My First Meerschaum: A Peterson 999

[Lost Somnambulist]

This is my first meerschaum and first meerschaum refurbish. The outside of the pip was grimy and the stem oxidized more green than the photo shows, but the bow was fairly clean with light build-up. A few spots of meer were showing through the darkened edge of the rim as well, though are darkening again after a couple of long slow bowls.
For something I thought I could do without, this has turned out to be a great pipe.
Before

After

 

[TheIronMonkey]

What was the process to clean the rough surface?

 

[Hillcrest]

What was the process to clean the rough surface?

+1 --- Would be interested as well ... ???

 

[simong]

You're doing it all wrong mate! That'll take you twenty years of heavy smoking to get some colour in it now.?
Joking aside, that looks fantastic! Well done.?

 

[captpat]

Nice lookIn’ pipe

 

[Lost Somnambulist]

What was the process to clean the rough surface?

A cloth and alcohol, just dabbing a little bit to draw the dirt out of the rustication.

 

[Lost Somnambulist]

You're doing it all wrong mate! That'll take you twenty years of heavy smoking to get some colour in it now.?
Joking aside, that looks fantastic! Well done.?

That was just surface grime, and gooeyness, not lovely coloration I'm afraid. I'll see what I can do over the next 20 or so years though!

 

[buckaroo]

Looks great. Thx for posting.

 

[Lost Somnambulist]

Looks great. Thx for posting.

Thanks, I'm getting a little braver with my restoration attempts.

 

[Lost Somnambulist]

Just noticed the misspellings in my post! I'll blame it on early morning and being eager to get out and get that pipe lit!

 

[verporchting]

Looks fantastic mate!

Those pipes were African meerschaum and I don’t think they color much at all, at least nothing like the bright white Turkish meers. Most were that ivory color to begin with and will stay like that for ages. Many were “fumed” to have that faded from black look around the bowl and not the result of smoking them. I’ve seen them dyed in burgundy and brown colors too (mine is burgundy). Great pipes and great cleanup!!

 

[Lost Somnambulist]

Looks fantastic mate!

Those pipes were African meerschaum and I don’t think they color much at all, at least nothing like the bright white Turkish meers. Most were that ivory color to begin with and will stay like that for ages. Many were “fumed” to have that faded from black look around the bowl and not the result of smoking them. I’ve seen them dyed in burgundy and brown colors too (mine is burgundy). Great pipes and great cleanup!!

Thanks! I've been trying to read everything I can find so I get to know this pipe better so thanks for sharing your experience. I sort of like the ivory or off-white color better, just fits better with me for some reason. Something that really surprised me is just how good of a smoker this pipe is.

 

[weezell]

Here's its brother. Good smoker...

 

[anotherbob]

what a pugly pipe (pugly is something ugly but in a weirdly charming and pleasing way, like a pug).

 

[nolan613]

Beautiful job of cleaning.

 

[Lost Somnambulist]

Here's its brother. Good smoker...

Nice! If I stumble across another for a good price, I'll definitely grab it.

 

[Lost Somnambulist]

what a pugly pipe (pugly is something ugly but in a weirdly charming and pleasing way, like a pug).

I have to agree! In fact, when I saw it I said, "man that's kinda ugly, imma take it home!" There is no elegance of briar grain patterns to admire but after cleaning it up and smoking it a few times, it's won me over like an ugly pug. Some things just have an indescribable charm.

 

[woodrow]

Looks fantastic mate!

Those pipes were African meerschaum and I don’t think they color much at all, at least nothing like the bright white Turkish meers. Most were that ivory color to begin with and will stay like that for ages. Many were “fumed” to have that faded from black look around the bowl and not the result of smoking them. I’ve seen them dyed in burgundy and brown colors too (mine is burgundy). Great pipes and great cleanup!!

Correct. I’ve managed to grab a couple of African Meers over time. They don’t color. The best way to clean is a toothbrush and 99% iso alcohol. They’re very durable and almost all have a push/pull stem. I like them a lot. Sometimes you can get one for $100.