Reaming a Meerschaum

[PipeIT]

Until it develops into a thicker diamond hard carbon porcelain layer that a blade can't cut.



I've not noticed one way or the other.

I don’t get how it’s developing into a thicker layer, if the pipe’s chambers are wiped out after every smoke.

I’ve never had a need for any tools. I always wipe the chambers right after smoking, or the following day.

When it’s the following day, and it has more gunk inside, I’ll put a drop of water on a finger, and run it around inside the chambers and it actually does several things I’ve noticed. Makes it easier to pick out any leftover tobacco bits buried in the carbon, as it makes it softer to work with, helps to smoothen it, thin it out and even it out.

 

[OverMountain]

If you wipe down the chambers with a paper towel on any pipe just after smoking, you’ll only develop like 1mm or a slightly thinner carbon layer, which is all you need.

Then you never need a reamer.

It’s my understanding you don’t need a cake build up in a Meerschaum. I read it’s not beneficial and interferes with the Meerschaum. Maybe the Meerschaum pros can shed some light on this.

Is this for meers only? Wet or dry paper towel?

 

[PipeIT]

Is this for meers only? Wet or dry paper towel?

I do the same with a Meerschaum I own. I have no carbon/cake at all in it.

I’m no Meerschaum pro, it’s the only one I own, and have ever smoked, but it does great with nothing in it. The chamber is only black from the fire/heat.

 

[PipeIT]

@OverMountain My bad, I typically use a dry paper towel, sometimes moist too.

Or, I’ll put water on a finger and rub that around inside, and then use a dry towel to wipe it up.

 

[sardonicus87]

I do the same with a Meerschaum I own. I have no carbon/cake at all in it.

I’m no Meerschaum pro, it’s the only one I own, and have ever smoked, but it does great with nothing in it. The chamber is only black from the fire/heat.

My meer also has no cake at all, just darkening from heat.

I smoke it, dump ash/dottle, blow the chamber out, set it aside. Next day, wad up a paper towel (the Viva ones is what we use if that matters) and stuff it in the bowl to wipe it out right before I load another smoke in it.

My briars only have any cake at all because I don't clean them with paper towel. Finish, blow out, set aside, let cool. After it's cooled, might smooth out the inside with my finger, that's it. Also have a toothpick I'll just to pick out any remaining bits. I really only clean the shanks/stems on those.

Meer vs Briar:

 

[crashthegrey]

As said above, very carefully and without a reamer. I am firmly in the school of thought that a dry paper towel is used after every bowl and you don't let cake develop in the first place.

 

[condorlover1]

Iron bladed pen knife but only if you have had plenty of practice otherwise sand paper!

 

[anotherbob]

honestly I use a reamer. Just extra careful and with a much larger margin of cake left in the chamber, or still pretty close to the surface. Though to be honest my meer and my meer lined are my least loved pipes. When people ask me which pipe is my favorite, I say pipes are like children they're all your favorite. That said I'd tell the meer he'll never be as good as his brothers.

 

[Lucashly]

If you wipe down the chambers with a paper towel on any pipe just after smoking, you’ll only develop like 1mm or a slightly thinner carbon layer, which is all you need.

Then you never need a reamer.

It’s my understanding you don’t need a cake build up in a Meerschaum. I read it’s not beneficial and interferes with the Meerschaum. Maybe the Meerschaum pros can shed some light on this.

This.

 

[jwussow]

I own three meers, and I gently use the reamer from a Czech pipe tool to remove cake after a smoke or two. I have never had any issues whatsoever.

 

[keith929]

I rarely use a reamer on my meerschaum pipes.
A slightly damp paper towel does the job for me. I wipe the bowl after a couple of smokes and I'm all set for another bowl.