Rejuvenating A Block Meer .

[orlandofurioso]

Dear friends,
Much has been said and written about it already, so I'll be brief.
Currently working on a wonderful Paul Fischer meer .
I wonder if the block meer might benefit from a tiny dab of Mark Hoover's restoration balm ?
Every now and then I aplly it on my briars and it works fine, but on meer ?

In my desk is a jar of really fine organic beeswax to which a little turpentine is added to keep it "syrupy".
I suppose the turpentine will evaporate, or could it harm the meer ?
I'm aware of all conventional methods of waxing meers, but these are always somewhat messy..
Please share your thoughts and thanks in advance.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

I’ve only used turpentine when working with paint, and it seems to take a long time for the smell to dissipate. I’d be nervous to use it anywhere near something so porous as Meerschaum.

Mark Hoover’s Restoration Balm is pretty well scented—I’d avoid using that as well and stick to wax.

The last thing you want to do is ghost your pipe with those scents.

 

[orlandofurioso]

Thank you for sharing !
Steve Laug treats many of his estate meers with the resto balm and always was in favour of it.
It is btw not white spirit, but turpentine oil !
Hmm, color me intrigued

 

[TheIronMonkey]

Are you trying to clean surface dirt off the waxed surface of the Meerschaum? How bad is the soiling?

 

[orlandofurioso]

Are you trying to clean surface dirt off the waxed surface of the Meerschaum? How bad is the soiling?

No, I am not; the pipe is clean.
Only want to add some colour and shine and proctect the meer from skin oils, grime etc.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

I've applied Paragon Wax to mine. You could use a similar microcrystalline wax like Renaissance if you can't find Paragon anymore. It won't add colour, though.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

Meer is very absorbent, I wouldn't put anything on that has turp in it. The best way to wax a meer is to dip it hot beeswax. But rewaxing a meer is nearly never needed. Once they've been waxed by the carver that is generally all you need, even on 100+ year old pipes. The best way to protect a meer from grime is to wash your hands before handling one. Rewaxing can actually slow coloring. Your driving the color away from the surface and back into the pipe. If you want to clean the surface of a meer the best way is a bit of saliva on a clean soft rag. The coloring gained from rewaxing is temporary, it will fade after the first smoke or two.

This 1911 cutty was cleaned with nothing but saliva and a soft rag.

 

[AJL67]

Spit and elbow grease with a paper towel, takes off everything i want to take off and leaves the rest.

 

[orlandofurioso]

I'm not so much experienced with meers, so thank you all for the good advice !
Wonderful pipe cleaning Rustie Great stem work too !
In general saliva is my way to go; also on my briars.
Did any of you ever polish a meer ( very gently ) on the buffer ?
My meers and vergin briars I smoke white cotton gloves on. That is what we do, not Thelron ?

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

I'm not so much experienced with meers, so thank you all for the good advice !
Wonderful pipe cleaning Rustie Great stem work too !
In general saliva is my way to go; also on my briars.

Believe it or not, a drop or two of hot coffee on a clean soft rag will do wonders for a briar. Its mildly acidic so it will lift tars and oils and heat will redistribute wax.

 

[orlandofurioso]

Believe it or not, a drop or two of hot coffee on a clean soft rag will do wonders for a briar. Its mildly acidic so it will lift tars and oils and heat will redistribute wax.

Yep , I believe you and I know. Works like a charm .

 

[warren]

Only want to add some colour and shine and proctect the meer from skin oils, grime etc.

Wash hands before handling a warm bowl and smoke the heck out of it. A damp cloth will remove dirt and such. That's all I've done over the decades and my meers are coloring nicely. There are pictures on the site somewhere.

 

[orlandofurioso]

Wash hands before handling a warm bowl and smoke the heck out of it. A damp cloth will remove dirt and such. That's all I've done over the decades and my meers are coloring nicely. There are pictures on the site somewhere.

I wash my hands before handling/smoking any pipe .

 

[kcghost]

Wish I had known that before I ever got a meer. I can ruin anything through neglect.

 

[orlandofurioso]

Wish I had known that before I ever got a meer. I can ruin anything through neglect.

I envy you, I'm a pipe refurbishing nerd with an OCD to boot.

 

[Lucashly]

Wish I had known that before I ever got a meer. I can ruin anything through neglect.

Meers are pretty resilient I'm sure you are fine.

 

[Hillcrest]

I agree with all of the above... But I do remember someone cleaning up a dirty briar and posting a picture somewhere in the threads ... all he did was dampen some paper towel with alcohol and lightly wipe the pipe. It was rusticated as I remember and it came out clean ... and everyone asked how he did it....

it came to mind as I read this thread ... for what its worth.

 

[jhowell]

A drop of jojoba oil rubbed into your hands and then rubbed into the meer does wonders. jojoba oil is the closest thing to sperm oil, unless you're NASA

 

[orlandofurioso]

Well, it works wonders on my skin ( actually made my eyebrows grow ) , so why not on my meers ?
Thank you, will def. try
Speaking of which; recorder oil is my way to go on my briars, it is the finest refined linseed oil with a little
vitamin E added. Benificial for the skin too. The vitamin E that is, the linseed oil not so much.