Murder City Pipes

New exotic blanks in, so I’m drinking and turnin 🤌🏻

A fun filled day of file work.

While wrapping up on Friday a burst pipe in the concrete slab of my house decided to interrupt things. Got that repaired yesterday and got back to work in the shop today. Everything was going great on this chonky boi until I cut the bottom of this block to discover a freaking pit (I’m now 4/4 with these things on grade one blocks). It’ll still make a fine pipe, but aggravating nonetheless.

Took longer than I wanted it to, but this little thing turned out okay. Ended up making another end-cap because the first wasn’t tight enough for my liking. It was tight, but not “well that’s cross threaded now” tight. Also tried out a new method of buffing/polishing that I’m pretty happy with. More steps, but a better finish.

Finally got the new lathe leveled, break-in complete and fluid changed, so I’m back to making sawdust. First order of business was an end-cap for that little reverse calabash I started. Found a piece of Macassar Ebony that should finish up nicely. More sanding and stem work before it gets polished up.

Anyone else ever go to a tool sale at Grizzly Industrial in Springfield, MO with the intent of just buying a quick change tool post for your current lathe, but end up buying a whole ass lathe? This guy did 🙋🏼‍♂️

Gonna be making all the sawdust real soon!

Started on this little reverse calabash today. Was originally going to make it a poker/reverse calabash but it felt like holding a brick. Some reshaping with a lot of filing later and here it sits. Now to decide on a piece for the end cap 🤔

Managed to get another one just about ready for blasting today.

Don’t miss out on this raffle 👀

Just about ready to wrap up the all-briar. Couple flaws in the stummel, so it’s off to the blasting cabinet next to highlight the ring grain.