One of the first pipes I ever bought, nearly four decades ago, was a CAO Calabash Meerschaum. It was a joy to smoke, but a pain to clean. One of the areas that was not reinforced to me was the importance of keeping the inner chamber of the gourd cleaned. Sometime, during the early 90s, I watched helplessly as the meerschaum bowl pop out of the gourd. Thank goodness, it didn't fall to the ground and break. But stupidly, I superglued it in.
I rarely smoked the pipe through the years, but because I had glued the bowl in, I never took it apart to inspect and clean the chamber. Over the years, the pipe grew sour and developed a rancid taste. Finally, using the thin blade of a knife, I was able to pop the bowl out, Fortunately, I did not tear up the gourd, but... the cork lining was toast. I cleaned the gourd, ordered some cork for musical instruments, relined the rim, put on some musical cork preserver, and there it was - good as new.
Yet, the sour taste remained. I since have broken the pipe apart again and cleaned it thoroughly once again. Much of the caked on goo that was still there and apparently rose more to the surface was now able to be cleaned away even better.
I love this pipe, and I know my story is one many others have had as well - Calabash gourd meerschaums that go sour.
I post this hoping some of you have some great ideas you would like to share in regards to keeping your Gourd Calabash pipes cleaned and tasting fresh.View attachment 81701
I rarely smoked the pipe through the years, but because I had glued the bowl in, I never took it apart to inspect and clean the chamber. Over the years, the pipe grew sour and developed a rancid taste. Finally, using the thin blade of a knife, I was able to pop the bowl out, Fortunately, I did not tear up the gourd, but... the cork lining was toast. I cleaned the gourd, ordered some cork for musical instruments, relined the rim, put on some musical cork preserver, and there it was - good as new.
Yet, the sour taste remained. I since have broken the pipe apart again and cleaned it thoroughly once again. Much of the caked on goo that was still there and apparently rose more to the surface was now able to be cleaned away even better.
I love this pipe, and I know my story is one many others have had as well - Calabash gourd meerschaums that go sour.
I post this hoping some of you have some great ideas you would like to share in regards to keeping your Gourd Calabash pipes cleaned and tasting fresh.View attachment 81701
Last edited: