Meerschaum and Gentleman Jack?

[RunningWolf52]

I got a meerschaum awile back, and it's my prized pipe. I clean my corn cob with gentleman jack 80 proof, then smoke some Ashton Rainy Day out of it. The Jack complemented the whiskey barrel aged blend very nicely. What I want to know now is whether or not I can clean my meerschaum with the stuff? I know meerschaum is delicate to say the least, so I don't want to take the chance when I have no Idea what it mite do. Please help.

 

[mark]

Meerschaum is VERY porous and will suck up your gentleman jack.

It might discolor. I wouldn't use it on my meers.

 

[RunningWolf52]

That's what I thought, thanks for confirming it for me!

 

[Richard Burley]

Meerschaum is VERY porous and will suck up your gentleman jack.

Hmm...I wonder what it would taste like? Or if it would ignite?  :drunken: 

 

[RunningWolf52]

Oh, but will it damage it? Whiskey is an amber brown type color, meerschaum naturally takes on an amber brown from the tabacco. I'm not too concerned about how the color fills out over time, just one more thing that makes it uniquely mine. I just don't what to damage it.

 

[monbla256]

There is NO NEED to "clean" a Meer with ANYTHING!! Just an occasional ream to keep the cake as you want, scrub out the airway occasionally with a wire brush ( they make small stem brushes for this purpose, get some  :twisted: ) They don't ghost and unless you are a confirmed Cherry Blend type of goopy aro smoker you won't have any need for the use of ANY liquids for cleaning! Unless you want your smoke to taste like bourbon why would you do it? A Meer is usuaully smoked because it DOESN'T ADD ANY flavor , rather it lets the flavor of the blend to shine !! I've got two Meers I've smoked for over 20 years now and NEVER used ANYTHING to "clean" 'em !! :twisted: :twisted:

 

[RunningWolf52]

Well thank you, a little blunt, but you seem to know your stuff. I was asking because after doing a a lot of research on meerschaum care, I got the very real sense that most can't seem to agree on the finer points. Some say to clean with heavy alcohol, well others say to use 50% volume at most, and others like yourself say not to use it at all. Some say to ream it, well others say to never ream and use a bristled pipe cleaner. Some say to alwas hold it by the stem because of how delicate it is and for even color, well others say it doesn't f**king matter(pardon my French). Most seem to agree never let a cake build up because it will crack the pipe when it expands, well your saying you had yours for 20 years and you let a slite cake build. Don't get me wrong, I'm going to take your advise because you have experience. Its why I posted on the forum! I just wish people could just agree on the simple dos and do nots.

 

[George Kaplan]

I just wish people could just agree on the simple dos and do nots.

You'll have to try a different forum for that, Mr. Wolf.   

 

[RunningWolf52]

The White Goddess is truely mysterious my friends!

 

[Fr_Tom]

I think Cart said he had a ghosted meer, so maybe it can happen...

 

[DrumsAndBeer]

I think Cart said he had a ghosted meer, so maybe it can happen...

I have a meer with a funky odor than comes off the bowl when it heats up. Personally I think it's the smell of the meer as the odor is somewhat briny and sea-like. I think Kyle described it best when he deemed it "baked clamshells." Any other meer smokers get flavor?