meerschaum cake removal

[dozo46]

Just received my 1st solid block meerschaum. There's substantial cake in the bowl. I hesitate to use sharp instruments to remove it. Can I soak the pipe in water to help loosen the cake? Other sites carry running arguments about using alcohol (to clean the bowl). You guys are smarter and more polite. What do you recommend?

thanks

dozo46

Olympia, WA

 

[ghost]

Don't soak it!

 

[ghost]

Sorry, I wanted to type that warning quickly. Can you post some pics first before working on it? I wouldn't mind seeing the cake thickness before offering a solution myself. You do have to be careful with meers and cake buildup.

 

[dozo46]

Mr Ghost,

No moves here without adult supervision. It'll take a while to get pix up. But, I can say the pipe (eBay)is huge: bowl 2" tall with 1" chamber & flattish shank 1" wide.

Cake is 1/8" thick and formed on the upper 2/3 of the bowl. No reaming scrapes. Rough cake texture indicates no action with dowel/sandpaper. Appears to have been smoked like a briar. I'd like whatever method is least likely to harm the pipe. I have several hundred Q-Tips on hand.

--jeff

 

[dozo46]

Just now saw it. You've put my new-but-abused friend on the road to recovery. I'll proceed with caution. Thanks for your time and good counsel.

--jeff

 

[ghost]

No worries on pics Dozo, Roth covered the steps well. Just take your time with meers, no rush.
Oh, and no need to call me "Mr. Ghost." Lord Ghost is just fine. ::