Altinay Meerschaum Billiard Coloring Progress

[fishmansf]

This has been done before but I figured I’d add another thread for those interested/those looking on coloring progress. My main goal is to see if there are tobaccos that color better than others. It’s hard to determine this since you can really only use one meerschaum at a time to test since each pipe is unique. My methodology is to smoke one blend a day throughout the day about 3 times a day. There will not be any cap on how long this will last, only once I’m satisfied with the color and buy a new meer to start the process over with . Currently I am 6 bowls in to this Altinay bent billiard.

Day 1: 3 bowls of 965
Day 2: 3 bowls of old Joe Krantz
Day 3 (in progress): 2 bowls of Scottish Cake

So far I’ve noticed that the more moist tobacco, (Scottish Cake) has been leaving a nicer patina inside the bowl, sort of a shiny tar residue in the chamber compared to the drier blends like OJK and 965 which only left the bowl with a bit of charring and brown smoke. Tomorrow I’ll be traveling so I’m not sure how much smokes I’ll get in but I’m going to try another moist blend.

Current status: 6 bowls in

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I’m not sure your experiment will tell you much. There’s clearly a delay between smoked bowls and external coloring. It would be great if you could get 3 or 4 100% identical Meers to smoke side by side with different blend types to see if there’s a difference in coloring. Unfortunately, that’s just not possible as there is clearly a variance in the material from one bowl to the next.

 

[kcghost]

Three days is awfully early in the process. Keep at it.

 

[fishmansf]

I’m not sure your experiment will tell you much. There’s clearly a delay between smoked bowls and external coloring. It would be great if you could get 3 or 4 100% identical Meers to smoke side by side with different blend types to see if there’s a difference in coloring. Unfortunately, that’s just not possible as there is clearly a variance in the material from one bowl to the next.

Agreed. While I’ll be experimenting, I’ll most likely just be another coloring progress thread.

 

[fishmansf]

Three days is awfully early in the process. Keep at it.

Oh I know, I’m just starting the progress at the beginning to accurately track the progress

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Agreed. While I’ll be experimenting, I’ll most likely just be another coloring progress thread.

I appreciate your enthusiasm. Enjoy the process. Waiting on a Meer to color is similar to watching grass grow. But smoking the Meer is 100 x more enjoyable than mowing the lawn.

 

[Jbyrd]

I don't feel like you will be able to tell what colors a meer faster because it is just going to gradually get more color as you smoke it.

 

[fishmansf]

Alright I just hit the 20 bowl mark and I’m starting to see the slightest bit of colorations. It might be hard to see in these photos but coloration in the joint of the shank is starting to

 

[didimauw]

In my experience, that's about the average number of smokes before it starts to color. Nice job, keep it up!

 

[lukasstrifeson]

Alright I just hit the 20 bowl mark and I’m starting to see the slightest bit of colorations. It might be hard to see in these photos but coloration in the joint of the shank is starting to

I'm seeing a bit of coloration starting at about the halfway mark on the bowl going down too. Sometimes the initial coloration almost looks pinkish.

Lovely pipe you have there, should age nicely with time.

 

[Chasing Embers]

The blackened rims always impress me. I've never been able to do that to a meerschaum or a cob.

 

[didimauw]

The blackened rims always impress me. I've never been able to do that to a meerschaum or a cob.

You gotta pack the entire bowl! Lol. I've never been able to prevent the rim blackening. I use it as a badge of honor on all my pipes.

 

[Chasing Embers]

You gotta pack the entire bowl!

Always do.

Even my darkest colored ones have fairly clean rims.

 

[augiebd]

That is one beautiful that pipe that is colouring nicely @Chasing Embers! How many bowls through it?

 

[Chasing Embers]

How many bowls through it?

Long prior to counting. Could be thousands.

 

[fishmansf]

About 50 bowls in. Gave up on the experimentation with different tobaccos and have been smoking exclusively this pipe except a new one I acquired at the Danish Pipe Shop (shout out to Jonas for helping me out) on my travels. Here’s what we’re looking like. Really happy with the progress so far.

 

[fishmansf]

update: almost 100 bowls in. This has been a stubborn meet to color. It’s really starting to turn a nice shade of yellow recently but the picture doesn’t even REMOTELY begin to pick it up. There’s also a nice dark yellow band that goes around halfway of the pipe. Not sure if this is oil from where I hold it or if it’s a “burn line” from when my bowl tends to get extra hot.

 

[gervais]

That's a lovely meer brother. I'd have to agree on the pipes stubbornness to show colour. Don't give up though!

 

[jerry]

Every meer has its own timetable for coloring, which generally cannot be predicted. Enjoy every smoke!

 

[Steddy]

Enjoy it to the fullest!