stone
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Post by stone on Apr 16, 2019 6:34:48 GMT -5
I left the image full size so you could see the detail. I got two nice carved meerschaum pipes in the latest estate pick up and they both have extreme cake build up. The below picture is after I carefully picked for ten minutes!
Any advice on removing this cake?
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chasingembers
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First Name: Duane
Favorite Pipe: My Growing J. Everett Collection, Fifteen Day Bruce Weaver Set, Meerschaums, Oguz Simsek Skulls
Favorite Tobacco: Black Frigate,Solani Silver Flake, Yenidje Highlander, Angler's Dream, Watch City Slices, Salty Dogs, Mephisto, Ennerdale Flake, Rich Dark Honeydew, 1792 Flake
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Post by chasingembers on Apr 16, 2019 6:44:43 GMT -5
Corkscrew a wet paper towel or unscented baby wipe into to chamber.
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Post by pappyjoe on Apr 16, 2019 6:57:39 GMT -5
For what its worth, I have taken and wrapped sandpaper around my index finger to remove some of the heavy cake from a rescued meerschaum. I did it very gently and it took probably five hours over several days to get it where I was happy and I didn't get all the cake out.
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stone
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Post by stone on Apr 16, 2019 7:07:18 GMT -5
Corkscrew a wet paper towel or unscented baby wipe into to chamber. Do you mean to let it sit inside until it softens the cake and then dig it out? |
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chasingembers
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Posts: 1,884
First Name: Duane
Favorite Pipe: My Growing J. Everett Collection, Fifteen Day Bruce Weaver Set, Meerschaums, Oguz Simsek Skulls
Favorite Tobacco: Black Frigate,Solani Silver Flake, Yenidje Highlander, Angler's Dream, Watch City Slices, Salty Dogs, Mephisto, Ennerdale Flake, Rich Dark Honeydew, 1792 Flake
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Post by chasingembers on Apr 16, 2019 7:44:36 GMT -5
Corkscrew a wet paper towel or unscented baby wipe into to chamber. Do you mean to let it sit inside until it softens the cake and then dig it out? Not at all. Twist it until it's removed. You may have to use multiple paper towels. |
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stone
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Post by stone on Apr 16, 2019 8:07:51 GMT -5
Do you mean to let it sit inside until it softens the cake and then dig it out? Not at all. Twist it until it's removed. You may have to use multiple paper towels. I guess this will test my patience, I was looking for a jackhammer sort of solution  I will try this while watching Gone With The Wind. |
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stone
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Post by stone on Apr 16, 2019 10:32:18 GMT -5
I need more help! The cake is formed so that the bowl is conical with the bottom being just big enough for a Q-tip. I have very carefully used a mandrel and sanding barrel as well as a Senior Pipe Reamer simply trying to identify the edges of the meerschaum bowl but it is like trying to grind granite.
Can I expect the bowl to be shaped like the bole of any other pipe? Ir is it possibly conical in shape? If it's the shape of the bowl of any other pipe, the rock hard cake goes from 1/8 inch thick at the top to 3/8 inch thick at the bottom.
Can I soften the cake?
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briarbuck
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Post by briarbuck on Apr 16, 2019 11:06:01 GMT -5
I've seen videos of people soaking their meers to prove that absorb H2O. If it was me, I'd give 'er a soak and see if it helps.
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Post by pappyjoe on Apr 16, 2019 12:31:02 GMT -5
I've seen videos of people soaking their meers to prove that absorb H2O. If it was me, I'd give 'er a soak and see if it helps. My understanding is that the carver's soak the meerschaum in water so that it softens and they can carve it easier. I could be wrong on that, but if its true then soaking a meer in water would not be something I'd want to do. |
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stone
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Post by stone on Apr 16, 2019 13:06:07 GMT -5
I am taking baby steps. Real baby steps ..... in other words I haven't made any progress yet, but I want to be careful.
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Post by unknownpipesmoker on Apr 16, 2019 13:09:08 GMT -5
I've taken nail files and bent them until they have a "U" shape. You really have to be extremely gentle doing this. You can wreck your pipe easily.
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Post by sperrytops on Apr 16, 2019 13:11:48 GMT -5
I've never seen such thick cake on any pipe. Rather than use the Reamer Senior, there is a small one that is less severe, and move forward on the scraping in light layers little by little. I suggest that if you're concerned about where the meerschaum walls actually are.
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Post by pepesdad1 on Apr 16, 2019 13:47:44 GMT -5
Using a reamer may wind up cracking the meer. I suggest following what others have said...using a liquid, like old coffee to soften the cake and then it will come out with gentle scraping.
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stone
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Post by stone on Apr 16, 2019 13:55:36 GMT -5
Using a reamer may wind up cracking the meer. I suggest following what others have said...using a liquid, like old coffee to soften the cake and then it will come out with gentle scraping. Coffee will work better than plain hot water? |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2019 14:03:07 GMT -5
I've seen videos of people soaking their meers to prove that absorb H2O. If it was me, I'd give 'er a soak and see if it helps. My understanding is that the carver's soak the meerschaum in water so that it softens and they can carve it easier. I could be wrong on that, but if its true then soaking a meer in water would not be something I'd want to do. Meer carvers do soak the block for 1/2 hours or so. They do not touch it in the wet and slimy stage, but let it dry 24 hours, then carve. |
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stone
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Post by stone on Apr 16, 2019 20:05:27 GMT -5
After numerous hours and a couple of invented tools I finally got most of the cake out and can now see the meerschaum walls and will be able to finish these guys up.
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chasingembers
Senior Member
Posts: 1,884
First Name: Duane
Favorite Pipe: My Growing J. Everett Collection, Fifteen Day Bruce Weaver Set, Meerschaums, Oguz Simsek Skulls
Favorite Tobacco: Black Frigate,Solani Silver Flake, Yenidje Highlander, Angler's Dream, Watch City Slices, Salty Dogs, Mephisto, Ennerdale Flake, Rich Dark Honeydew, 1792 Flake
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Post by chasingembers on Apr 17, 2019 0:38:51 GMT -5
That lion appears to be smiling in appreciation of your hard work.
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Post by trailboss on Apr 17, 2019 0:49:01 GMT -5
They must be great pipes, the previous owner smoked the hell out of them...I think that you will be rewarded for your efforts.
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stone
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Post by stone on Apr 17, 2019 5:02:49 GMT -5
They must be great pipes, the previous owner smoked the hell out of them...I think that you will be rewarded for your efforts. The previous owner was a pig! There was so much venom on the stems it was inconceivable that he could put it in his mouth, 80% of the bowls had so much cake you couldn't get a thimble full of tobacco in them, and they had never seen a pipe cleaner. Fortunately, the Sasieni four dot Rustic Moorgate, the GBD New Standard 9488, the Comoy's Sandblast 187, and the Kiko African meer lined billiard were the best of the lot.
Below is the tool I made to help extract the cake. I placed each meerschaum pipe in a small bowl and propped it up level, I carefully poured the bowls full of boiling water and placed them in a 150 degree toaster oven. Replacing the boiling water every ten minutes for 40 minutes softened the cake "a little bit" and I was able to use the below tool, some dental picks, a host of Dremel tool attachments, some sandpaper on my finger, and finally had a voodoo Godess bless them. Now I can see the contour of the meerschaum walls and can finish removing the remaining cake.
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I will try this while watching Gone With The Wind. 
