Cleaning an Estate Meerschaum Pipe

Lots of chat as usual whilst I clean this gunked up old meershaum that someone has kindly passed on to me. If anyone has any useful tips for cleaning meers and getting them looking their best I would love to hear them, e.g. some seem to think you shouldn't use alcohol on them, but what is a good alternative?

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Tobacco
• Pipe
• Smoking
• Meerschaum
• Claw
• Cleaning

[Charredbriar]

Jim...you have "locked" up the option to send you personal messages....I wanted to invite you to subscribe to my pipe channel Charredbriar, since I changed it over from Nelstrodomous. I can't get any PM's to ya, though, so stop by and become a "friend" and let me in....Thanks

[PipesterJim]

@Charredbriar Hi, I am not sure how I managed to do that! I will check it out...

[Samwiseallmighty]

This Ring on the stem... My grandfather had something quite similar as that on on his briar pipe, but of sterling silver.

he went sailing quite often, and as long as he was on water he had a chain through that ring.

He wore this to prevent his Pipe from falling into the water, if the sea gets too rough (painstakingly i lost one of my pipe like that)

Wish you could see him like that, he looked like Poseidon himself (at least in my eyes).

Nice pipe by the way, cheers.

Sam

[PipesterJim]

Thank you! That confirms what I suspected. It was the only use for it I could think of!

[greglam]

Always love your videos, Jim. Sorry I can't offer anything on the little mystery loop. :-(

[PipesterJim]

Thank you. I think the loop will be coming off...can't work out why it is there and it doesn't do anything for the appearance imo.

[patrickthepipe]

the ring is just a extra bit of art, it was never pushed on, but carved from the part its on! they where once one and the same.

[benneisam]

I will take a stab at it... Since the pipe design is some kind of bird talon grasping the pipe bowl, the stem is the birds leg right? When birds are domesticated their legs are commonly adorned with rings that are actually tags that identify them and their owner. The only reason I know that is... One time I shot a pigeon and it was wearing a ring... woops....

[h00bastank18]

As far as the blockage in the stem, I had that same problem with my used meerschaum. Interestingly enough, my stem has almost the exact same curvature. I ended up running, of all things, a guitar string (D) through it! It dislodged whatever was in there somewhat, but I still can't get a pipe cleaner all the way through; however, it did help.

[tattoome2000]

use a florist wire on the stem, soak it in hot water for a bit and then use the wire as a pipe cleaner. A little bit of elbow grease will pay off!

[tattoome2000]

use a small florist wire to get through the stem, soak it and repeat this action. It will work with a little elbow grease!

[beckasherman]

I believe that is a 'Curiosity ring' actually carved in this case when the barrel was shaped. For removal of char on the rim uses fine emery boards. To get the screw out, heat the stem with a hair dryer, grip it with your teeth and twist the bit. That should come out. To clear the stem, Use the long cleaners. burn off the first 4 inches of fuzz and dip in alcohol the wire will protrude far enough to grasp wit pliers and pull through. Try denture cleaner for the patina.

[JJJUSCFAN8]

See my new series on pipes and meerschaum's on Youtube (jjjuscfan8) it will answer some of your questions and many more videos to come mate! jason

[jehovahuponyou]

Don't let this guy fool you - listen to his voice - it is Mr. Bean!

ROFL!!!