Altering Missouri Meerschaums

[12pups]

I was reading a brief history of the Missouri Meerschaum. I think it said they used to put a plaster coating on them or something like that?
The ones I get are just a plain cob that's had the roughness sanded off it. Looks like a pine shank, but it would have to be something more heat resistant, wouldn't it? And it has the yellow see-through plastic stem.
I put aftermarket stems in to make them more comfortable to my liking. But now I like the idea of doing more to them. Don't need to. But... why not?
Thanks for the post! Gives me some ideas.

 

[phred]

MM still uses a plaster coat on several models, according to their website. Also varnish or lacquer as a top coat.
The shanks do appear to be a relatively soft wood. The bit that sticks into the bowl eventually burns away, so it's not particularly heat-resistant.
So far, the only alterations I've made to any of my cobs involve a Forever Stem.

 

[durham270]

All the cob pipes posted here look fantastic. Here is my one and only altered MM cob.

 

[olewaylon]

Durham, what are you drinking there? looks interesting