What can be done to this Meerschaum?

[Knucklehead]

I bought this CAO Meerschaum Rhodesian on ebay. I feel like I stole it at $35.00 incl. shipping but it has an issue I was wondering if I had any chance of straightening out. It appears as if someone put some smokey stain on it and not very well. I'm wondering if this can be sanded out or if the stone is too porous and I'll only ruin it. It should make a great smoker as is but if I can improve the looks I'd really like to. I have no Meerschaum experience except some excellent advice shared with me by my protege Jitterbugdude. All advise, opinions and critiques are welcome.

 

[deluxestogie]

My guess is that this meerschaum has been smoked for a long time, allowing tars to migrate from within the bowl, through the pores of the mineral, to appear on the exterior. Depending on the consistency of the meerschaum, the "coloring" may or may not be splotchy. (Briar pipes will also do this over a span of years to decades.)

There may also be some sanding of the external surface in an attempt to clean it.

If it smokes alright, I would just ignore its appearance.

Bob

 

[SmokesAhoy]

That does look too even to be a naturally colored bowl but I'll echo deluxe in just saying leave as is. If you're dead set tho try sanding the bottom out just the rim and see if it comes off easily.

 

[Knucklehead]

What do you think mineral spirits would do? The seller said it had a smokey stain applied. Then follow with a 800 grit sanding and polish?

 

[Ishi]

I would try a felt buffing wheel and some if the white buffing compound on the bottom to see if the stain would come off. It might be to pores and be soaked in too far to be removed.

 

[Seanz]

Id stay clear of any alcohol on meerschaum I reckon its just been smoked over an extended period

 

[Knucklehead]

Ishi - that was whati I was afraid of. It is still a nice pipeand I love the shape. Its hard to find a rhodesian in a meer.

 

[Knucklehead]

Id stay clear of any alcohol on meerschaum I reckon its just been smoked over an extended period

You may be right Seanz. It was an estate pipe and the seller may not have known how meer ages. This will be my first so I'm ignorant also. When it gets here I may fall in love as is.

 

[Jitterbugdude]

I'd do what everyone else said.. just smoke it!
If it is a external stain I do not think you will be able to sand it out without disfiguring the pipe.
If it is an internal stain ( from being smoked) I'd just let it be and be happy someone spent the time coloring it for you.

 

[Knucklehead]

You guys are right. Thanks for the input. I'd just ef it up. I think it's starting to grow on me anyway.

 

[Knucklehead]

Oh well nothing worked not even sanding. The really sad news is even a third of a bowl of tobacco is enough to start the pipe gurgling. CAO pipes are fairly expensive new but I am not impressed with this one. I blew $35.

 

[Boboro]

If you done with it try bleachin it an sealin with olive oil .

 

[Knucklehead]

Can I make a place for the moisture to go so it won't gurgle?

 

[Jitterbugdude]

What kind of tobacco did you smoke in it? A lot of the commercial brands are so wet that you are going to get gurgling no matter what you do. If you smoked a homegrown low case tobacco and it still gurgles then it is a bad pipe.

 

[Knucklehead]

I used DandR. It smoked well in other pipes but I will try some dry homegrown.

 

[Knucklehead]

Right again JBD! Tried some drier tobacco and it smoked like a chimney. No gurgling. It does hold about a pound of tobacco though so I'm zeroing in on what size pipe I want to build. Smaller than this for sure.

 

[BigCasino]

Right again JBD! Tried some drier tobacco and it smoked like a chimney. No gurgling. It does hold about a pound of tobacco though so I'm zeroing in on what size pipe I want to build. Smaller than this for sure.

alot of time the gurgle come from a small air way, when the air gets disrupted flowing through the air way it make a place for the moisture to build up ( as I have been told), also if you are smoking your pipe too hot or too quickly, I'm not sure how long you have been pipe smoking, keep a cleaner handy when she gurgle swab her out, meerschaum is very soft and porous be careful what you use on it, I believe your supposed to wipe the outside down with beeswax, solvents will probably soak into it and soften it to a pile of mush
good luck