Santizing a Meer: Same Method as Briar?

[mikethompson]

How do you guys clean up an estate Meer before smoking them? Same as you would for a briar pipe?

Form the bowl, I use a bristled brush to clean the shank, then I do a salt/vodka soak a few times, then damp coffee grounds for a few days. I rinse out the bowl and let dry.

For stems, an oxy clean soak followed by micromesh and mineral oil.

Will Meerschaum react adversely to alcohol? Is there a different method you need to use for Meers? I've never had an estate meer before and don't want to damage it.

 

[scloyd]

Great question Mike.

I've never had an estate meer before and don't want to damage it.

No kidding...you don't want to damage that globe meer.

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

How do you guys clean up an estate Meer before smoking them? Same as you would for a briar pipe?

Form the bowl, I use a bristled brush to clean the shank, then I do a salt/vodka soak a few times, then damp coffee grounds for a few days. I rinse out the bowl and let dry.

For stems, an oxy clean soak followed by micromesh and mineral oil.

Will Meerschaum react adversely to alcohol? Is there a different method you need to use for Meers? I've never had an estate meer before and don't want to damage it.

I use high strength Vodka on all my meer pipes & calabash bowls and have never had a problem.
I don't soak anything though, instead I dip a cotton wool ear bud in the Vodka and wipe the bowl with it. Seems to do the trick.

 

[klause]

Mike, if it's the Globe, all you need to do is sanitise the stem - internally the pipe is as clean as I could get it and the draft in the stem is clean. Maybe an alcohol wipe around the stem would do no harm, but definitely not a.soak.

But, if you feel like it, as Smuddger says, is the way to go.

I waxed it a few years ago, so should last for many, many more years.

After smoking, a folded pipe cleaner around the mortice (same as for a peterson system) was the way to go for me.

Hope that helps.

 

[mikethompson]

you don't want to damage that globe meer.

I do NOT.

I don't soak anything

I imagined as much, I thought ghosting had more to do with tars and everything getting into wood.

Maybe an alcohol wipe around the stem would do no harm, but definitely not a.soak.

?

I'd never submerge the bowl, but I will lightly clean and sanitize the stem.

 

[sablebrush52]

I figure that it's worth looking at what people who make meerschaum pipes have to say about care and maintenance:

How To Clean Your Meerschaum Pipe

www.smokingpipes.com

Turkish Meerschaum Pipe Care

A Comprehensive Guide to Meerschaum, Briar History | MeerQueen® Pipes

The Pipe Smoker's Encyclopedia is a comprehensive guide to the history, origins, and care of meerschaum and briar pipes, as well as the history of tobacco.

www.meerschaumstore.com

All about Meerschaum Care and usage

All about Meerschaum and more.. I am certain that most of the meerschaum pipe collectors and smokers are already familiar with what I am trying to say here. Simply as a woman I love being involved with meerschaum and meerschaum pipes. So I intend to edit and update this page every often with...

www.meercomeerschaumpipes.com

Enjoy Your Meerschaum Pipe For Longer: A Guide To The Breaking In And Cleaning Process

If you're the proud owner of a meerschaum pipe, it's imperative you know how to look after it! By properly breaking it in and cleaning your Meerschaum pipe you can ensure that your pipe will last for years.

www.paykocimports.com

Plus an article from Fred Bass:

Cleaning Up Estate Meerschaums – Fred Bass

Blog by Fred Bass Fred Bass, who is the moderator of the All Things Meerschaum Group on Smokers Forums, wrote this article and has given permission to have it posted on rebornpipes. Thanks to Fred …

rebornpipes.com

 

[bent1]

I figure that it's worth looking at what people who make meerschaum pipes have to say about care and maintenance:

Appreciate the links.

 

[mikethompson]

Appreciate the links.

Yes! Thanks @sablebrush52 !

 

[jpmcwjr]

I simply flush hot water through the chamber and out the stem. No alcohol nor sweetener. If ghosted I use wet coffee grounds, followed by a rinse/flush. Simple. Quick. Works.

 

[sablebrush52]

I simply flush hot water through the chamber and out the stem. No alcohol nor sweetener. If ghosted I use wet coffee grounds, followed by a rinse/flush. Simple. Quick. Works.

Keep in mind that meerschaum absorbs water and water softens meerschaum, not a problem if you allow it time to dry out.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Yup! Meers will seemingly absorb most anything.

But your caution made me try a small test. I just ran hot water through a dry billiard army mount Meer. Dried chamber with paper towel, pipe cleaner through airway. Loaded it with some Vintage Syrian and am smoking away with no noticeable difference.

I think more caution is needed after a smoke as more moisture is likely absorbed due to time, heat and steam. (Though I recall some say they smoke back to back to back with no problem.)

 

[condorlover1]

Yikes! A little scrape of the bowl and a fluffy pipe cleaner through the stem is as far as I ever go. I have been doing it that way as long as I have smoked meerschaum pipes. You are right that meerschaums will absorb moisture, that's why the color so nicely.

 

[mikethompson]

Thanks for the help and advice gentlemen. I'm going to take it very easy on this beauty.