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[kvm]

Very creative, Dave. The damn thing looks alive! Does it bite?

[smokehouse]

Wow!! Very nice.

[EnyafanJT]

you still using premade stems or have you started to lathe them yourself? if so, do you make delrin tenons or lathe them from the ebonite rod as a one piece? could you post a pic of the end of the shank w/o the stem being in? i have seen corian used as extensions, is it hard to work?

[Subotaj]

The briar is outstanding and the pipe is amazing!!!!
i have only small problem with this excellent pipe. the white material that you used on the top of the shank looks very cheap and low quality to my eyes.. i think woodwork or without nothing would be much better on this gorgeous pipe.

However this is Excellent and very impressive work!
definitely i would add something like this to my privet collection.

[croatan]

Very cool, Dave!

[hollywood]

Originally Posted by EnyafanJT

you still using premade stems or have you started to lathe them yourself? if so, do you make delrin tenons or lathe them from the ebonite rod as a one piece? could you post a pic of the end of the shank w/o the stem being in? i have seen corian used as extensions, is it hard to work?

all hand cut. i have delrin for tenons, but don't use it much. this one from Ebonite. i'm also using a new high grade ABS that is rendering great results. should be as durable if not more and is more comfortable in the mouth. can be a bit more difficult to work with, but the cost of material is so much less than Ebonite.

i'll get that picture up for you later today.

[hollywood]

her ya go Enya:

[Alyks]

Very nice pipe, indeed

[SR Mike]

You are doing it again, I am drooling all over my keyboard. Dave, you have an awesome ability and imagination to create such beautiful pipes!!!

[tfar]

I am very impressed with your talents. Chapeau!

However, if you allow some minor criticism, which I know you will since I think you are someone seeking perfection, the entire mouthpiece and corian assembly could be improved.

1. I really like the idea of using corian. You could even get something with a granite look. That would be a very elegant and interesting contrast to the woodgrain. But isn't it possible to make it sit flush with the wood of the pipe; just an extension of the shank. You know like some pipe makers use silver or bone or ebony there. That's what I mean. The way it looks now is a bit rough and doesn't suit the suave character of that pipe.

2. The first mouthpiece with the round bit and its two steps was a crime. The second one is much better. Still I might try a different saddle shape or a tapered mouthpiece.

3. The two rods that hold the Corian in place look brutal. That is perhaps the most change-worthy thing. Imagine how nice (don't know if possible) it would be to have countersunk and blued or polished screws in there. I am thinking of something like what you see on the bezel of an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watch. http://www.p178host.com/apgallery/ro/15300/dial.jpg

What do you think?

Otherwise the shape, the grain and the inversed plateau are simply gorgeous; absolutely wonderful. So they deserve a better stem solution, no?

Till