. Maybe start by saving up for a lathe.
Click to expand...
Yeah, a lathe is certainly unavoidable. Do you think that's required for taking the first step though? I'd be happy to save up for one if it is.
 
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