How to Clean the Outside of a Meerschaum Calabash Pipe

Sherlock Holmes smoked a meerschaum calabash pipe.

Meerschaum, a German word meaning "sea foam," is a highly porous form of magnesium silicate. Meerschaum pipe bowls have frequently been carved to imitate calabash pipes, which are pipes with bowls made from a kind of gourd called a calabash. Real calabash pipes must be rested between smokes so they do not sour, whereas meerschaum pipes can be smoked over and over. Consequently, meerschaum has been popular with people who smoke often, including Sherlock Holmes.

Things You'll Need

• Soap, water, clean towel
• Two soft cloths
• Drinkable (ethyl) alcohol
• Beeswax
• Small pot
• 1 cork
• Soft pipe cleaners

Instructions

1. Wash and dry your hands with soap and water and a clean towel. Carefully remove the pipe stem from the pipe by pulling and twisting it counterclockwise.

2. Dampen a soft cloth with a little drinkable (ethyl) alcohol and wipe the bowl and stem.

3. Melt beeswax over a low flame in a small pot while the pipe dries.

4. Stop the bowl of the pipe with a cork. Stop the stem of the pipe with a twisted, soft pipe cleaner.

5. Dip the bowl and stem in the beeswax while holding the pipe by the cork, then immediately remove.

6. Polish the bowl and stem with a soft cloth. Reinsert the stem by carefully pushing and twisting clockwise.

Tips & Warnings

• Buy beeswax from a local beekeeper or online.

References

• Sadik Yanik: What Is Meerschaum
• Pipes Magazine: Meerschaum--The Prince of Pipes
• Tinder Box International: The Story of Your Meerschaum Pipe