Meerschaum color question

rottingcorpse

Starting to Get Obsessed

Feb 28, 2015

209

2

• Jun 23, 2015

• #1

I don't handle this pipe when I'm smoking and never with dirty or oily hands. It's turning orange, but at the base of the bowl, it's coloring oddly, and it's brown. Those dots aren't dirt by the way. Anyways, has anyone experienced similar coloring? Did it even up for you?

 

rottingcorpse

Starting to Get Obsessed

Feb 28, 2015

209

2

• Jun 23, 2015

• #2

60+ bowls if it matters.

 

warren

Lifer

Sep 13, 2013

11,733

16,332

Foothills of the Chugach Range, AK

• Jun 23, 2015

• #3

It's a mineral and very "uneven" for want of a better word. Looks as though it's doing fine. I have meers that color evenly and others that are splotchy. Just keep on keeping on and see what evolves.

 

rottingcorpse

Starting to Get Obsessed

Feb 28, 2015

209

2

• Jun 23, 2015

• #4

Cool. Thanks, Warren, once again. I thought as much but didn't think it'd hurt to ask. I'm still lusting over your meers by the way.

 

gloucesterman

Lifer

Jan 4, 2015

1,858

11

Massachusetts

• Jun 23, 2015

• #5

+1 on warren. In time the coloring will migrate somewhat. Each piece has its own patterns. Less dense areas tend to take color quicker. Meerschaum is a naturally occurring formation and like all things in nature it isn't uniform. But smoke away it might just prove to be a very interesting coloring process.

 

condorlover1

Lifer

Dec 22, 2013

8,066

27,365

New York

• Jun 23, 2015

• #6

Thats not looking to bad on the whole my friend. Smoke away and see what happens!

 

rottingcorpse

Starting to Get Obsessed

Feb 28, 2015

209

2

• Jun 23, 2015

• #7

Thanks, folks. I'll update it when it starts to drastically change color.

 

jpmcwjr

Moderator

Staff member

May 12, 2015

24,747

27,344

Carmel Valley, CA

• Jun 23, 2015

• #8

I handle my meers while smoking with no visible problem. Hands must be free of oils or other contaminants.

 

jerry

Part of the Furniture Now

Dec 2, 2009

588

1,653

70

Western Massachusetts

• Jun 23, 2015

• #9

Every meerschaum is unique ... and unpredictable.

 

samanden

Starting to Get Obsessed

Jun 11, 2013

247

48

Alexandria, VA

• Jun 23, 2015

• #10

If you want even coloring, use a Butera coloring bowl.

 

pipesmokingtom

Lifer

May 4, 2015

3,210

16

• Jun 24, 2015

• #11

I like it.

 

rottingcorpse

Starting to Get Obsessed

Feb 28, 2015

209

2

• Jun 24, 2015

• #12

Thanks again, guys. I think a Butera coloring bowl would annoy me. Thanks for the suggestion though. I would handle my meer, but it's way too hot in Cali to handle any of my pipes by their bowls. I've gotten use to handling my pipes by the stem anyhow. Thanks for sharing your experience though!

 

rottingcorpse

Starting to Get Obsessed

Feb 28, 2015

209

2

• Jun 24, 2015

• #13

By the way, Samaden, I read one of your forum topics on the coloring bowl. It's a year or so old. Could you post some pics of your beautiful pipe today? I get a kick out of seeing a nice meer.

 

metalheadycigarguy

Lifer

Apr 26, 2012

3,381

5,602

Washington State

• Jun 24, 2015

• #14

FYI no matter how clean your hands are your hands still have oils on them. I handle my Meerschaum and have no issues. Meerschaum is a natural product and each pipe will color differently. You can't expect it to color evenly. Just smoke it and watch what happens.

 

condorlover1

Lifer

Dec 22, 2013

8,066

27,365

New York

• Jun 24, 2015

• #15

Actually I concur with that view. I just stick tobacco in one end and put the other end in my mouth and smoke it and whatever happens is going to happen. Try the silver penny/dime trick which is what I swear by to color the bottom half of the pipe and the stem.

 

voorhees

Lifer

May 30, 2012

3,834

939

Gonadistan

• Jun 24, 2015

• #16

This is an older picture, but it has migrated more along the bottom. This is 2+ years in and approx. 40-50 bowls.

 

cortezattic

Lifer

Nov 19, 2009

15,147

7,638

Chicago, IL

• Jun 24, 2015

• #17

Try the silver penny/dime trick

Click to expand...

Never heard of that. 8O

 

condorlover1

Lifer

Dec 22, 2013

8,066

27,365

New York

• Jun 24, 2015

• #18

Yes you have Cortez! I must have been asked about it twenty odd times on this forum. Shall I cut and paste it from an earlier thread?

 

okiescout

Lifer

Jan 27, 2013

1,530

6

• Jun 24, 2015

• #19

Try the silver penny/dime trick
Looked for it Condor. All I could get took me back to this thread. If you would not mind please restate or list the thread.

Sorry about the inability to find it.

 

condorlover1

Lifer

Dec 22, 2013

8,066

27,365

New York

• Jun 24, 2015

• #20

OK guys here is what you do and this is a trick I learned as a lad from a very old pipe smoker. You put either a silver button or a silver three penny piece (six pence) or in the case of those who live in the Colonies a silver dime at the bottom of your pipe. You then smoke your pipe normally and the stem and the bottom of the bowl will turn yellow and then a darker color over longer periods of time. He is an example:

 

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