• I design my bits to be as comfortable as possible with concessions to the shape and weight of the individual pipe.  

• Bits are generally close to 3.8 mm thick,  +  .2 mm.  

• All bits are acrylic. 

- I feel this is overall the superior bit material due to it's longer wear and lower maintenance characteristics, among other reasons.  

• Tenon are individually crafted from Delrin rod.

• Mortise:

In working on pipe repairs I noticed that this is a place where the open grain is vunerable to stress and cracking from the torque of removing and replacing the bit, humidity, and years of drying out and getting wet, etc. In an effort to counter these forces and protect the shank from cracking, I started re-enforcing the mortice and shank face in different ways. Below is an approximate timeline for the various systems and techniques I've used through the years. 

-  2012 to Present: Currently most mortises are re-enforced with a 14 karat gold internal band. This is an idea I've had for several years but had not developed the skills and technique to make it happen until 2012. This ensures a reliable fit regardless of weather or humidity as well as extra strength where the shank is weakest and experiences the most stress. Besides being strong and reliable, the gold band is waterproof and will never corrode. All pipes dated '2012' to the present have mortises that are reenforced with a gold internal band OR some kind of exterior support. 

- 2011 to 2010:  A brass ring surrounding the inner wood.

- 2010 to 2008: I was lining the mortise with a shank cap made of acrylic. 

- 2007 and 2008: There are a few pipes where I lined the mortise with a delrin sleeve.

- 2007 to 2005 On these early pieces I was not re-enforcing the mortise and simply made them in the conventional way.

• All pipes will pass a fluffy pipe cleaner. Draft holes in the mortise and tenon always line up, even on bent pipes. This is achieved different ways depending on what the individual pipe may require.