Meerschaum Cake Advice Needed

[Mortamyhr]

Hello all. I recently acquired an old meerschaum. I think it looks pretty great other than minor cosmetic issues that I’m not worried about. However, there is the hardest cake I have ever come across in it. I could not get a pipe cleaner to go through the draft hole at all, no matter what I used to try to clean/break up the blockage. I finally decided to use a drill bit to clear it. Anywho, my question is: Do I leave the cake in the bowl and just accept it will not budge, or do I use something more powerful than rubbing alcohol or dish soap and a pipe knife? Thanks in advance. Here are some pictures of said pipe. You can see the drill channel in the bottom of the bowl, so there a substantial amount of cake.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I use sandpaper.

 

[OzPiper]

I use sandpaper.

^^^^^ This
Sand paper wrapped around a Sharpie pen or a piece of dowel is probably the safest option.
I have a set of PipNet reamers which I use often for briars, but have not used on a meer yet.
I wouldn't trust myself with any sharp-tipped or bladed instrument.

 

[Mortamyhr]

Thanks guys!

 

[renfield]

I use a sharp letter opener to (carefully) remove cake from my meers. I know, heresy. I follow up with sand paper wrapped around a large dowel to get down to the bare meerschaum.

 

[AJL67]

A little water or good old saliva on a paper towel plus some elbow grease and time will clean that rim right up too.

Buttners are nice too .. you can grab the old rounded edges ones for a few bucks on eBay.

 

[Simmerdown☕️]

I use the blade of my Rodgers to shave the cake down when it builds up. ️

 

[jhowell]

I use a set of chip-carving chisels to persuade the carbon away from the meer... Just remember, it's not a race - too little is better than too much...

 

[Mortamyhr]

I felt pretty blasphemous using the drill down the shank. Going with the sandpaper method now. This is the toughest cake I’ve dealt with so far. Slow and steady wins the race though. Thank you all for the help. And I will try the saliva and paper towel method on the rim.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

I use a shaped dowel rod and some 180g emmery cloth to ream/sand out tough cake in meers

 

[Simmerdown☕️]

I use a shaped dowel rod and some 180g emmery cloth to ream/sand out tough cake in meersView attachment 305312

I what ya did there. ️

 

[jerry]

I've used a Pipnet on many meers for many years with fine results. Just pay attention.

 

[runscott]

I always use a SmokingPipes oyster-style reaming knife. I've done this on fifty or more meerschaum pipes.

Extreme example. Here's a picture that shows an 1800's meerschaum bowl after the top 1/2" of cake was pried and scraped off, then after completion. After finishing the job the inside of the chamber is perfectly smooth. No sandpaper on the inside of a meer chamber...ever. I'm sure it will work, but sandpaper smooths out stuff, including cake, and at some point you're sanding meerschaum. It will also take a lot longer. It's the wrong tool for the job. With a good reamer you're breaking off cake and the meerschaum isn't affected.

The reamer works perfectly on much less-caked chambers as well. Sandpaper usage isn't a good hill to die on - use the right tool for the job. This tool also works great on badly-caked estate briars.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

If I were too concerned about it and valued the pipe, I'd send it to a professional. Otherwise, I'd use some water and sand paper.

 

[runscott]

If I were too concerned about it and valued the pipe, I'd send it to a professional. Otherwise, I'd use some water and sand paper.

Yes, this discussion has come up many times in many forums. Sandpaper always seems to be the answer. It's mind-boggling to me, but they are your pipes, so sand away

 

[kcghost]

Sandpaper and water are prudent for most smokers. If you are careful with a tobacco knife it is a good method, also. And sending it to a professional is not your worst choice but it does cost money.

 

[jhowell]

I felt pretty blasphemous using the drill down the shank. Going with the sandpaper method now. This is the toughest cake I’ve dealt with so far. Slow and steady wins the race though. Thank you all for the help. And I will try the saliva and paper towel method on the rim.

I run a 5/32" aircraft (that simply means long) bit through the shank on all my meers and a 1/8" through the 2-piece mortise / tenon adaptor - that gives me the perfect draw...

 

[jhowell]

Pipnet, oyster knife, senior reamer, and a triangular machinists scraper is what I use along with a set of chip carving chisels to clean up an "estate " meer - followed by sandpaper on a sharpie.

 

[jhowell]

Dupe - delete...