Video Episode #002 -- Stem Cutting Tools

http://www.jalanpipes.com

An introduction to stem making tools. This is intended to be a basic introduction. Tools are not detailed. Much of pipemaking involves innovation and the creation of tools to meet one's specific needs. I hope that the tools introduced in this video give you an understanding of what I use so that you may choose and modify tools to meet your own needs.

Music by Duncan Beattie

Category:

Education

Tags:

• pipemaking
• pipes
• tobacco
• smoking
• briar
• high
• grade
• highgrade
• alan
• jeffrey
• gracik
• burt-gracik

[beesh1on1]

Hello Mr. Alan. Great video! I had a question I've been trying to find an answer to for some time now and it finally dawned on my to ask an expert like yourself. I can't quite figure out what new pipe bowl chambers are coated with to give them that black color? I'm restoring a few old pipes and wanted to recoat the inside of the bowl after drilling back down to the wood but I don't know what to use or how to do it. I don't know if u coat the inside of your bowls with the black stuff but if you

[jalanpipes]

@beesh1on1 Thanks! Bowl coatings are generally painted on as the final step in pipemaking. There are a number of recipes floating around, but generally speaking the black color comes from Activated Charcoal and is adhered with a binder. Try a mix of sour cream and buttermilk as a binder. It dries hard and flavorless.

[silvermediastudio]

@beesh1on1 Some are coated as explained, and some are carbonized with a high-temperature propane/O2 flame. If you look up carbonizing a pipe you'll see some examples.

[jalanpipes]

@silvermediastudio I suppose if you don't mind pre-scorching the rim, that might be another way. No high-grade pipes receive their carbon coatings with high-temperature flames...or flames of any sort...to my knowledge.

[silvermediastudio]

@jalanpipes I only became aware of the method from a UK fabricator named Blakemar. He uses a die, looks like a large thimble, with a few small holes in it. The fuel/air mixture is fed up from below like a Bunsen burner, once it's hot he presses the pipe down over the die, quick twist, and off the heat, so it doesn't impact the rim. There's a vid on his channel. If you can check it out I'd be interested to hear your thoughts.

[jalanpipes]

@silvermediastudio It's innovative, I suppose. But introduces an unnecessary risk of damage. For what he's making, this is probably an effective method because he's burning in the bowls of dozens of pipes at once. The grade of pipe is much different than what I make and the risk and need is not there. This doesn't make sense for high-end pipe makers. ...nor hobbyists for that matter.

[silvermediastudio]

@jalanpipes Makes sense, thanks for your insight. I checked out your website, some truly stunning pieces. I am particularly fond of the deco-inspired designes, the handful of pipes I've carved myself follow that style. I hope you produce more videos for YouTube, I would thoroughly enjoy seeing more of your work. What do you think is the "next thing" for modern pipe making? New designs, new materials, something else, or a return to traditional simplicity perhaps?

[jalanpipes]

@pokiebaron Glad to hear you're finding the videos informative.

[jalanpipes]

@beesh1on1 I'm in San Diego

[beesh1on1]

Hello Mr. Alan. I was wondering where you work out of?

[pokiebaron]

Nice video, I always wondered how they were crafted.