Need Stems Made for Stummels

[woodsroad]

Greetings, Culture Lovers
I have a good number of unfinished stummels, sans stems. I'd like to have stems made for some of them, but don't want the stems to have the final fitting and finish work done. I like to do all the final work on the pipes myself.
Any recommendations? Is there anyone here that would like to tackle this?

 

[antbauers]

I'd contact Steve Norse at VT Freehand.

 

[onepyrotec]

You can buy stems or just rod from Steve a.k.a. Vermont Freehand on FB.

 

[zack24]

Steve has the best stuff! Some of the stems would require just a tenon cutter and some file work to adapt....

 

[woodsroad]

OK, great!

Now, how do I cut the the tenon?

 

[zack24]

PIMO has a fairly mediocre tenon cutter that will work....

 

[cosmicfolklore]

The PIMO tenon cutter really only works on a drillpress. However, it works very well with one, if you keep it cleaned free of vulcanite junk. But, with a hand held drill, all you will ever get it to do is destroy stem material.

 

[newbroom]

The thought just occurred to ME, I'm sure it's been done. The idea is of drilling the draft from bit to bowl and then shaping. It is probably absurd to these close tolerance craftsmen.

 

[onepyrotec]

Steve can cut the tenon for you if you know the exact size. He can cut it a little over size and you can sand to fit, OR you can send him your pipe to fit the tenon then you finish the stem. Cheaper than buying a tenon cutter unless you plan on getting a LOT of use out of it to justify the costs.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I initially bought my tenon cutter to replace stems that I'd set on. Ha ha. It was only $40, and I had a whole workshop full of equipment anyways. The next logical step for me to start making tenons for antique frazed factory buy outs. And, then making my own pipes from scratch. I think I got my $40 back in enjoyment. I don't want to make ALL of my own pipes, just dabble in it to appreciate what these artists do and understand these magical things that we burn the leaf in.

 

[mikestanley]

You can also look at www.jhlowe.com. This is Tim West's site. It's a grat little site and Tim is a heck of a guy.
Mike S.

 

[woodsroad]

Alright, I'm back in from my assignments today and the response here has been great. Thanks you, everyone. I have a drill press, so I'm going to look at the tenon cutter.

 

[zack24]

Here are pics of 3 different tools I have at the shop-

On the left is the Tim West Tool- I use it in the tailstock of my lathe....it's an excellent tool, but is only available used through places like Pipemakers.org classified ads.

On the right is the PIMO tool- If you want to borrow this for a few weeks, let me know...

Third is my pride and joy- the center pin doesn't rotate and moves in and out on a spring plunger- I use it for all my bamboo work....

 

[woodsroad]

Zack, much appreciated.

I'm going to start with the little Pimo cutter and see where it gets me. The center turns, eh? What's the diameter?
The third tool looks like something that my Dad would have cobbled together. Where/how did you come by this little gem?

 

[zack24]

The pin is 1/8"- a bit of a problem because you would normally use a 5/32" to drill the stem in contemporary pipes. The 1/8" is a holdover from when that tool was developed 30 years ago...You could always drill 1/8, then enlarge it to 5/32 or have someone turn a 5/32" pin dropping to 1/8" where it enters the tool.
My favorite cutter has a label- Joes Pipe Repair & Import Edwardsville, Il. I don't know if that means that they were the importers or whther everyone of these tools came with a name plate for the repair shop. I've heard that they were designed by Tim West...Don't know for sure...I also heard that they cost about $500 when new...and that was a long time ago....Anyone have any info on that?

 

[woodsroad]

This tells me that there is room for some new pipe tools. Perhaps a pipe-smoking CNC wizard? Someone like Woodpeckers.....

 

[gmwolford]

I have the PME tenon tool and have no issues using it with a hand drill. Pipe Makers Emporium Tenon Tool: a review . Steve (rebornpipes.com) uses the PIMO one also without trouble in a hand drill. RebornPipes.com My point being a drill press may be handy but isn't a must.

 

[mortonbriar]

i have the pimo tool and a drill press, 'measure twice and cut once' is all i can say, just keep checking the fit. the tool works fine though i think. Pimo also sell the little tapered rods for enlarging the tenon, which i found handy for making a tight fit again when i didnt measure twice.

 

[newbroom]

It has taken me a few months of this new to me hobby to begin to appreciate the nuances of the stem. Learning about the fabrication of pipes has been fascinating.
I can see myself attempting to complete the process in my own fashion at least once. I'm not UN handy, just locked in a condo w/o a garage or workshop, yet.
I've watched vids of a guy using the pimo tool in a hand held drill. He also showed those tapered inserts used to tweak the tenon's diameter.
I watched one fellow's vids of modified cob stems where he replaced shank and stem with a 5/32 draw and claimed that the result was a cob that smoked (drew, I guess) like a briar.
I've read about secret drilling methods and draw hole enhancements.
I bought an estate Dunhill with a replacement stem. I can get an authorized Dunhill replacement made to original specifications for my specific pipe complete with authorized insignia (and I have sent this pipe out to Howard)for the same amount I paid for the pipe.
Stems are more important than I'd first realized when clenching my first legend to death.