Otherwise they are soaked into water and they will soften to the consistency of a soap thus allowing the carvers to proceed with their work. Drilling is achieved by the help of machine but is still done by hand. The intricately bent shapes and figures require great skill for making these air holes with the help of a straight drill bit. After the pipe is handcarved and drilled, it is allowed to dry app. This, too, is another important processs as all of the above.
All cases are hand-made to be fitted to that individual pipe.
No pipe will fit another case and no case will fit another pipe. The individual pipe is outlined on a light piece of wood. The piece is cut and slit into 2 halves,the inside is scraped off by hand, and then sanded for smoothness, it is lined with velvet. The outside sanded also to become smooth and it is lined with leather, hinges and clasps are then attached to finish off the protective carry case. Today, meerschaum-carving is a dying art.