Curved airway hole.

I came across this picture of a Brebbia that was cut open, that had a curved airway. I can't find the picture again. I think I remember Sas saying that it can be done.

How do they do it? Is there a tool or a "flexible" drill bit?

There is a bit on a cable inside tube that you can use. The bend of tube determines the radius of the curve. Never seen one but have heard of them.

I hear you, I am stumped on how pipe makers can make a Hungarian, without ripping out their hair.

It's not too bad just to make one, but to make one that functions well and looks good is another matter altogether.

What is the issue with an airway like that?

Drilling accurately on such an extreme angle I imagine.

That's one part, the other is trying to make sure that you align airways (if possible) from the shank to the stem, otherwise you start getting into over drilling a mortise to allow airflow. There have been all kinds of ways devised to deal with the Oom Paul airway issues. It's actually a pretty fascinating to see how different companies have dealt with them over the years. I'm not an expert in the histories of airways, but I'm sure you could prod one of the more senior collectors to give you a pretty comprehensive overview.

It's easy! just put your drill bit in a vice and bend it with some pliers! Haha no but seriously I've been wondering how you could DIY at home and I have some ideas but I'll have to experiment some more.

How do you make a alp horn? In two halves of course I bet the same idea can be applied to a pipe. Or steam.

I've posted this before - you can make "impossible" pipes pretty easily with straight bits - just takes being clever!



There's an article in German about how curved drilling apparatus are built for pipes that require an airway that is actually curved, as some pipes do:

http://www.pfeife-tabak.de/phpBB3/v...&sid=111d88341546cc04c355998ed9729fa5&start=0.