Pipe Making, tools? other thoughts...

[kf5eqv]

A quick question for those of you on this forum who make pipes.

What tools does one need to make a decent pipe?
I have done a bit of reading and research and come up with the following list, is there anything I'm missing?
*Rotary tool of some type, with sanding bits for shaping

*drill or drill press, with rounded bits for boring out the bowl and smaller bits for the mortise

*oven, for shaping the stems

*jig saw or scroll saw
I realize there is a pipe-making forum, but I would kinda like to see more info on the subject of pipe-making available to members of THIS forum. It would have been easier for me to send this question to a certain pipe-making member in a PM, but I thought we could all benefit from the open discussion.

 

[unclearthur]

A lathe is one of the best ways for drilling and partial shaping. With a Jacobs chuck in the tailstock to hold the bits drilling is a snap. A drill press works but is a bit of a hassle to set up. I use a 5"velcro backing pad chucked in the lathe for shaping with sand paper. You can do the same chucking one in a drill. You can do a decent job of bending bits with just a candle. I use a HD heat gun. Bits for drilling you can reshape from spade bits or get them ready made up from PIMO.Jis or scroll saws are a pain in the arse! Either a plain coping saw or a decent band saw is better.

 

[kf5eqv]

Hmm, a lathe makes sense. I've never used one before, but I can imagine the shaping of the bowl being easier.
Some of the directions I've read for reshaping the stems say to cover the stem with salt while heating it up. Is there a reason for this? Seems like you wouldn't be able to do this with a heat gun. (although, a heat gun would be WAY more convenient.)

 

[unclearthur]

The salt thing is just a way to evenly heat the stem. I never liked messing with it. The great thing about a lathe is it is far more precise than fiddling with a drill press for drilling.

 

[lonestar]

I just got a couple of Eric Nording predrilled briar blocks, just to see if I'm any good at it before sinking $$$ into drilling tools.

I just started shaping one of them with a dremel, and I'm really impressed with how nice the grain is. Not quite nice enough to be called a "Straight Grain" but damn its pretty tight and straight.

Might check them out, I only paid $25 a pop for them, and I've never had a Nording that wasn't an awesome smoker.

My only problem with his freehands is that some of them are butt uggly.

So, my goal is just to make something that looks nicer than whatever Nording was going to turn the block into

I'm going to try to sorta make a Roger Wallenstein type pipe with it.

http://blue-lobster-pipes.com/en/wallenstein.htm
Also, come on over to the pipe makers forum, I just joined myself, and theres a lot of good information. But we can keep a conversation going about pipe making over here too.

 

[unclearthur]

His pipes are so strange that I just love them!

 

[lonestar]

Walle's pipes are one of a kind.

I didnt set out to make a "wallenstein" but after shaping a bit on it, I took a pic of it that reminded me of a clam shell. After studying the shape, and the grain, it just told me to make it an open clam shell with the plateau top as the clam inside. I think I have been spending too much time looking at Walle's pipes

But, if I can make it look half as cool in real life as it does in my head, it should be a pretty impressive first pipe.

 

[unclearthur]

Take pictures for sure!