Home ©2002 LUNA Pipes |
| Hand-Cut Stem Making
Process:
Here I am making hand-cut stems for Fred's Cavicchi and David's Ferndown. Both will be cut from vulcanite rod. Here you see some of the tools I'm using. In the upper right is a 6" long, 9/64" drill bit along with a 6" long, 5/64" drill bit. Hole gauges and calipers help this process along.
Here's the first stage in the drilling process. The Cavicchi is going to have an 8" churchwarden stem. 4" down I drill the 9/64" hole. Then the vulcanite rod is reversed and the 5/64" hole is drilled 4" down to meet in the center.
Cutting the tenon.
Now the stem blank is fitted to David's Ferndown. This is an extra stem. Don't worry, he still wants to keep the Cumberland.
Here is the vulcanite stem on the taper jig. This is run over a straight flute bit on my router table. With a bit of shimming this taper will work on almost any length taper stem.
The rod after the taper is machined. The narrowest point is twenty thousands of an inch in width. After shaping, filing and polishing it will end up a comfortable eighteen thousands. Stay tuned, more of this process will be added in the coming days. |
