GENUINE SMALL MEERSCHAUM BLOCKS
Pure raw genuine meerschaum blocks for turning in to fire chamber inserts for wooden pipes or building small pipes / objects. For larger solid blocks, check here:
Dimensions of the blocks are between 2,5 cm – 3,5 cm wide and 4,5 cm – 7 cm long.
Reference squares on the photos are 1/2" - 1,25 cm
Block will be delivered dry.
You can find some pipe stems here.
If you going to drill or thread a tenon hole, do it when stone dry and keep the stone and drill bit strictly steady.
PLEASE CONSIDER THAT MEERSCHAUM IS A HIGHLY POROUS NATURAL MATERIAL. HOWEVER WE CHOOSE BEST RAW BLOCKS THAT EVERY MEERSCHAUM PIPE CARVING MASTER WILL DESIRE, SOME IMPERFECTIONS (WHICH DOESN'T EFFECTING FINAL PRODUCTS INTEGRITY) ARE INEVITABLE AND ACCEPTABLE.
For drilled but not carved as a stummel kit listings you can check here... or here...
To carve your block easily and effectively, put it in a container with water. Within minutes, it will sink in water. For full saturation and best results, keep it in water for up to one more hour, depending on the size of the block. After taking out from water, keep it sealed for one full day. The outcome will be like a freshly mined meerschaum. Keep your block in a sealed environment (zip lock bag etc.) while not working on it. When the carving process is over, let your piece dry for a few days. Now you can fine sand and seal it with beeswax. To do it; heat your piece up to 90 degrees Celsius (195 Fahrenheit) in an oven, melt your beeswax in a bain marie. Keep wax hot and liquid and apply on hot piece several coats with a fine brush except fire chamber until it absorbs no more wax and becomes saturated. Heat the piece upside down one last time in the oven to 80–90 degrees Celsius (175 – 195 F) and let it cool. (Or skip the oven and use a heat gun or hairdryer.) Now it is ready to buff with or without some carnauba wax. Natural beeswax gives a distinctive honey color to carved items. Even with traditional use of purified beeswax, pure white will tint a little towards ivory color.