Refinishing A Meerschaum Pipe?

[petes03]

As most of you know, I recently bought a smooth, straight Meerschaum billiard as an estate. The factory wax coating is dingy and coming off in places. I'm wanting to strip it off, and re-finish it.

Has anyone ever done this before? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!
Also on another note, I'm planning on getting my workbench and bench grinder out of storage. Does anybody have any advice on what type of buffing wheels I should look for? Once again, any advice on products and process is appreciated.

 

[zekest]

This article on buffing was interesting:
http://estatepipes.co.uk/pipeshop/blog/advice-on-buffing-your-smoking-pipe-with-a-converted-bench-grinder.html

 

[petes03]

Thanks for the link Zeke!

 

[topd]

I've never tried to refinish a meerschaum and would cringe at the idea of trying. But I don't think I'd use a buffing wheel at all. It seams to me the buffing compound would be impregnated into the pores of the pipe. I read some years ago that the meerschaum pipe makes use some kind of abrasive reed or grass to do their polishing, but I couldn't find a reference to it on-line nor the book that I read it from. I cant recommend an abrasive to use, but I'd certainly want to do it by hand, not with powered equipment...

 

[phil67]

You might possibly get some info about re-waxing from one of these links.
http://bit.ly/1q3TFmA