chasingembers
Senior Member
Posts: 1,909 
First Name: Duane
Favorite Pipe: My Growing J. Everett Collection, Fifteen Day Bruce Weaver Set, Meerschaums, Oguz Simsek Skulls
Favorite Tobacco: Black Frigate,Solani Silver Flake, Yenidje Highlander, Angler's Dream, Watch City Slices, Salty Dogs, Mephisto, Ennerdale Flake, Rich Dark Honeydew, 1792 Flake
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Post by chasingembers on Aug 13, 2020 8:55:56 GMT -5
I put wearing gloves while smoking a meerschaum right up there with holding your pinky out straight while drinking tea - a stupid affection by those seeking to appear more gentlemanly. I have read that you should only hold the stem the first 10 times you smoke a new meerschaum but I don't remember the reason. I just clench them.  |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2020 11:48:53 GMT -5
My understanding is that you won't get the wonderful colors (ending up with oranges and cherry) unless you use beeswax. If that's true, the beeswax-coated meers are the only ones you need to be concerned about messing up the coloring by touching the bowl with you un-gloved fingers.
I'm sure the 1890's meer smokers who were trying to get the perfect coloring, used the meer-coloring inserts and wore gloves or avoided holding the bowl. I have a few of those beautifully-colored old meers, but also have a 1970's well-smoked meer that was never waxed and has no coloring to speak of (see my avatar). Personally, I prefer its look to the others, but I'm curious to see what a new smooth IMP would look like if colored up nicely. Anyone have an example?
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Post by daveinlax on Aug 13, 2020 12:35:19 GMT -5
“ if I become an accepted respectable forum member.” We are all learning from one another here. Thanks for your contributions, I always pick up a thing or two, and that is the case in this thread. I've seen where pipe forum members show a waxing process that seems to age the pipe quicker, but my concern is that it sometimes darkens the pipe in places I might not want it to. I've tried spot waxing before. I might try evening out the color on this low price SMS that I've been field testing this coloring bowl on since November. This will be the before shot. I'll report back after I spot wax the lighter spots.  |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2020 12:37:17 GMT -5
I've seen where pipe forum members show a waxing process that seems to age the pipe quicker, but my concern is that it sometimes darkens the pipe in places I might not want it to. I've tried spot waxing before. I might try evening out the color on this low price SMS that I've been field testing this coloring bowl on since November. This will be the before shot. I'll report back after I spot wax the lighter spots. That photo is very small, but from what I can tell it looks like you are getting great results. |
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chasingembers
Senior Member
Posts: 1,909
First Name: Duane
Favorite Pipe: My Growing J. Everett Collection, Fifteen Day Bruce Weaver Set, Meerschaums, Oguz Simsek Skulls
Favorite Tobacco: Black Frigate,Solani Silver Flake, Yenidje Highlander, Angler's Dream, Watch City Slices, Salty Dogs, Mephisto, Ennerdale Flake, Rich Dark Honeydew, 1792 Flake
Location:
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Post by chasingembers on Aug 13, 2020 13:33:22 GMT -5
My understanding is that you won't get the wonderful colors (ending up with oranges and cherry) unless you use beeswax. If that's true, the beeswax-coated meers are the only ones you need to be concerned about messing up the coloring by touching the bowl with you un-gloved fingers. I'm sure the 1890's meer smokers who were trying to get the perfect coloring, used the meer-coloring inserts and wore gloves or avoided holding the bowl. I have a few of those beautifully-colored old meers, but also have a 1970's well-smoked meer that was never waxed and has no coloring to speak of (see my avatar). Personally, I prefer its look to the others, but I'm curious to see what a new smooth IMP would look like if colored up nicely. Anyone have an example? Nah, you just have to smoke them. This AKB that used to be in my collection was snow white when purchased and I has never added more wax.  |
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Post by pappyjoe on Aug 14, 2020 7:05:29 GMT -5
I've seen where pipe forum members show a waxing process that seems to age the pipe quicker, but my concern is that it sometimes darkens the pipe in places I might not want it to. I've tried spot waxing before. I might try evening out the color on this low price SMS that I've been field testing this coloring bowl on since November. This will be the before shot. I'll report back after I spot wax the lighter spots. That's an interesting looking coloring bowl. Are they available for sale? |
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Post by daveinlax on Aug 14, 2020 20:00:40 GMT -5
I've tried spot waxing before. I might try evening out the color on this low price SMS that I've been field testing this coloring bowl on since November. This will be the before shot. I'll report back after I spot wax the lighter spots. That's an interesting looking coloring bowl. Are they available for sale? I don't know if they went into production. My buddy JohnR turned a few. This was the second one I tried. One of the comments I made to John was that I had to buy the pipe to fit the bowl. So that might have been an issue that's being worked out. I know a guy on another board just bought a good looking meerschaum/cork coloring bowl, like The Butera Bowl from one of the Turkish sellers. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2020 11:57:26 GMT -5
My understanding is that you won't get the wonderful colors (ending up with oranges and cherry) unless you use beeswax. If that's true, the beeswax-coated meers are the only ones you need to be concerned about messing up the coloring by touching the bowl with you un-gloved fingers. I'm sure the 1890's meer smokers who were trying to get the perfect coloring, used the meer-coloring inserts and wore gloves or avoided holding the bowl. I have a few of those beautifully-colored old meers, but also have a 1970's well-smoked meer that was never waxed and has no coloring to speak of (see my avatar). Personally, I prefer its look to the others, but I'm curious to see what a new smooth IMP would look like if colored up nicely. Anyone have an example? Nah, you just have to smoke them. This AKB that used to be in my collection was snow white when purchased and I has never added more wax. Beautiful pipe. I only have owned two 'new' meers - gave one of them away and don't smoke the other. Guess I'll have to get after smoking one of them and see what I can come up with. |
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chasingembers
Senior Member
Posts: 1,909
First Name: Duane
Favorite Pipe: My Growing J. Everett Collection, Fifteen Day Bruce Weaver Set, Meerschaums, Oguz Simsek Skulls
Favorite Tobacco: Black Frigate,Solani Silver Flake, Yenidje Highlander, Angler's Dream, Watch City Slices, Salty Dogs, Mephisto, Ennerdale Flake, Rich Dark Honeydew, 1792 Flake
Location:
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Post by chasingembers on Aug 16, 2020 16:06:05 GMT -5
Nah, you just have to smoke them. This AKB that used to be in my collection was snow white when purchased and I has never added more wax. Beautiful pipe. I only have owned two 'new' meers - gave one of them away and don't smoke the other. Guess I'll have to get after smoking one of them and see what I can come up with. The claw and an IMP Apple were tossed from my collection with around 150 other infrequent smokers back early in 2019. The draw on the meers just wasn't open enough. My Kenan skull meer is wide open and a great smoker. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2020 16:17:23 GMT -5
Beautiful pipe. I only have owned two 'new' meers - gave one of them away and don't smoke the other. Guess I'll have to get after smoking one of them and see what I can come up with. The claw and an IMP Apple were tossed from my collection with around 150 other infrequent smokers back early in 2019. The draw on the meers just wasn't open enough. My Kenan skull meer is wide open and a great smoker. That's interesting. I smoke two meers regularly, and they have great draw - both are bent Peterson systems. |
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chasingembers
Senior Member
Posts: 1,909
First Name: Duane
Favorite Pipe: My Growing J. Everett Collection, Fifteen Day Bruce Weaver Set, Meerschaums, Oguz Simsek Skulls
Favorite Tobacco: Black Frigate,Solani Silver Flake, Yenidje Highlander, Angler's Dream, Watch City Slices, Salty Dogs, Mephisto, Ennerdale Flake, Rich Dark Honeydew, 1792 Flake
Location:
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Post by chasingembers on Aug 16, 2020 16:39:53 GMT -5
The claw and an IMP Apple were tossed from my collection with around 150 other infrequent smokers back early in 2019. The draw on the meers just wasn't open enough. My Kenan skull meer is wide open and a great smoker. That's interesting. I smoke two meers regularly, and they have great draw - both are bent Peterson systems. Now I find that intetesting. With the inherent absorbing quality of meerschaum, wonder why they used it on a system pipe? |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2020 17:33:30 GMT -5
That's interesting. I smoke two meers regularly, and they have great draw - both are bent Peterson systems. Now I find that intetesting. With the inherent absorbing quality of meerschaum, wonder why they used it on a system pipe? I found it interesting as well - I assumed that none of the Pete meers were systems until I took a look in the shank of my 307. Even more interesting - to me, anyway - was finding a non-Peterson bent meer out of Laxey (Thompson stamp) with a moisture trap. I think it's because it's still going to trap moisture before it bothers your smoke, even in a meer. |
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Post by Ronv69 on Aug 17, 2020 15:53:35 GMT -5
All bent Pete's have at least a vestigial well in the shank even if they aren't system pipes. My Peterson meer is African and it's straight. I think that one of the repair guys can put in new connector in the meers that will open up the draw, but since I have never smoked one that was any good even with a good draw, I hesitate to spend the money. I had one that did smoke pretty good but I gave it to a friend.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2020 22:03:54 GMT -5
All bent Pete's have at least a vestigial well in the shank even if they aren't system pipes. My Peterson meer is African and it's straight. I think that one of the repair guys can put in new connector in the meers that will open up the draw, but since I have never smoked one that was any good even with a good draw, I hesitate to spend the money. I had one that did smoke pretty good but I gave it to a friend. Are you saying you've never smoked a straight Pete meer that was any good, or that even the bent ones were bad? I have a bunch of Laxey (some Peterson) straight meers, but have never smoked any of them. The two bent Pete meers I smoke are great - as good as any of my other bent Petes. |
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Post by Ronv69 on Aug 17, 2020 22:39:32 GMT -5
All bent Pete's have at least a vestigial well in the shank even if they aren't system pipes. My Peterson meer is African and it's straight. I think that one of the repair guys can put in new connector in the meers that will open up the draw, but since I have never smoked one that was any good even with a good draw, I hesitate to spend the money. I had one that did smoke pretty good but I gave it to a friend. Are you saying you've never smoked a straight Pete meer that was any good, or that even the bent ones were bad? I have a bunch of Laxey (some Peterson) straight meers, but have never smoked any of them. The two bent Pete meers I smoke are great - as good as any of my other bent Petes. Sorry, the Petersons are great, it's the Meershaum pipes of any brand aren'9t engineered like a briar pipe. I just would rather smoke a cheap briar than an expensive meer. |
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Post by trailboss on Aug 17, 2020 22:58:28 GMT -5
You don’t have to smoke an expensive meer to have a great smoke!
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Post by Ronv69 on Aug 17, 2020 23:08:48 GMT -5
I have a Peterson and a Manx African Meer. They smoke more like a briar pipe than other meers. I like them better than the Turkish ones.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2020 23:57:49 GMT -5
I have a Peterson and a Manx African Meer. They smoke more like a briar pipe than other meers. I like them better than the Turkish ones. They aren't meant to smoke like a briar pipe. Briars came along after meers, and the goal was to make the briar smoke as good as a meer. But it's all a matter of personal taste - in general, a meer will give you a different smoking experience from a briar. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2020 21:06:46 GMT -5
I need to read up more on the history, but my understanding is that most good pipes in the mid to late 1800's were meerschaum. At some point in the late 1800's, briar pipes became well-crafted and the most popular non-meer pipe. So any briar pipe before around 1890 is going to be pretty rare, but not as much for meers of the same age.
If what I just stated is true, then high quality late 1800's briar pipes are very under-valued. I picked up a very ornate example from 1880-1900 for about $45 the other day. The old meers go for more, but probably shouldn't.
Please - I welcome corrections, as I'm too lazy to verify through research what I just said!
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Post by Ronv69 on Aug 18, 2020 21:36:24 GMT -5
I need to read up more on the history, but my understanding is that most good pipes in the mid to late 1800's were meerschaum. At some point in the late 1800's, briar pipes became well-crafted and the most popular non-meer pipe. So any briar pipe before around 1890 is going to be pretty rare, but not as much for meers of the same age. If what I just stated is true, then high quality late 1800's briar pipes are very under-valued. I picked up a very ornate example from 1880-1900 for about $45 the other day. The old meers go for more, but probably shouldn't. Please - I welcome corrections, as I'm too lazy to verify through research what I just said! The old Austrian made meers were really good pipes. Turkey passed a law that Meershaum could not be exported so that all white block meers are made in Turkey. A lot of the makers are great artists when it comes to the carving, but most of the affordable pipes have that danged tiny draft hole. The Manx, English, and Austrian pipes should all be good. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2020 21:38:01 GMT -5
There was a thread in another forum about modern Turkish meers, and which ones you could trust to have a good draft. I think the concensus was that you should pay the extra money for an IMP or BAKI.
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Post by Legend Lover on Aug 19, 2020 2:11:05 GMT -5
I put wearing gloves while smoking a meerschaum right up there with holding your pinky out straight while drinking tea - a stupid affection by those seeking to appear more gentlemanly. I have read that you should only hold the stem the first 10 times you smoke a new meerschaum but I don't remember the reason. I just clench them. Maybe it's the focal length of the shot, but that meer goes past your nipples! How the heck are you able to clench that!? |
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Post by Ronv69 on Aug 19, 2020 7:15:33 GMT -5
I just clench them. Maybe it's the focal length of the shot, but that meer goes past your nipples! How the heck are you able to clench that!? Meershaum is very light. It's like cork and floats on water |
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Post by pappyjoe on Aug 19, 2020 7:33:03 GMT -5
![]() Some meerschaum can't be clinched.  |
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chasingembers
Senior Member
Posts: 1,909
First Name: Duane
Favorite Pipe: My Growing J. Everett Collection, Fifteen Day Bruce Weaver Set, Meerschaums, Oguz Simsek Skulls
Favorite Tobacco: Black Frigate,Solani Silver Flake, Yenidje Highlander, Angler's Dream, Watch City Slices, Salty Dogs, Mephisto, Ennerdale Flake, Rich Dark Honeydew, 1792 Flake
Location:
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Post by chasingembers on Aug 19, 2020 12:06:52 GMT -5
I just clench them. Maybe it's the focal length of the shot, but that meer goes past your nipples! How the heck are you able to clench that!? It's 13 inches long with a chamber depth of 2.8 inches. I haven't met an unclenchable pipe yet, and my heaviest is a Moretti freehands that weighs 9.7 ounces. |
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chasingembers
Senior Member
Posts: 1,909
First Name: Duane
Favorite Pipe: My Growing J. Everett Collection, Fifteen Day Bruce Weaver Set, Meerschaums, Oguz Simsek Skulls
Favorite Tobacco: Black Frigate,Solani Silver Flake, Yenidje Highlander, Angler's Dream, Watch City Slices, Salty Dogs, Mephisto, Ennerdale Flake, Rich Dark Honeydew, 1792 Flake
Location:
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Post by chasingembers on Aug 19, 2020 12:09:18 GMT -5
There was a thread in another forum about modern Turkish meers, and which ones you could trust to have a good draft. I think the concensus was that you should pay the extra money for an IMP or BAKI. I had an IMP Apple and the draw on that one was terrible. If my skull meer is any indication, I'm sticking with Kenan.👍 |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 19, 2020 12:16:52 GMT -5
There was a thread in another forum about modern Turkish meers, and which ones you could trust to have a good draft. I think the concensus was that you should pay the extra money for an IMP or BAKI. I had an IMP Apple and the draw on that one was terrible. If my skull meer is any indication, I'm sticking with Kenan.👍 Whatever works for you. Just telling you what I've heard from a sample size greater than one. |
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chasingembers
Senior Member
Posts: 1,909
First Name: Duane
Favorite Pipe: My Growing J. Everett Collection, Fifteen Day Bruce Weaver Set, Meerschaums, Oguz Simsek Skulls
Favorite Tobacco: Black Frigate,Solani Silver Flake, Yenidje Highlander, Angler's Dream, Watch City Slices, Salty Dogs, Mephisto, Ennerdale Flake, Rich Dark Honeydew, 1792 Flake
Location:
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Post by chasingembers on Aug 19, 2020 16:29:37 GMT -5
I had an IMP Apple and the draw on that one was terrible. If my skull meer is any indication, I'm sticking with Kenan.👍 Whatever works for you. Just telling you what I've heard from a sample size greater than one. Their biggest selling point is the screwless permanent delrin mortise insert. The stem can be removed and replaced just like a briar. Got mine when IMP went under temporarily five years ago and SPC had a clearance sale under $150/pipe . The draw was decent, I just prefer a more wide open draw.  |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 19, 2020 18:30:52 GMT -5
Whatever works for you. Just telling you what I've heard from a sample size greater than one. Their biggest selling point is the screwless permanent delrin mortise insert. The stem can be removed and replaced just like a briar. Got mine when IMP went under temporarily five years ago and SPC had a clearance sale under $150/pipe . The draw was decent, I just prefer a more wide open draw. I think you just had bad luck - I also prefer a wide open draw, and felt like my IMP nailed it. Under $150 is a fantastic deal - too bad you got a lemon. Also, the one you are showing us is fancier than mine, and I paid about $110 used and felt great about it. |
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Post by Legend Lover on Aug 20, 2020 4:08:22 GMT -5
![]() Some meerschaum can't be clinched. wow...how do you even get into that thing? |
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