| Archive for Dr. Grabow Pipes "America's One and Only" |
| steverino |
New meerschaum lined and questionHere is the meerschaum lined pipe I just received. It is unused and looks like a beauty. It is quite large, as well.Because of the way these enhance the flavor of certain tobaccos, I have started to have an interest in them. What method would you use to clean one of these pipes? I feel sure you wouldn't use the salt/alcohol treatment on an estate meerschaum, but I have no idea what you would do. On an unused briar pipe, I usually swab it out good with grain alcohol before smoking it. Would this be advisable with the unused meerschaum lined? So I'm asking two questons: How to clean a used one, and how to clean a new one before smoking. T H A N K S |
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| BWThomas |
Re: New meerschaum lined and question
I'm no expert on meerschaum pipes. I have owned and smoked two that I picked up overseas during my Army days. I cleaned with alcohol, just like my briars. I did a search and this seems to back that up: http://www.smokingpipes.com/information/howto/meerschaum.cfm |
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| LokoMac8 |
Re: New meerschaum lined and question
I have four or five meerschaum lined Grabows which I haven't seen in a while -- probably out in my shop somewhere. I was always a bit leery of getting any alcohol or pipe sweetner on the meerschaum itself because I was afraid it might either adversely affect the integrity of the lining, or "soak in" and have a lasting unwanted effect on the taste. I'm glad this subject has come up here! Know I will know how to care for mine (when I find them) and I will enjoy smoking them again. --RJ-- |
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| BWThomas |
Re: New meerschaum lined and question
Upon further search I have come across a couple of statements saying NOT to use sweeteners or alcohol. But this seemed to be in the context of "after smoking" when the meerchaum is soft. I cleaned mine when they were cool, days after smoking. I didn't soak them, merely 'swabbed' them to rid the interior of the bowl of any cake. The cleaning didn't seem to affect the integrity of the bowl. The drop from my desk to the hardwood floor was a different story. Siamese kittens are hell on meerchaum pipes. I paid 1100 yen for each of those pipes on Okinawa. At the time, that was about $3. per pipe. BTW Steve, that was a good find. I never even saw that one on ebay. Good for you. And RJ! ...somewhere out in your shop? ALL THE MORE REASON ED AND I NEED TO COME PAY A VISIT! BW |
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| Rev. Avery |
I accidently cleaned mine (Kaywoodie) with sweetner when it arrived. I forgot it was a meerschaum lined pipe --duh 
It was, from what I was told, from the mid 50's. Hadn't been smoked by the girl's father since then. So ... after a few smokes all leftover taste is gone. Smoked it last night and it was just fine. Don't think I'd recommend this though 
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