Cleaning a Meer

[nothingclever]

Okay, I have read a lot of different cleaning articles on this sight. Here is my story. I am the only semi-serious pipe smoker I know. I have a friend who actually occasstionally smokes cigars with me (well, the last time he did he threw up and his wife told him he cant anymore). However, his wife is just about to have a baby and since he cant smoke cigars anymore he wants to have a celebratory pipe smoke with me. He has an old lions head meer that was his dads. His dad died when he was about 8 years old. The pipe is just your basic lions head. It was been mistreated and has no case. Also, the last tobacco smoked in it came in quantities designated by American coins. Apparently that was back when my friend was back in high school.

Now to the point. He wants me to try and fix it up a little bit. I will attempt to get pics of it up soon but he hasnt given it to me yet to prepare. However, the rim is badly chared. Most posts say leave it alone. One post, however, said a little light sand paper could possibly be used. However, if I do that then it might be white while the rest of the pipe is tan. I know to use a delicate spoon/knife to remove the cake. Perhaps a little rubbing alcohol. Not too much though as the meer is porous.

There are two other issues. (1) The stem is a screw in yet from my memory if you pull out the stem the stem will come out and live a plastic threaded piece in the pipe. However, that plastic part comes out if you twist it off. There are threads in the meer itself. Can I glue the stem to the plastic threads? (2) I have read the cleaning of the vulcanite stems (light sanding/bleach/olive oil). Does that work with the marble type stems? I cant see why not but I dont want to ruin this thing. Also, he is partial to the plastic stem protector. This pipe has a yellow/tan one that looks similar to the yellow/marble stem. I have ony seen these in black. Do you know if I can find one in another color to put a new one on there. The old one is really cracked and dry rotted (remember it was his dads and from the 70's). It has been sitting a while. Hopefully he'll get me the pipe soon (baby is due in 3 weeks).

Any info or things to look for (or things not to do) would be greatly appreciated.

Frank

[letsgomountaineers]

Originally Posted by nothingclever

Okay, I have read a lot of different cleaning articles on this sight. Here is my story. I am the only semi-serious pipe smoker I know. I have a friend who actually occasstionally smokes cigars with me (well, the last time he did he threw up and his wife told him he cant anymore). However, his wife is just about to have a baby and since he cant smoke cigars anymore he wants to have a celebratory pipe smoke with me. He has an old lions head meer that was his dads. His dad died when he was about 8 years old. The pipe is just your basic lions head. It was been mistreated and has no case. Also, the last tobacco smoked in it came in quantities designated by American coins. Apparently that was back when my friend was back in high school.

Now to the point. He wants me to try and fix it up a little bit. I will attempt to get pics of it up soon but he hasnt given it to me yet to prepare. However, the rim is badly chared. Most posts say leave it alone. One post, however, said a little light sand paper could possibly be used. However, if I do that then it might be white while the rest of the pipe is tan. I know to use a delicate spoon/knife to remove the cake. Perhaps a little rubbing alcohol. Not too much though as the meer is porous.

There are two other issues. (1) The stem is a screw in yet from my memory if you pull out the stem the stem will come out and live a plastic threaded piece in the pipe. However, that plastic part comes out if you twist it off. There are threads in the meer itself. Can I glue the stem to the plastic threads? (2) I have read the cleaning of the vulcanite stems (light sanding/bleach/olive oil). Does that work with the marble type stems? I cant see why not but I dont want to ruin this thing. Also, he is partial to the plastic stem protector. This pipe has a yellow/tan one that looks similar to the yellow/marble stem. I have ony seen these in black. Do you know if I can find one in another color to put a new one on there. The old one is really cracked and dry rotted (remember it was his dads and from the 70's). It has been sitting a while. Hopefully he'll get me the pipe soon (baby is due in 3 weeks).

Any info or things to look for (or things not to do) would be greatly appreciated.

Frank

meerschaum is a very very soft material. ive never repaired a meerschaum yet, but i can warn you that sandpaper will take a lot off the top very quickly.

[aliefj96]

If cake starts forming in your pipe which is not unusual, lightly ream it out, being careful not to scrape or dig into the pipe itself. Use a pipe cleaner inside the stem and be gentle when seperating and cleaning inside the shank. If your pipe becomes dirty, use cotton or soft cloth with a drop of after shave lotion (a similiar product containing a slight trace of alcohol will also work) Gently wipe the pipe clean when it is cool. Never boil or scrape your pipe.

-from herbalcantera.net

First, a warning: Always remove a stem from a meerschaum pipe by twisting it gently clockwise while supporting the shank with your fingers. At the end of each smoke, your pipe should be given a good cleaning. Dump out the ash and dottle, and run a bristle pipe cleaner around the inside of the bowl to remove any possible cake build-up. Unlike a briar pipe, a meerschaum requires no cake, and in some instances, a cake can be detrimental to a meerschaum, either slowing the coloring process, or causing the pipe to crack. Clean out the stem with a bristle pipe cleaner once, remove it, and either turn it around or use another pipe cleaner, repeating this process until the pipe cleaners come out clean. Moisten a pipe cleaner with saliva and rub the mouthpiece with it to remove any buildup there. Blow gently through the stem of the pipe to dislodge any leftover ash and wipe your pipe down with a soft dry cloth. Place the pipe back on it's rack or stand and allow it to cool.

-from smokingpipes.com

When you remove the stem by turning it clockwise the plastic part with the threads should still be in the stem and not in the shank.

-j

[nothingclever]

Thats the thing with the plastic piece in the shank. It stays in there if the stem is slightly pulled on. As such, can I glue the plastic piece in the shank to the piece of the stem? If so, what do I use?

[nothingclever]

Okay, I have pics and I got them on Image Shack. How do I get them to show up here? Keep trying to "Insert Image" and put the address in but nothing.

Here is what it all appears to be. It looks like the stem slides into a plastic piece in the stem. That plastic piece in the stem is threaded to the meer. However, it is cracked in the middle and will not hold the stem in very tightly. So, is there a place that I can buy just that little plastic threaded piece or should I glue the crack? Need help. Thanks.

Frank

[IMG][/IMG]

Hey, there it goes. There is the broken piece.

[afilter]

Hello,

I have not been on the sight in awhile. I am new to pipe smoking this past year, but love it and have aquired 2 meerschaum pipes.

I do lightly clean mine from time to time with a little alcohol on a cotton swab. When I went home on leave I completely cleaned the inside of the bowl so I could get past cutoms(could not have any residue). I used a green scub pad and gently sanded all the residue from the inside of the bowl. Be very careful when doing so not to scratch the exterior which is coated in beeswax. Make sure you use light even strokes as once you reach the mineral it will sand away quickly. This did not hurt my pipe at all and it colored right back up the first time I smoked it.

As for the plastic sleeve you may be able to get one form a retailer. I had the same issue when my pipe was new. I choose to glue the sleeve back in place being very careful to properly align the threads so the stem was in the corret position when I screwed it back on.

These pipes are made to last decades and color over time. Just take care not to try and clean the exterior as you may damage the wax coating that helps in the cooring process over time.

HTH,

Aaron