Can Anyone Tell the Quality of this Pipe?

[Nohone]

EDIT: Fixed Capitalization in Title (See Rule 9)

So I've purchased this pipe in the beginning of June, it's probably had over 100 smokes as of now, and I'm concerned that it hasn't colored much in comparison to some of the pipes I've seen here that have been smoked like 12 times and already have something going on.

I'm positive the pipe is block meerschaum, though I'm unsure of the quality of block. I purchased the pipe for $100 on Meerschaummarket.com.

I also just waxed it with white beesewax, and I can see the color did come out more than before, but not as much as I'd expect it to.

I smoke black aromatics, pirate kake, and balkan sasieni.

 

[lawdawg]

I think it's coloring up quite nicely. If it smokes well, just keep enjoying it and don't worry about it too much.

I will add that next time you're in the market for a new meer, it is worthwhile to spend a little more and get a meerschaum where the mortise and tennon are designed so that there is no friction against any portion of the meerschaum since it's a soft material and can wear down over time, making a loose fit for the stem. Slightly pricier meers have some sort of insert in the mortise which the tennon will fit to, avoiding any friction against the meerschaum material itself.

 

[Nohone]

Yeah, it does smoke well. Has a tendency to trap moisture though, but that could just be me.

Regarding the insert for the tennon, is this what you mean? Looks like mine has that, but the tennon has gotten looser when I twist it off. I never twist off the insert, if I take the stem out I take it out clockwise.

 

[lawdawg]

Yeah, it does smoke well. Has a tendency to trap moisture though, but that could just be me.

Regarding the insert for the tennon, is this what you mean? Looks like mine has that, but the tennon has gotten looser when I twist it off. I never twist off the insert, if I take the stem out I take it out clockwise.

Looks like yours probably has the type of insert (for lack of a better term) that I was talking about.

 

[cshubhra]

Depending upon the exposure, white balance, etc ... which a camera calculates on its own, a Meerschaum may look more colored / less colored in a picture. If you include a piece of white paper, (and a virgin Meerschaum if you have one), take a reading of the white stuff in your photo, only then you can have a photo which represents true color in the photo.
Every Meerschaum colors differently, but I believe your pipe has picked up excellent color after 100 smokes.

 

[cshubhra]

Including a thread I posted which shows how much my Meerschaum pipes have colored - as a comparison

Meerschaum Coloring Status Report :: Meerschaum Pipes

I have often wondered how a Meerschaum would color. There are quite a few many questions on coloring as well. While I understand there cannot be true objectivity in this, as there are multitude of factors. I have however tried to bring in some objectivity. Here is the set up. 1. Lighting is...

pipesmagazine.com

 

[didimauw]

I think it's coloring up quite nicely. If it smokes well, just keep enjoying it and don't worry about it too much.

I will add that next time you're in the market for a new meer, it is worthwhile to spend a little more and get a meerschaum where the mortise and tennon are designed so that there is no friction against any portion of the meerschaum since it's a soft material and can wear down over time, making a loose fit for the stem. Slightly pricier meers have some sort of insert in the mortise which the tennon will fit to, avoiding any friction against the meerschaum material itself.

Huh, I didn't know that was what those fittings were for! You learn something new every day!

 

[mingc]

Yeah, it does smoke well. Has a tendency to trap moisture though, but that could just be me.

Regarding the insert for the tennon, is this what you mean? Looks like mine has that, but the tennon has gotten looser when I twist it off. I never twist off the insert, if I take the stem out I take it out clockwise.

That's one creepy looking pipe. I like it!

That's pretty much a standard meerschaum screw in mortise. You can buy replacement mortise/tenon sets on eBay and elsewhere. My one meerschaum, an SMS, uses the same set up. It too traps moisture.

 

[Nohone]

That's one creepy looking pipe. I like it!

That's pretty much a standard meerschaum screw in mortise. You can buy replacement mortise/tenon sets on eBay and elsewhere. My one meerschaum, an SMS, uses the same set up. It too traps moisture.

Thanks. Didn't know they could be replaced that easy. The top just broke off too =/. Looks like it melted off when I was heating it while waxing.

 

[mingc]

Thanks. Didn't know they could be replaced that easy. The top just broke off too =/. Looks like it melted off when I was heating it while waxing.

I assume this is what you have:

They're cheap. Less than $5.

 

[F4RM3R]

Depends on the size of the pipe too. From the pics that looks pretty big and it will take longer to colour. Looks like it's doing quite fine to me

 

[Nohone]

I assume this is what you have:

They're cheap. Less than $5.

Spot on. Thanks a lot. I'll check one out at the shop near me.

The thing is is the spacer broke off, and the spiral screw part of the plastic is stuck in the screw part of the mortise. I'll see if I can gently take it out tomorrow.

 

[jhowell]

Spot on. Thanks a lot. I'll check one out at the shop near me.

The thing is is the spacer broke off, and the spiral screw part of the plastic is stuck in the screw part of the mortise. I'll see if I can gently take it out tomorrow.

Dental pick or EZout (tm) - BE GENTLE!

 

[anotherbob]

meers color at different rates. Also not sure if this is normal but my first meer took a while before it really started to color and once it did I swear each smoke makes a visibly noticeable difference.

 

[Nohone]

meers color at different rates. Also not sure if this is normal but my first meer took a while before it really started to color and once it did I swear each smoke makes a visibly noticeable difference.

I mean that does make sense. After the pipe veins are saturated with tobacco parts, every smoke pushed it further and further through the vein and to the surface.

 

[anotherbob]

I mean that does make sense. After the pipe veins are saturated with tobacco parts, every smoke pushed it further and further through the vein and to the surface.

precisely I assume. It's actually really cool seeing how it spreads out over time. And once it hits a certain point then it really starts coloring. Also if you smoke slower that seems to color it faster, and certain leafs and blends also seem a tad faster or slower or a tiny little bitter darker.