: The recess in the shank where the stem (tenon) inserts. It must be perfectly square.
To get your hands on a copy, you have a few options:
Take your briar block. Using a white charcoal pencil, draw your pipe profile. Pimo suggested starting with a "Billiard" or "Apple" shape—straight lines are harder than curves.
Used for drilling the tobacco chamber, mortise, and draft hole if you are starting from a raw block.
Pimo's Guide to Pipe Crafting at Home is a 112-page, illustrated 1976 manual detailing the creation of wooden pipes using minimal, accessible tools. It provides step-by-step guidance on material selection, precise drilling techniques, stem fitting, and finishing, making it a foundational resource for beginners.
If briar is too expensive or difficult to source for your first practice runs, you can use alternative hardwoods. However, you must avoid toxic or highly resinous woods (like pine or cedar). The following woods are completely safe for pipe smoking:
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