To the newer members:
Lou has often said how he bores the pen to death, do a search and you can find his snippets.
IF he wrote a tutorial, it would emphasize patience, which others would follow, except the patience part.
Then, when THEIR pens crack, Lou would likely be chastized for an inaccurate tutorial.
AND if everybody COULD make a pen like this that would NOT crack, his pen would be less valuable. So, he would be shooting himself in the wallet.
Lou ruined a few snakewood before HE learned. You want to get the same results, follow the same path. IF you are very patient (I am NOT), you MAY succeed.
Just my opinion---of course I welcome other opinions.