I sometimes have a pipe in mind, or on the very rare occasion of making a
commissioned pipe, search for the right briar block to fit the concept. More often, will
randomly pick a block from my bin and contemplate its ultimate destiny. I pencil sketch
the pipe actual size, including the bowl shape and tobacco chamber, air passage,
mortice and individual components that will make up the stummel extensions and bit
components and bands.

Once the plan is laid out, I drill the stummel chamber, air hole and mortice on the lathe
without much rough shaping, and then cut my stem, tenon, and bit components on the
metal lathe. Once the roughed components are complete I will epoxy the stummel
components together and bit components together as separate units.
Once assembled I will put the stummel and bit together and use a grinding disc, French
Wheel, rotary burr and files to progressively begin to shape the pipe. Once I’ve achieved
a close approximation of the bowl and stem shape I will remove the bit and shape the
general desired contour on the lathe, followed by hand filing and sanding the bit to its
final configuration.

The final sanding and finishing and bit bending is it done with the pipe assembled to
complete the final product. I finish all my pipes with a coat of carnauba wax for the final
luster after sanding and buffing to the equivalent of a 1200 grit finish.

Commissioned Oyster Pipe

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