From rchamber at norwich.edu  Fri Nov 21 13:38:11 2008
From: rchamber at norwich.edu (Robert C. Chambers)
Date: Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:38:11 -0500
Subject: [Pipemakers] Bending Temperatures for Acrylic and Vulcanite
Message-ID: <3DE2D467657E5F40B346CBF3D58E7E666C2166@nuexchg.norwich.edu>

Hello,

 

My first post here and I am relatively new to pipemaking, having
completed two pipes in sugar maple (I'm in Vermont and maple is cheap
here  J) with vulcanite bits and one in plateau briar with a Cumberland
bit.  Thus far I have been able to shape my bits by sawing and filing.
But I am looking ahead to doing bent pipes and am wondering about the
correct temperatures for bending these two materials, acrylic and
vulcanite.

 

As far as technique, I have a pot of sand on a hot plate, with
thermometer, that I thought I would try first.  Any suggestions of other
heating methods would be appreciated.  As a Windsor chairmaker for 30+
years, I am quite familiar with steam bending ring-porous hardwoods, and
with the use of bending forms to realize the desired shapes, so I would
probably start bending stems in a similar manner.

 

In bending stems, to what extent is it recommended to progress with
finishing prior to bending?  Through the sanding phase (thus prior to
final polishing)?

 

Any insight would be much appreciated.

 

Regards,

 

RC in VT 

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From minz.elandril at gmail.com  Fri Nov 21 16:37:05 2008
From: minz.elandril at gmail.com (Nick Johnson)
Date: Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:37:05 -0500
Subject: [Pipemakers] Bending Temperatures for Acrylic and Vulcanite
In-Reply-To: <3DE2D467657E5F40B346CBF3D58E7E666C2166@nuexchg.norwich.edu>
References: <3DE2D467657E5F40B346CBF3D58E7E666C2166@nuexchg.norwich.edu>
Message-ID: <51be2e3c0811211337l15e32455w45ba3e24638c7d13@mail.gmail.com>

Heya RC,

I'm down in Connecticut.  I've never checked the temp for my stems.  I've
used a heat gun or just a candle to bend my stems, so it can't be all that
hot.  I like to bend my stems last, but this usally means extra buffing.
Others preser to bend their stems very early on in the process so that they
can see how the bend will affect the shape and lines of the pipe.  I don't
suppose there's really a right or wrong may to do it.  Just have fun with
it.

On Fri, Nov 21, 2008 at 1:38 PM, Robert C. Chambers <rchamber at norwich.edu>wrote:

>  Hello,
>
>
>
> My first post here and I am relatively new to pipemaking, having completed
> two pipes in sugar maple (I'm in Vermont and maple is cheap here  J) with
> vulcanite bits and one in plateau briar with a Cumberland bit.  Thus far I
> have been able to shape my bits by sawing and filing.  But I am looking
> ahead to doing bent pipes and am wondering about the correct temperatures
> for bending these two materials, acrylic and vulcanite.
>
>
>
> As far as technique, I have a pot of sand on a hot plate, with thermometer,
> that I thought I would try first.  Any suggestions of other heating methods
> would be appreciated.  As a Windsor chairmaker for 30+ years, I am quite
> familiar with steam bending ring-porous hardwoods, and with the use of
> bending forms to realize the desired shapes, so I would probably start
> bending stems in a similar manner.
>
>
>
> In bending stems, to what extent is it recommended to progress with
> finishing prior to bending?  Through the sanding phase (thus prior to final
> polishing)?
>
>
>
> Any insight would be much appreciated.
>
>
>
> Regards,
>
>
>
> RC in VT
>
> _______________________________________________
> Pipemakers mailing list
> Pipemakers at pipecrafter.com
> http://www.pipecrafter.com/mailman/listinfo/pipemakers
>
>


-- 
Nick
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From sethile.pipes at gmail.com  Fri Nov 21 17:10:44 2008
From: sethile.pipes at gmail.com (Scott Thile)
Date: Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:10:44 -0600
Subject: [Pipemakers] Bending Temperatures for Acrylic and Vulcanite
In-Reply-To: <51be2e3c0811211337l15e32455w45ba3e24638c7d13@mail.gmail.com>
Message-ID: <A722CD21E22346618B7494DD02A728D7@lappy>

I use an Unger heat gun and just try to evenly and carefully heat the stem
material until it starts to give. Obviously the thicker sections of material
will need longer with the heat or will not bend evenly with the thinner
portions. The hot sand method sounds like a better, and more controlled way
to heat the material that would facilitate getting the entire stem material
to the right temperature. I may eventually try to rig that up....
 
I normally bend the stems after nearly all the shaping is done, and have
sanded the stummel and stem down to 180 or so. I normally end up tweaking
the shape once I see the pipe with the bend. Sometimes I go back and forth a
couple times (shaping, sanding, bending, etc..). Once that's all tweaked I
then do the finish sanding, and/or mask for sandblasting....
 
BTW, This list is very inactive. You'll likely receive more input on the
PipeMakers forum:
 
http://www.pipemakersforum.com/
_________________
Scott E. Thile
S.E.THILE Handmade Pipes
http://sethilepipes.com <http://sethilepipes.com/> 
Sysop for Pipedia, the wiki for pipes
http://pipedia.org <http://pipedia.org/> 
-----------------
A laborer uses his hands. A craftsman uses his hands and heart. An artist
uses his hands, heart, and soul.
(St. Francis of Assisi)


 

-----Original Message-----
From: pipemakers-bounces at pipecrafter.com
[mailto:pipemakers-bounces at pipecrafter.com] On Behalf Of Nick Johnson
Sent: Friday, November 21, 2008 3:37 PM
To: A list for pipe makers to meet and discuss.
Subject: Re: [Pipemakers] Bending Temperatures for Acrylic and Vulcanite


Heya RC,
 
I'm down in Connecticut.  I've never checked the temp for my stems.  I've
used a heat gun or just a candle to bend my stems, so it can't be all that
hot.  I like to bend my stems last, but this usally means extra buffing.
Others preser to bend their stems very early on in the process so that they
can see how the bend will affect the shape and lines of the pipe.  I don't
suppose there's really a right or wrong may to do it.  Just have fun with
it.


On Fri, Nov 21, 2008 at 1:38 PM, Robert C. Chambers <rchamber at norwich.edu>
wrote:


Hello,

 

My first post here and I am relatively new to pipemaking, having completed
two pipes in sugar maple (I'm in Vermont and maple is cheap here  J) with
vulcanite bits and one in plateau briar with a Cumberland bit.  Thus far I
have been able to shape my bits by sawing and filing.  But I am looking
ahead to doing bent pipes and am wondering about the correct temperatures
for bending these two materials, acrylic and vulcanite.

 

As far as technique, I have a pot of sand on a hot plate, with thermometer,
that I thought I would try first.  Any suggestions of other heating methods
would be appreciated.  As a Windsor chairmaker for 30+ years, I am quite
familiar with steam bending ring-porous hardwoods, and with the use of
bending forms to realize the desired shapes, so I would probably start
bending stems in a similar manner.

 

In bending stems, to what extent is it recommended to progress with
finishing prior to bending?  Through the sanding phase (thus prior to final
polishing)?

 

Any insight would be much appreciated.

 

Regards,

 

RC in VT 


_______________________________________________
Pipemakers mailing list
Pipemakers at pipecrafter.com
http://www.pipecrafter.com/mailman/listinfo/pipemakers






-- 
Nick


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