LAKELAND FOULED MEER

[RDPipes]

I've heard a lot of people say that Meers don't take on flavor from the tobacco's smoke in them, in fact I know of one gentleman that won't smoke a Meer because of it. Well, I'm hear to tell you it's untrue, yes in deed. Several years ago I purchased an estate "Isle of Man" (I believe) meerschaum that looks and is drilled like a Peterson system pipe. Instead of having the "P" stamped on the stem there's a strange little person shall we say. A large eye with a pipe body with legs but, anyway back to fouling. I've tried smoking it on several occasions only to be met with an awful soapy/perfumey (Lakeland) flavor no matter what I smoked in it.
So, I've been trying to rid the taste in it but, not wanting to try the salt method or a retort I had some problems. First I reamed it down as far as I could and then used Q-Tips and 99% alcohol scrubbing the bowl out till the Q-Tips came out just slightly beige in color. Filled it an took off for a smoke, Argh! Yuck! So back to the bench I went, this time sanding the inside of the bowl till the black was nearly gone. Fearing I'd have to sand so much off to get it white again I stopped. Filled it again and still a soapy flavor when smoked down to the black stained portion in the bowl which is about 1/4 the way down. So I again scrub the bowl with alcohol sanded a little more and cut a new stem for it thinking it may even impermeated it. I took a few dry draws and noticed a difference. So off I went again, you guessed it, it still had a faint at times rank taste of Ivory soap. Being at my wits end I figured I'll smoke it till it hopefully fades completely, 19 more bowls to go. 

 

[pepesdad1]

Fine looking pipe, Ron. Good luck, be a shame not to enjoy it.

 

[RDPipes]

Well, to-nite I tried some PS Luxury Bulls eye in it and it was okay if ya like Ivory after tones. LOL!

 

[Brewdude]

Ron, that L-essence is a bugger isn't it? It seems to ghost a pipe something fierce.

And some of us are more sensitive to it than others. Looks like you and I are in the same camp!

ale: 

Hope you can exorcise that demon as it's a way great looking pipe!



Cheers,

RR

 

[Fr_Tom]

It might be a candidate for the Walker ozone treatment. I have never used the ozone treatment, and I seem to have good luck getting rid of ghosts with a few bowls of ODF. The worst I ever had was some kind of butterscotch or something, so not a decade of Lakelands. I have been accused of not having a particularly sensitive palate, and I am cheap, so maybe it is a good combo in this case.

 

[RDPipes]

Ron, that L-essence is a bugger isn't it? It seems to ghost a pipe something fierce.

And some of us are more sensitive to it than others. Looks like you and I are in the same camp!

ale: 

Hope you can exorcise that demon as it's a way great looking pipe!



Cheers,

RR

BD, I've got it down to where it's not as heavy as it was and I can almost ignore it.
I've got some DEM I need to smoke up before it drys out so I reckon I'll give it a chance in it and hope for the best. I too like the looks of it and will smoke it till it fades. Now all I need to do is figure out how to get this bad taste out of my mouth, maybe I'll try doing what my dog does. LOL!

Fr_ Tom, I too am cheap and poor and to tell you the truth would rather have the satisfaction of excising it out of it myself, if for no other reason the satisfaction that I did it myself.

 

[KevinM]

Have you tried a good dose of latakia to cover it?

 

[Fr_Tom]

I too am cheap and poor and to tell you the truth would rather have the satisfaction of excising it out of it myself, if for no other reason the satisfaction that I did it myself.

You are a man after my own heart (and wallet).

 

[cigarsarge]

A pouch of 5 Brothers will exorsize the ghost out of any pipe. That is what I do to get rid of one.

 

[RDPipes]

Have you tried a good dose of latakia to cover it?

I do have some Pembroke but, I didn't want to replace one with another even if it is better.
I'd rather just smoke some strong VAper's through it till it or I give up. Right now I only smoke Lat's in a cob because I most only smoke Vaper's. (most only?:suspect

 

[RDPipes]

A pouch of 5 Brothers will exorsize the ghost out of any pipe. That is what I do to get rid of one.

Ahh! Yes, but I just can't take the Burley no more. Sets my tongue a blaze.:no: 

 

[rothnh]

Hmm -- now that's a toughie -- a meer with a Lakeland ghost.

You don't mention the shank, but I assume you cleaned that as much as possible as well -- if it's a system pipe, the shank can hold a lot of nasties.

The Ozone Treatment is a possible solution -- Mike Myers can tell you if it works on a Lakeland ghosted meer. If it does, that treatment costs only $5, plus shipping.

Also, not sure if this would work on a meerschaum pipe either, but Greg Pease wrote an article on how he exocised stubborn Lakeland ghosts, so I'll link it here for your perusal:

http://www.glpease.com/Articles/Spot.html

Good luck and please let us know how it works out -- that's a nice looking meer  

 

[cigarsarge]

By the way I have that pipes btother in a straight pot shape...Great smoker.

 

[RDPipes]

Hmm -- now that's a toughie -- a meer with a Lakeland ghost.

You don't mention the shank, but I assume you cleaned that as much as possible as well -- if it's a system pipe, the shank can hold a lot of nasties.

The Ozone Treatment is a possible solution -- Mike Myers can tell you if it works on a Lakeland ghosted meer.  If it does, that treatment costs only $5, plus shipping.

Also, not sure if this would work on a meerschaum pipe either, but Greg Pease wrote an article on how he exocised stubborn Lakeland ghosts, so I'll link it here for your perusal:

http://www.glpease.com/Articles/Spot.html

Good luck and please let us know how it works out -- that's a nice looking meer  

You can bet your sweet bippy I did. LOL! wouldn't do much good just cleaning the bowl and stem without cleaning the shank.
As I smoke each bowl of DEM it seems to get fainter and fainter so I think I've got it beat now. Besides, the shank has a black plastic or vulcanite sleeve for the mortise and I wouldn't want to put this in a oven at any temperature.

 

[RDPipes]

By the way I have that pipes btother in a straight pot shape...Great smoker.

Cigarsarge, I'd like to see a photo of it if you can. Is the stem marked in the same way?
Mine is the only one I've ever seen, other then Peterson's.

 

[Fr_Tom]

I have a Peterson African meer cousin of this one. It is a great smoker and either was not ghosted, or I was not good enough with the nuances to notice.

 

[RDPipes]

Tom, That certainly is it's Peterson's cousin.  

 

[DrumsAndBeer]

Sell that baby to someone that smokes Lakelands.  

 

[RDPipes]

Now why would I want to do that, heck I've just about got the ghost out it now.

 

[rothnh]

So what's the deal?

Has that ghost entirely dissipated?