The meerschaum has turned into a cautionary tale about buying meerschaum from a antique/collectible shop or mall. I examined it pretty closely for cracks using a magnifying glass. Even pull the stem off and checked around the threaded part of the tenon and saw no cracks. The only thing I really noticed was a musty, mothball like odor in the bowl and a powder looking substance in the stem.
Took the stem off and started running a pipe cleaner dipped in Vodka through both the stem and the stummel. After the second pass, I noticed a small crack appeared in the stummel above the thread. Went ahead and inserted the wet pipe cleaner a third time and the crack widen and about a 1/4 piece just came off.
My guess is the moisture was absorbed into the meerschaum and expanded a microscopic crack or flaw in the meerschaum until it broke apart.
Good thing I'm only out $20 on this one.
Fixing to glue it together and put it on the display shelf with my 2 other unsmokeable pipes.
Sorry to hear that @PappyJoe, very disappointing. But as you said, it was only $20. If you do glue it back together, why would it not still be smoke-able after the glue is cured? Just asking because I never experienced a broken or repaired meerschaum so I do not know.
Actually, it may still be smokeable because of where the break is. It’s not part that will get hot from smoking. It just depends on if I can get the tenon back in.
@Pappyjoe That's always been my biggest feat when buying a Meerschaum from an antique or second hand shop as opposed to a pipe store. But for $20.00 it's still a great looking pipe even if you can't smoke it.
My Veringetorix(The Gaul) Meerschaum I bought on the bay for a very low price came with the stem glued on. When I removed it with a Micro Saw I found a piece of wire sticking out of the Stummel into the stem. I found the 1/4 twenty bone screw was broken off and jammed in the stem plus someone had tried to drill it out and bored on an angle. I could have returned it but the Meerschaum body was intact. I removed the stem screw with some difficulty and my friend made a one piece replacement of the entire screw assembly.after some adjustment it all came together well. when I clean the stem I have to use a regular pipe cleaner on one end and a very fluffy one to clean out the missdrilling. I guess I can be stubborn.
I went to Hobby Lobby and bought a tube of craft glue that says it works on metal, cork, paper, plastic, glass, stone and ceramic. I glued everything back together and after a couple of hours screwed the nylon piece for the tenon back into it. Nothing fell apart.
I'm going to let it air out for a day or two and will then smoke it at least once.
For the record, if the crack was in or near the bowl where it will get hot, I wouldn't bother trying to smoke it. Since the nylon tenon will be between the smoke and the meerschaum and glue, I don't think I'm going to have any problem.
@wbradk Ain't that the truth, Wally Frank had a Pipe of the Month Club from the 40's to the early 60's pay them $12 and they sent you a pipe a month for a year post paid. I used to get 2 of them for $7, Now the amateurs think that Pipe of the Month is a Pipe of the Year and want $80 for one.
Sorry to hear about the meer @PappyJoe , but at least you didn't spend a lot of money on it. You have a great eye in finding great deals on antique pipes, though, so I'm sure you'll find something else to make up for it.
Comments
I examined it pretty closely for cracks using a magnifying glass. Even pull the stem off and checked around the threaded part of the tenon and saw no cracks.
The only thing I really noticed was a musty, mothball like odor in the bowl and a powder looking substance in the stem.
Took the stem off and started running a pipe cleaner dipped in Vodka through both the stem and the stummel. After the second pass, I noticed a small crack appeared in the stummel above the thread. Went ahead and inserted the wet pipe cleaner a third time and the crack widen and about a 1/4 piece just came off.
My guess is the moisture was absorbed into the meerschaum and expanded a microscopic crack or flaw in the meerschaum until it broke apart.
Good thing I'm only out $20 on this one.
Fixing to glue it together and put it on the display shelf with my 2 other unsmokeable pipes.
I'm going to let it air out for a day or two and will then smoke it at least once.
For the record, if the crack was in or near the bowl where it will get hot, I wouldn't bother trying to smoke it. Since the nylon tenon will be between the smoke and the meerschaum and glue, I don't think I'm going to have any problem.
@motie2 That's a very nice looking pipe!
http://pappyjoesblog.com/broken-pipe-blues/