Improving the draw on a meerschaum?

[kane]

Any recommendations on who can do a good job with improving the draw? I have a bent billiard meerschaum with a tenon screw (if that's what it called), and of course the pipe has a not so great draw. Nice pipe, but could be a better pipe if the draw were opened up. Anyone do this? Can it be done?

Thanks!

 

[akfilm]

Norwoods Pipe Repair is my go to.

 

[sablebrush52]

Since you're talking about meerschaum, my recommendation is Briarville. They do a lot of work with meerschaum. The people I know who exclusively smoke meers, send theirs to Briarville for repair and restoration.

 

[georged]

I'd also go with Briarville.
Meers are very much their own "thing". I never touch 'em myself. (Too spooky.)

 

[jpmcwjr]

Kane- can you please post a photo or two? Just for meer edification!

 

[kane]

Thanks so much, guys. I will check out your recommendations.
Bought unsmoked from Ebay. Came in the Paul Fischer case, but I don't know if it's an actual Fischer pipe as there are no markings on the pipe. It also has a nylon/plastic tenon screw and I have heard that Fischer used bone screws. Not really sure if it's block meerschaum or another type of meerschaum, but it seems like a nice enough pipe.
Here are a few pics:

 

[kane]

Don't know why the photo didn't show on the last post.

Here they are:

 

[jpmcwjr]

kane- Nice looking meer!
The first post had the following, which is a link to your picture album:

http://pipesmagazine.com/members/kane/album/picture/20727
The next post, which does show the pipe, are links to the photos. All such must end in .jpg regardless of source. HTH.
http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t473/cckane/IMG_2898_zpsowqddctq.jpg

 

[jitterbugdude]

Just do it yourself. Take a drill bit and hand twist it into the tenon. It's not that difficult. If you can make toast, you can open up the draw on a meer.

 

[aldecaker]

That was my first thought, too, Jitterbug. Then again, I'm pretty damned adventurous with my pipes, and I know a lot of people aren't.

 

[weezell]

I'd also go with Briarville.

YES...

 

[jonasclark]

Gorgeous Paul Fischer, one of the 'old guard' in meerschaum pipes.

 

[kane]

Thank you, but I have always had a bit of doubt as to it being a real Paul Fischer pipe. The lines are nice and look like other PF pipes I have seen in pictures. It is nicely made, drilled nicely. But the nylon tenon screw and mortise bushing make me question if PF made this pipe. I have read that PF used bone screws, that his production predates the use of the nylon screw and bushing. I have also read that there have been occasions when a non-Paul Fischer pipe was presented in a Paul Fischer case. However, all of this information comes from the internet, so whether this is accurate information or more internet misinformation, I don't know as I don't know much about Fischer's pipes or meerschaums in general. I have a skeptical streak in me, and information from the internet sometimes doesn't help.

Do you know about Paul Fischer pipes, and if the nylon screw and bushing would be correct or incorrect for his work?

 

[jonasclark]

I don't know about them in any detail. All the ones I've seen on eBay have been plain shapes, in rectangular box cases like yours.
Another user here posted about Fischer pipes, and gave an email address. He might have details. Link here:
http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/information-about-fischer-pipes

 

[kane]

Thanks for posting that!

 

[tmb152]

I'd also go with Briarville.

Meers are very much their own "thing". I never touch 'em myself. (Too spooky.)

Really? Spooky?  I cannot believe I am reading that clearing out the drawhole of a meer pipe is too spooky for a “pipe repair specialist,” on a forum that has represented itself to me as replete with pipe experts.
Guys! Has anyone tried just sticking a wire down the thing just to see if it is plugged with a bit of foreign matter? Gotta send this one out to a specialist? SHEESH! Am I the only one laughing here and shaking his head? If it actually needs re-drilled or something to open it up, then that suggests the thing was likely made that way.
Suggestion: when meer carvers sculpt these pipes in the first place, they soak them in water for about 30 minutes or so and that makes the meer very workable. That’s how they carve them. You might try filling the drawhole with water and allowing it to soften the inside of the pipe a bit. Then whatever is clogging the passageway would likely be more easily removed by gentle actions.
You know, it is one thing to stick to only that stuff you are sure of success on, come out smelling good and honk your horn on, but for many years I worked in a field where you were faced with massive problems you have never seen before to which there was no clear solution and where there were millions of dollars at stake! And you had to get it done! Food for thought. No time to be spooked.

 

[simong]

Tmb152, yes I've tried running a wire through a mouthpiece to clear it, as I'm sure many others have. I've also put an airline to mouthpieces before now. Alas to no avail.

What I've found is with many meershaum pipes, they use a very cheap inner tube in the mouthpiece, which is very prone to collapse. Resulting in a frustratingly tight draw.

Whilst I'd like to be half as clever as you think you are, sending pipes to a professional for this type of problem, is the most sensible option for most of us. Who are not as obviously gifted/full of themselves as you.

 

[ashdigger]

Simong :clap:

 

[tmb152]

I'm a little confused, first Kane was the one needing the pipe fixed and now simong? No matter, not sure why meers would tend to have a more inferior inner tube, but I find it odd that folks think that some pipe place can fix it yet a private individual cannot? Some secret technique? It all comes down to physics, material science and engineering. And since it is apparently the mouthpiece now, no meer issue to spook George away, though he still won't tackle it. Me, it comes down to money, my time is money, what is a pipe like that worth to you and I am not retired and in need of a hobby to pass idle time, so such projects come down to either labors of love or personal favors. But there are several possible solutions from just replacing the mouthpiece to straightening it and opening the airway then holding it open while being rebent. But that is not easy and you need the pipe in your hand to determine the best course of action. If it were my pipe, I'd want the satisfaction of fixing it myself, but since many of the public posters here don't take me seriously, you can hardly expect me to do any favors for many of you, especially now. I'm really nailed to the wall anyway with my own issues, but if any of you can get past the smart-ass remarks and insults, I'd at least try to give you suggestions. I'd want $50 to look at the pipe and evaluate it, and probably $200 to do what I think it might need, which is why, as stated on another thread, so few do this kind of work. I can make a lot more money doing other things. If that makes me full of myself, simong, then so be it, but at least my pipes draw well! ;^)

 

[jitterbugdude]

I hear ya tmb, Like I said earlier if you can make toast you can open up the draw on a meer. I'm a little miffed too as to why so many people think this is an issue that has to sent to an "expert"