Meerschaum is a soft, light weight and porous mineral, naturally found in Turkey and different regions of the world. A meerschaum pipe has had very many hours being delicately carved. Artisans with many years of experience use deliberate care in carving your meerschaum pipe.
Your brand new meerschaum pipe is a work of art and a investment in magnificence and pleasure. Because you invested so much of your money and emotions in your meerschaum pipe, you actually want to take care of it properly and ensure it's a resource of pride that lasts you for many years in the future.
If not taken care of correctly, you meerschaum pipe is not going to endure for you as long as you want. Even worse, if not cared for properly or dealt with roughly, it might fracture and have to be replaced.
All the time handle your meerschaum pipe with clean hands. Meerschaum is a porous mineral and can hang on to any stains passed along to it from your hands.
A meerschaum pipe when brand new, is coated with beeswax. Dealing with your pipe when it is warm assists to remove the bees wax and permits the pipe to color quicker.
If you have to take off the stem from your meerschaum pipe, cautiously pull and twist the stem in a clockwise manner. When replacing the stem, also twist it in with a clockwise manner. Never twist the stem counter-clockwise, it may break or crack your meerschaum pipe.
Do support the stem with your fingers during taking it off.
By no means remove the stem out of your pipe when it is hot. Meerschaum is softer while it is hotter and can break a lot easier.
Not like briar pipes, meerschaum doesn't need a cake build up to hinder it from burning. Any cake build up must be cleaned away since it heats up sooner than the bowl and might cause it to crack.
Do not bang your pipe against a hard surface. When it is advisable to clean the bowl of your pipe, gently tap it in the palm of your hand while grasping the shank with your other hand.
If there's a deposit contained in the bowl that may not be eliminated by tapping then use a pointy however blunted instrument to loosen and remove it. Sparingly, you should use a pipe cleaner solvent, however don't allow it too deep into the bowl. Never gash the bowl of your meerschaum pipe nor utilize alcohol to clean it.
Do not use pipe sweeteners on your meerschaum pipe. The sweetener will probably be absorbed by the meerschaum and the pores will become plugged.
In conclusion:
Do not drop nor tap it on hard surfaces
Do not allow cake to build in the bowl
Do not twist the stem counter-clockwise
By no means take the stem out of a meerschaum pipe when it's still hot
Never use alcohol to clean your meerschaum pipe
Never use smoking pipe sweetener on a pipe
Through correct care, your meerschaum will be an artistic piece of magnificence, delight, a treasure and heirloom for many years in the future.
Author Resource:
If you have any questions or concerns get in touch with Suzanne or to see a fantastic set of artistic artisan hand carved meerschaum, churchwarden and calabash pipes, go to the pipe dreams one and two, and pipe shop webpages at Moonflower-Starfire: