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Pipe Making: Difference between revisions
→Drills for stems
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==== Drills for stems ==== | ==== Drills for stems ==== | ||
6" long tapered bits are an excellent choice for drilling out stem rod. 4mm, 5/32", and 9/64", and 1/8" are popular choices, depending on design preferences. These are stopped around 3/4" short of the bit end and followed up with a smaller bit that will facilitate thinning | 6" long tapered bits are an excellent choice for drilling out stem rod. 4mm, 5/32", and 9/64", and 1/8" are popular choices, depending on design preferences. These are stopped around 3/4" short of the bit end and followed up with a smaller bit that will facilitate thinning the stem at the bit for maximum comfort and aesthetics. Popular choices for this are HSS S&D bits in 1/16", or 2mm diameters, with some pipe makers going as small as 1 mm. 6" long "aircraft bits" enable this portion to be drilled from the same end as the rest of the air hole, or the rod stock can be flipped around and drilled from the other end with a shorter bit so long as proper alignment can be achieved with a self centering chuck or vice. | ||
==== Forstner bits ==== | ==== Forstner bits ==== | ||