Better Meerschaum Inserts

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Chasing Embers

Captain of the Black Frigate
Nov 12, 2014
45,244
119,232
It may be common with newer inserts, but upon replacing them in my favorite meerschaum, the draw is much more open and the fit of the tenon is much more snug. I bought a dozen of them for estate repairs but I'm going to go ahead and replace the inserts in all the pipes I have that have them.

20221215_232042.jpg
 

Chasing Embers

Captain of the Black Frigate
Nov 12, 2014
45,244
119,232
An interesting thing I've noted is that there are minute variations in the lengths of the mortise inserts. Compare them with the original for fitting or there will be some stem misalignment. I've found that rubbing the threads of a new insert on a block of bees wax helps when inserting stubborn ones.
 

jhowell

Part of the Furniture Now
Jul 25, 2019
669
1,056
71
Phoenix, Arizona
On those 2-piece inserts, the mortis insert is nylon and the tenon insert is delrin - makes for tight, stable fit. I always drill out the tenon insert to 1/8" - gives me the perfect draw. I've had to trim the threaded end sometimes for the insert to properly fit. The important thing is to remember to always twist clockwise to remove the stem. I like the bees wax idea - stolen...
 

Chasing Embers

Captain of the Black Frigate
Nov 12, 2014
45,244
119,232
The important thing is to remember to always twist clockwise to remove the stem
That one I've known for years but was under the impression that the mortise pieces has a standardized length. I couldn't have been more wrong.


I like the bees wax idea - stolen...
Very welcome to it. It dawned on me while working on the one above as I didn't want to force it the last way in and risk cracking the shank. With the wax it went in with zero effort.
 
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jhowell

Part of the Furniture Now
Jul 25, 2019
669
1,056
71
Phoenix, Arizona
The new ones are listed as Teflon. Quite a bit different feeling than those already in my pipes. The airway in the tenon is noticeably larger as well.
Look at the difference in color - if they were the same material, why use 2 different colors? Also the mortis adaptor material is softer than the tenon material (learned that while trimming the ends to fit)...
 

Chasing Embers

Captain of the Black Frigate
Nov 12, 2014
45,244
119,232
Look at the difference in color - if they were the same material, why use 2 different colors? Also the mortis adaptor material is softer than the tenon material (learned that while trimming the ends to fit)...
Just saying that neither are listed as nylon or delrin. The new ones I received feel different than the stock ones in my other pipes and are also a different color than the originals.