Coloring Meerschaum Pipes

[2nd X Piper]

I did a quick search for a particular topic and didn't find anything. So here goes.
I got an ad for Cocktail Smokers (which I had never heard of), but it caught my eye because I've tried a few ways to color my Meers, so I investigated and learned something about them. It seems you put a cover over your glass of liquor that has a hole in it and a screen in the hole (the hole is like a bowl of your pipe with the bottom removed). Then, sprinkle some wood chips in the hole or bowl, light them with a lighter, and cover it with a plug that allows the smoke to flow down into the glass. After a short time, you take the smoker off the glass and enjoy your smoked "whatever". I'm wondering if any of you who might read this have tried it to color your meers? Of course, I checked Amazon and found about 25 or 30 or more different brands. So it must be common practice somewhere anyway. Just wondered if it worked?

 

[anotherbob]

Sound like less fun then smoking the color into a meer the old fashion way. One thing is if it works it won't work the same way as smoking it does. And it would need tobacco to be the same color.
And it did take me a second to realize you're talking about a thing to add smoke flavor to a drink and not something for a meer. What would probably be better is a coloring bowl for a meer. Which you can find on any pipe sellers site if they have meer.

 

[warren]

Seems like a lot of trouble and effort for something that will occur naturally over time.

 

[wyfbane]

Welcome to the forum!

I offer this as someone with ADHD and a lot of pipes: some things are better not rushed.

I have barely put any color on my meers because *squirrel* i dont smoke any one meer long enough to color it.

I still think you are better off setting aside the time and just smoking color into your meer, if it is color you want.

 

[SpuddsBuckley]

In high school, there was a similar term that was often used as an insult.

I got an ad for Cocktail Smokers

 

[KingPiper]

Best way to color a meer is to not try to. Just enjoy your smokes. It’ll color without effort. Also out of curiosity, what different ways have you tried to color your meers? I can’t imagine any other way for a meer to color than being heated and absorbing tobacco smoke.

 

[renfield]

Just smoke it, it will color. The particulars are somewhat unpredictable and are part of the enjoyment of The White Goddess.

A few years ago I did an experiment where I used a "coloring bowl" for several hundred bowls on a brand new meer. The pipe colored more evenly than meers I'd smoked "normally", but at least with that particular pipe, no faster. (It was also a lot more hassle). When I started smoking without the bowl the pipe continued to color, but much less evenly. I may repeat the experiment at some point with another new pipe, but then again I'm easily distracted by shiny objects.

How a meer colors and how quickly has more to do with the particular block used to make a pipe than anything else. How you choose to enjoy your pipes and tobacco is up to you.

 

[sardonicus87]

Honestly, I think they look better when they're unevenly colored anyway.

It takes time, different meers color differently and at different rates. Depends on the individual block. Bents seem to color stupid fast in the shank area more so than straights.

Don't overthink it.

Also, it won't necessarily color by sticking it in a smoke filled dome, at least not in the same way, and would probably take a lot longer. If you wanted to artificially color it over night or fast, you'd be better off boiling pipe tobacco into a tea and sticking the pipe into that rather than sticking it in a dome.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I think the pride in a beautifully colored Meer is knowing the hundreds and thousands of smokes it took to get there. I don't understand the reasoning in trying to cheat that. If it's that important to someone use some stain or shoe polish.

 

[OzPiper]

Or take the cheat’s way out and buy
1) an estate that someone has done the hard yakka for you



2) an oxblood meer


3) pre/coloured African meers


No sweat

 

[renfield]

Love those old, old meers, especially with amber stems.

 

[jerry]

I've enjoyed smoking them, letting them reveal their own coloring characteristics. Every meerschaum pipe colors in its own way and its own time. Many factors figure, some known, some unknown. For me, experiencing the mystery of each pipe's process is rewarding. I only smoke meerschaums, and have for more than 40 years.

 

[Sig]

I never had any children.
But if there was a way to have a baby, let someone else raise it, then return it at 18 years old.....I just might have done that.
At this point I have no one to take care of me in my old age.
But I think I would miss the pride of raising the child myself.

 

[Pipeandapencil]

Like everything in the pipe world... everyone does it different and noone is right.

 

[anotherbob]

View attachment 430305
Like everything in the pipe world... everyone does it different and noone is right.

the real question is how did I not notice that he had his palate surgically fused to his arm. Wow that's some dedication.

 

[abecox]

I always had trouble staying between the lines.

 

[Day2Day]

To me one of the pleasures of Meers is the joy of watching them color as you smoke them. I've heard one of the coloring bowls works nicely but that seems to be an awkward way to smoke to me.

 

[huntertrw]

Coloring Meerschaum Pipes​

These can help, plus they come in a wide variety of colors!

 

[Choatecav]

This topic reminds me of those "spray on tans" that used to be popular (may still be).
Folks wanted it to look like they had been at the beach..... they just looked dirty.

 

[blueeyedogre]

There was a member on here a while back that did a running post on how his new meer coloured over a year. It was the only pipe he smoked and it took some amazing colour over the year.
I used to do a melted beeswax bath on my meers when I was smoking them a lot. Cork both opening and fully submerge the pipe in liquid melted wax and then polish off the excess. Really brought out the colour in them. Well, doing that and smoking the he(( out of them lol