it to size. It is then placed in the frazing ma- 

 chine. This usually has three cutters revolving 

 at very high speed, making several thousand 

 revolutions per minute. The center cutter 

 shapes out the block and the outer knives cut 

 away the wood on the outside so as to form the 

 block roughly into the shape of a pipe bowl and 

 stem. This is then placed in a special lathe for 

 cutting irregular forms. It is usual to fit in it 

 a metal pattern of the particular shape chosen 

 for the pipe. A circular cutting tool is set in 

 motion and the briar block, which turns with 

 the metal pattern, is mechanically cut to the 

 exact shape of the pattern. After cutting, the 

 pipe passes to the sandpapering machines where 

 both inside and outside are thoroughly treated, 

 and it gets a first polishing or smoothing on a 

 pumice stone wheel. The next process is the 

 boring of the stem which is done in a drilling 

 machine by a steel wire having a cutting top 

 rapidly turned by a lathe. The thread on the 

 end of the stem for the mouthpiece is formed 

 by a special machine. The pipe is then ready 

 for polishers and finishers. It is first sand- 

 papered four times, twice with rough and twice 

 with fine on revolving wheels. Unless the wood 

 is to be left its natural color, it is dropped into 

 a vat of stain until it acquires the color desired. 

 After drying it is ready for "buffing." A "buff" 



160 



