Making a Handcut Pipe Mouthpiece

Working through each of the steps that go into making a handmade mouthpiece out of ebonite. In our last video, I demonstrated how to finish a sandblasted pipe and to fabricate a decorative ring. But we stopped short of making the mouthpiece. This time I briefly describe each of the stages of the process before capturing them on camera for you all.
I'd love to do some deep dives into steps that are confusing or could use some more explanation. If you find some that will be most helpful to you, let me know in the comments and I'll try to address them in future videos.
Thanks again for watching.
For more videos, consider checking out my channel.
For pipes, check out my website: www.jalanpipes.com
For photos of my current work, check out my instagram: / jalanpipes

[@jasonbush4439]

And it's just that easy 😂 Thank you for taking the time to do these videos. I am trying my hand at making my first couple of pipes and being able to see someone of your caliber do it is a big help! Thank you again and stay well! I look forward to seeing whatever you post next.

[@jalanpipes]

just like that. easy peasy. 😁

[@seasmokepipes5533]

Great video. So much work but worth it in the end. Thanks

[@jalanpipes]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@rickymiller76]

Soooo much admiration for your art, passion and craftsmanship.

[@jalanpipes]

Thanks so much.

[@stefanmay4297]

Another great video. I am so thankful for a pro sharing his experience. I would like to see a video making a pipe without a lathe - as many amateurs like me are lacking one. Greetings from Germany!

[@jalanpipes]

Great suggestion! I've thought about it...but it's hard to find the time...

[@reumpipes]

Just so everyone knows, this is not sped up. Jeff’s a robot and his hands actually move that fast!

[@Emanemoston]

Very well done sir. Thank you for the video.

[@jalanpipes]

Glad it was helpful!

[@SatenSheets]

very beautiful, I saw this in the store. very satisfying video!

[@jalanpipes]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@portlandpipesmoker8497]

Hello Jeff, hope you're well! Really enjoyed that....great video, very interesting! You are quite the craftsman...it really shows in these videos. Take care, Corey

[@jalanpipes]

Thanks 👍

[@jameshull5274]

A beautiful pipe from start to finish Mr. Alan! And would definitely consider them functional pieces of art. A pipe of yours will be a retirement gift to myself haha

[@reumpipes]

Great video man! Thanks

[@jalanpipes]

No problem!

[@r.dickeypipes9]

Another great video! Suggestions? I loved the ivorite ring video, but is there any way you could do more of a step-by-step on the lathe? Like, the tools you’re using and the purpose of the cuts you’re making? A video on cutting tools and the job each one does might be another idea as well. Your videos are a gift to the pipemaking community. Thanks Jeff!

[@kevinwilliams4143]

Amazing work! Love seeing the process. I recently got an Alan Brothers Fairmount and it’s amazing! Glad I got one before they are no more. 😬 Cheers and stay well.

[@jalanpipes]

Thanks! Enjoy the new pipe!

[@speciesofspaces]

Nice soundtrack. Reminds me of Mike Baggetta's co-lab album Wall of Flowers.

[@PipeandTamper]

Brilliant 🤟

[@mohammadkarimpourkarim6681]

you are so amazing sir, tnx alot for awesome video

[@jalanpipes]

You are most welcome

[@The-man-with-the-many-pipes]

Hello! Beautiful Video good smoke 🔥 👌

[@poolenchannel7053]

Amazing..👍👍👍👍👍🙏

[@jalanpipes]

POOLEN CHANNEL 🙏

[@erikbilling8160]

Very Nice 👌

[@baksuz11]

Great video Jeff! I'm thinking of buying a bigger lathe so I'm just wondering what size do you use? And for future videos, my suggestion is the drilling process in more detail - for me maybe the crucial part of making a pipe because if you fail in this phase, you can throw away a good block of briar. Thanks, and keep on filming!

[@jalanpipes]

I use an 11x27. 9x20 is just fine for most pipe makers. the larger lathe has a few advantages that would only be realized by professionals in most cases.

[@claudecharland5091]

great job d'ont stop showing your know how's

[@russhicksart]

What a fantastic video! Very inspiring. The final results are simply stunning. If one were thinking of trying to make an ebonite stem is there a minimum list of the specific tools you'd need? Seems like it would be hard to do it without a nice lathe though. How do you prevent removing too much material and exposing the draft hole?

[@jalanpipes]

It's possible, but not really practical to do this without a lathe.

[@Adui13]

Stem work has been my Achilles heel since I started trying to make quality pipes. This video is without a doubt the most informing to me of what I am doing wrong, and and one master's method of doing it right. Thank you! I do have one question. What are your finished dimensions on the mouthpiece? overall thickness at the button and where the stem meets the button?

[@jalanpipes]

Happy to provide some help to you. Nearly all of my mouthpieces finish up around .64" wide and .14" thick behind the button +/- .005ish

[@1cleandude]

So at 7:45 you were cutting the slot in stem with the fixed drill and small bit? OMG Jeff another awesome work of art!🙏🙏🙏

[@jalanpipes]

correct. It’s a 1/16” drill bit in a foredom grip

[@heh845]

Luar biasa bos.mantap sekali👍

[@corksauve4949]

Loven your videos! Do you ever think one more turn on the lathe or one more stroke of the file? then realize that was one to many?

[@jalanpipes]

Cork Sauve haha! Yeah, it can be that close. But I like to say that my work is just problem solving. I hope to reduce the number of problems that I introduce, but all through the process I am making decisions and often having to adapt my plans or pivot entirely, in order to finish a project successfully.

[@putujulianta2990]

nice mouthpiece...

[@jalanpipes]

Thanks a lot 😊

[@edfratzke6184]

Someone’s probably already asked but what brand of lathe is that and what rpms is your sanding wheel. Been watching your videos for years.

[@MindMatterCreate]

HI Jeff, I just discovered your channel, you do some really beautiful work. Just a question, what diameter hole (in mm) do you drill in the stem and mouthpiece ? Its looks about 3 or 4mm, is that correct ? I would like to make a pipe as a gift for a friends dad who recently lost his wife. Cheers Mate, Much Appreciated.

[@jalanpipes]

4mm is correct.

[@brendan1181994]

Hi Jeff, Do you wipe down the stem, to remove the red compound on the stem, before you buff it with the white diamond compound?

[@jalanpipes]

I do.

[@mustafasanandaj3375]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@persecutedbiblebeliever5493]

Excellent. Nice to have all those tools. What's a setup like that cost?

[@jalanpipes]

You can start with very little. I did. It's taken 18 years to collect the tools I use.

[@AlexKr0iss]

Hello Jeff, thank you so so much for that super informative video. Helps a lot. May I ask you to what grit you send your mouthpieces before buffing and what size your button has? Thanks 😊

[@jalanpipes]

I don't measure the button height, but they are ~.64" wide. I wet sand to 600gr, and 1000 behind the button.

[@AlexKr0iss]

@@jalanpipes Thank you very very much. That helps a lot. Again, it is still super impressive what you are doing. The few mm behind the button are often very challenging for me... :)

[@erics7712]

Wow. Beautiful. When do you choose a Delrin tenon?

[@jalanpipes]

Thanks! Almost never. I’ll explain in a video next week.

[@erics7712]

Interesting. I spoke to JM Boswell about pipe making on many occasions and he has the same philosophy. In general he, like the great Danes don’t want to rely on glue to keep a pipe together for generations. In fact he shared with me that Bari, who He thinks was the first factory pipe to use bamboo did so because they needed a way to use small blocks of briar. I can’t wait to see your next installment. Thanks for the great content and beautiful work.

[@tylerpierce5143]

Hi Jeff. Great video. I was wondering, what is the fluid on the sand paper when you are sanding?

[@jalanpipes]

Two parts hydrogen, one part oxygen.

[@Heywoodthepeckerwood]

@@jalanpipes I thought that was highly illegal there.... black market??

[@dannyhanke4338]

How bout a video on pipe maintenance... what do you do to keep your pipes looking great.

[@jalanpipes]

Anything in particular that you want to see?

[@dannyhanke4338]

J. Alan Pipes Is there daily, monthly or yearly maintenance you do on your personal pipes?

[@jalanpipes]

Gotcha. Best to avoid covering my personal pipes-they’re in embarrassing condition. But I can do a recommended cleaning list

[@dannyhanke4338]

J. Alan Pipes No no! Use your personal pipes. Embarrassing condition is exactly what we want to see restored to beautiful condition.

[@mateobrainardo4770]

Yes, use your daily driver for the video. The worse the better. If you’re smoking them, they always need a good spit-shine!

[@addeniz]

Merhaba Alan Seni tanımak çok güzel Eline sağlık

[@CorbenEdward]

This music was awesome! where can I find it?

[@jalanpipes]

It's music provided by Storyblocks. I'm not sure which was used in this one.

[@horsenut4617]

Hi Mr. Jeff, Ask about the tools when you use for grinding, that is nail grind or metal grind? Can you tell the size and type?

[@jalanpipes]

Are you asking about the grinding disk? If so, I’m not sure. Mine is a 36 grit ceramic abrasive disk.

[@horsenut4617]

J. Alan Pipes no Sir.. I mean that grinder stick when you make mouthpiece shape before you doing polish in this video... Im not sure about the name..

[@mateobrainardo4770]

Just curious as to the steel guitar music used in song #one. Great song. Pedal steel rules.

[@jalanpipes]

Not sure. It was a free license probably through YT or Storyblocks.

[@altocalchaqui9664]

Hi...what rype of wood do you use to make the stem?

[@AntonioGarcia-nj3cd]

Hi Jeff, what is the tool you use to carve the channel of the mouthpiece? like a mini saw... how is it called and where could I get it? Thank you for your help!

[@jalanpipes]

It’s a hacksaw blade that I have cut and ground to shape. Then I glue it into a handle.

[@AntonioGarcia-nj3cd]

@@jalanpipes Thank you!!

[@thetilenation9916]

Is there anyway to do this by hand? I’m after one of those swirl color stems.... if not possible by hand where do you suggest I shop for a custom job?

[@jalanpipes]

Not the machining part. YOu'll need some way to make the tenon and shape the turned details. A lathe is really helpful for that. For custom work I'd check out Ronni B with Nightowl Pipeworks and a handful of other gifted pipe repairpeople.

[@shotsbyalex260]

What lathe tool are you using? I can't find a round metal lathe tool like that anywhere.

[@jalanpipes]

I made my own

[@sellappaUS]

What speed are you using the lathe at for turning?

[@jalanpipes]

800-1000rpm

[@josephlefebvre9213]

What diameter ebonite rod do you find you grab to use the most?

[@jalanpipes]

I keep 18, 22, and 24mm in larger quantities. Probably 18 and 22 are the most common sizes for me.

[@thedeerco]

I wanna know the type of that plastic you are using for the pipe thank you.. nice video

[@jalanpipes]

The mouthpiece is made from vulcanized rubber, or ebonite.

[@thedeerco]

@@jalanpipes thank you so much

[@mate0107]

Hey... what is that lathe? It has pipe on it? Thnx

[@jalanpipes]

This is a Precision Matthews 1127VF. The pipe sticker is the @smokingpipes.com logo

[@thepaintingpiper2488]

Hello Alan,,,Can you tell me what size the drills that you use to make the holes in millimeters if possible. Thank you

[@jalanpipes]

The primary hole is 4mm with a tapered end. The other side, from the button end, is 1.5mm high and widened inside to meet the 4mm hole.

[@thepaintingpiper2488]

@@jalanpipes Ok Thank so much

[@Mitch-zr4wb]

70s porn music and pipe making! The best of all combinations.

[@jalanpipes]

I aim to please. 😆

[@claudecharland5091]

i puchaesed square shank pipe the name on it is S.C Flambe , do you know the makers names by any chance

[@jalanpipes]

Sorry, I don't. But there are several online references of historic pipe brands that you can search.

[@kevinhuddleston6438]

What is the set up for your sanding disc? Motor size? RPM? Is there a variable speed? What us the attachment of disc to motor and sandpaper yo disc? Whew that's a lot to ask...ty

[@jalanpipes]

Variable speed. Check out my video on French wheels for more info.

[@michaeldismukes4439]

Wish I had a garage... Live on a boat soooo.

[@justpassingthrooo3505]

Check out Ian Walker , 'Northern Briars'... makes pipes on a narrow boat.

[@lazthetrainer144]

What kinda material is it?

[@jalanpipes]

Vulcanized Rubber or Ebonite.

[@ranganaprasath8351]

ගොඩාක් හොදයි..

[@coryburns8330]

What lathe are u using I am in the market

[@jalanpipes]

Precision Matthews PM1127VF & an old Craftsman 12x36

[@sinelocum]

That’s a rad pipe

[@garbagemanpiper]

Jeff how long did it take to make the mouth piece!🍭🐓👶

[@jalanpipes]

Including filming and editing...a LOT longer than normal. :) Typically, they can take a few hours or more.

[@garbagemanpiper]

I can imagine brother well done gorgeous Pipe!🍭🐓👶

[@aidencase5279]

Uhh what if we don't have any equipment and are just doing it with hand tools?

[@jalanpipes]

Then you would do things differently. You can't do any of the machining at all.

[@Waldo_Ilowiecki]

hi Alan, why don't you blink your eyes. Are you a robot? 😊

[@jalanpipes]

Yes