Using Alcohol and Cotton Balls on Meerschaum

[Chasing Embers]

To prevent polluting another thread with progress reports I'll start this one.

Too much hearsay turns into the gospel and phobias among pipe smokers. In another thread a while back it was stated as fact that wiping a meerschaum down with alcohol would damage it. I did it to one and it neither turned black nor exploded. In this thread I'm covering the use of internal cleaning with an alcohol soak and following the progress.

Materials Used


Set-up Complete


Around half an hour in, the alcohol is removing gunk with no dampness or alcohol smell on the outside of the stummel.

 

[kcghost]

You might want to try it for longer periods of signs of deterioration. I agree with you that your test clearly shows no damage in a reasonable time frame.

 

[Chasing Embers]

You might want to try it for longer periods of signs of deterioration. I agree with you that your test clearly shows no damage in a reasonable time frame.

Going to give it my standard 24 hour soak like briar cleanups. I'll post regular updates until then with a verdict post at the end.

 

[peteguy]

Perhaps it takes a dozen or so wipes or treatments? Maybe the wives tale is partly true?

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

 

[username]

Science!

 

[Chasing Embers]

Perhaps it takes a dozen or so wipes or treatments? Maybe the wives tale is partly true?

I'm having doubts. More likely the case of a flawed pipe or pressed meerschaum that crumbled when alcohol was applied.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Just past the 2 hour mark.

 

[isaac]

Doing the real work. So didn’t notice any major issues cleaning my bowl with everclear soaked pipe cleaners.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Doing the real work. So didn’t notice any major issues cleaning my bowl with everclear soaked pipe cleaners.

The top of the cotton was dry to the touch a few minutes ago (normal) so I topped it off as I would for an estate briar cleaning.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Six hours in with a second topping off of the cotton with alcohol.

The pipe cleaner has wicked out more build-up and the stummel has no give when squeezed with no smell of alcohol or dampness on the outside of the meerschaum.



No noticeable loss of color either.

Before


Now

 

[shanez]

Dunno about alcohol but I've "washed" one of my meers in the swimming pool on many occasions to no ill effect.

Meer is much more resilient than some people claim.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Meer is much more resilient than some people claim.

I dropped the big Kenan skull on my kitchen floor and it left a dent in the linoleum. The pipe was unscathed.

 

[ThermionicScott]

Always love watching pipe cleaners turn brown-black as they wick away the nasties.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Always love watching pipe cleaners turn brown-black as they wick away the nasties.

Same!

 

[Chasing Embers]

Nearing 13 hours, the cotton and pipe cleaner have darkened more but there's no damage to the meerschaum.

 

[jerry]

Nothing beats a real experiment. Yours is appreciated

 

[WerewolfOfLondon]

This looks like you're getting rid of a lot of internal gunk. My meer is starting to have a slight sour taste, I believe it is because of this. What exactly have you done here, put cotton wool in the bowl, a pipe cleaner in the stem, then just filled the bowl with alcohol? Am I missing anything?

 

[Chasing Embers]

What exactly have you done here, put cotton wool in the bowl, a pipe cleaner in the stem, then just filled the bowl with alcohol?

That's all.

I did remove the screw in mortise insert though.

 

[Chasing Embers]

After 22 hours.