http://www.pipemakersforum.com/          
I search there anytime I have a question on something.  
I was looking at the J.H.Lowes bits too.  Seem to be the best value without grinding your own bits.  The do look like they are more of a conical shape than I like & they don't have a 1/2" that I need next.  Keep an eye out at Steve Norse's offerings, he may be stocking bits later this year.
Should have included this in the last post.  I was doing a test piece, sanding & staining as I went along starting applying color after 220 grit sanding.  The only color I used was British Tan.  The only difference from the test piece and the pipe is I stopped applying color after 400 grit with the test and 600 on the pipe.  The test piece was near perfect for what I was looking for...maybe a hair light...so I figured one more coat and enough would sand off again to be perfect.  I sanded all the way to 12K grit and the color never lightened up again.  (learning curve)
