Meershaum pipe on Ebay for less then $8?

[Puffaluffaguss]

Has anybody else seen or own one of these pipes? They range in price from $6 to over $30. So with such a fluctuation in price, is this even feasible with cost of manufacturing and all that goes into a Meershaum? Anyway just thought it was interesting and maby a decent pipe for the price. If anybody has any info on these let us know. Ill post a link if anybody is interested.

 

[Waning Embers]

That's odd.

 

[canucklehead]

I think they are a ceramic/composite material of unknown properties manufactured in China. Someone needs to buy one and blowtorch it, cut it in half, leave it on a roof, plant a tree in it, put it through the dishwasher a few times, etc. For science.

 

[The Amish Tyrant]

My response may not be the most helpful, but here it is.

I bought one using a "or best offer" and got it from China in the middle of the pandemic for about $9 shipped. It was poorly put together (and I doubt it was real meerschaum, but didn't know about the wet finger test).

The draught hole was minimal and it felt toy-like. I had maybe half a chamber/bowl before getting annoyed at the draw (I like very open draws) and knew the pipe was not for me.

Had the meerschaum been real, the pipe would have colored interestingly since the outer bowl has a textured appearance that isn't seen clearly in the photos.

For $10, it was worth the risk and they all can't be winners. Give it a shot and let us know if your experience differs.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Probably not block Meerchaum, may not be Meerchaum at all. I'd guess everything is as cheap as possible. When something is too good to be true.......

 

[Puffaluffaguss]

That's odd.

View attachment 192101

I'm gonna get one and if worse comes to worse I'll just make it into a Christmas Tree ornament like you did with the Road Town / HS studios pipe. How much did you get yours for @Chasing Embers

 

[Puffaluffaguss]

I'm gonna get one and if worse comes to worse I'll just make it into a Christmas Tree ornament like you did with the Road Town / HS studios pipe. How much did you get yours for @Chasing Embers

Never mind that's an ebay pic lol. I thought you took the pic

 

[Waning Embers]

I'm gonna get one and if worse comes to worse I'll just make it into a Christmas Tree ornament like you did with the Road Town / HS studios pipe. How much did you get yours for @Chasing Embers

The HS pipe was $35.

 

[cshubhra]

I was extremely lucky to win my Sherlock Holmes/Watson Figural Meerschaum set for somewhere between $50-$60 shipped. However that happens only occasionally and the seller was not a professional seller.

The stem for the pipe above does not look Turkish. So the provenance of that pipe is a suspect but at that price you can buy and find out for yourself.

 

[verporchting]

It’s a trap…!

 

[anotherbob]

don't know but heard meerschaum is kind of common but what's uncommon is meerschaum in the conditions it's found in Turkey where it's good for making pipes. Though literally I don't know how true or not that really is. You here a lot of things and it's hard to tell what part of the body they got pulled from.
But if that's correct could be made with sub standard meerschaum.

 

[Steddy]

Hmmm, mysterious Chinese composite materials. You should buy one so you can tell us about it.

 

[AJL67]

It’s talcum powder mixed with duck sauce then bleached and compressed and injected into molds, then the children on the shop floor grind then down and polish them, if the complete 750 in a day they get dinner.

 

[canucklehead]

don't know but heard meerschaum is kind of common but what's uncommon is meerschaum in the conditions it's found in Turkey where it's good for making pipes. Though literally I don't know how true or not that really is. You here a lot of things and it's hard to tell what part of the body they got pulled from.
But if that's correct could be made with sub standard meerschaum.

It is very common, it is the mineral sepiolite, aka cat litter.

 

[brian64]

Someone needs to buy one and blowtorch it, cut it in half, leave it on a roof, plant a tree in it, put it through the dishwasher a few times, etc. For science.

Comment of the year so far for 2023.

 

[anotherbob]

It is very common, it is the mineral sepiolite, aka cat litter.

That's what I thought. That a cat litter pipe would be great.

 

[Briar Tuck]

It is very common, it is the mineral sepiolite, aka cat litter.

I have a Tidy Cats pipe carved in the shape of a hairball for sale if anyone is interested.

 

[Puffaluffaguss]

I have a Tidy Cats pipe carved in the shape of a hairball for sale if anyone is interested.

I'll take it for a cool $5 if it's drilled centered and no scuff marks

 

[crashthegrey]

I wouldn't. At best it's pressed meer, at worst it's toxic. Also, you may get a tiny pipe that you don't even feel was worth the pittance.

 

[canucklehead]

In a 30 second google search I was able to find online retailers selling Chinese sepiolite "raws," in chip, fiber (it's similar to asbestos), and powder form, for $200-500/ton. Shipping not included of course. Now what to use as a binding agent? Acrylic polymer or "sustainably harvested" Uighur toenail glue?