To touch or not...meerschaum

Rewaxing a Block Meerschaum


Preparation: 100% beeswax cakes -- confectionery quality
Old towel or cloth -- to prevent hot wax from
dripping or spattering onto other surfaces
Hair dryer -- multiple temperature and fan settings
Cotton swabs -- for brushing the melted beeswax
Polishing cloth -- soft white terry cloth towel or
white flannel

STEP 1: Use a hair dryer set to hot temperature setting, but low air speed.
Heat the beeswax cake to consistency of lip balm.
Hold the pipe by the stem. Smear onto the bowl directly from the beeswax
cake like lipstick. Do not touch the bowl with your fingers during any of
the steps..

STEP 2: Continue to heat the a section of the surface of the bowl until the
wax becomes liquid. Use the cotton swab like a brush to paint the area with
a coating of wax. Push molten wax into crevices and hard to access areas.
The swab may unravel as it absorbs excess wax. Coat the entire bowl surface
evenly. CAUTION: Try to prevent wax from dripping into the tobacco hole since
it will leave a bitter taste.

STEP 3: Heat the bowl again to allow complete absorption of the wax. Set
the pipe down on the towel to cool.

STEP 4: After the bowl cools to room temperature. Buff the surface to a
high gloss using a towel first then the flannel cloth for the final buffing.
If the surface is tacky, too much wax is on the surface. Heat this area
again and remove excess wax with a cotton swab and buff again.

STEP 5: Repeat when the surface becomes soiled or dull. Excessive waxing
may cause too much wax accumulation (tacky surface and dripping