Coloring Progress Over Time/No of Bowls in one Meerschaum Pipe

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AJL67

Lifer
May 26, 2022
5,491
28,121
Florida - Space Coast
So the shank colors faster due to the smoke cooling. But wouldn't you think that heat would open up the pores to absorb more?

The more I learn the less I know....
This is what i have been confused about this entire time, but i think it has for whatever reason more to do with the smoke cooling and the nature of the condensation that builds up in the cooling process. Also, i no longer care. ?
 

Chasing Embers

Captain of the Black Frigate
Nov 12, 2014
45,287
119,449
If meershaum is a sponge and juices are leaking through it basicaly the wax is holding them in like a barrier and they slowly bake themselfs into the pores..without wax the juices may escape to the air from outside of the pipe
An unwaxed one will color just fine. Even meerschaum carvers will tell you that the wax is just there to protect the material from minor scratches.
 

jpmcwjr

Lifer
May 12, 2015
26,263
30,344
Carmel Valley, CA
I've got a theory on the shank coloring. That that is where moisture collects, and the temperature differential and condensation and capilary action has to do with the "condensation" of tars that move through the material. Hence the shank coloring first.
Yes.
I'm still wondering if perhaps filling a freshly smoked bowl with water and letting it sit, accelerates the process.

Please don't take this as another challenge to cut one up :)
No need! What happens when you fill the chamber with warm to hot water is it brings out a bunch of color immediately. As the pipe dries it fades. Good way to see how the color will eventually appear.
 

jhowell

Part of the Furniture Now
Jul 25, 2019
669
1,056
71
Phoenix, Arizona
Ok I want to know more about this pipe. Who what where when why. And of course more pictures.
The Bacchus was gifted to a friend long ago. That's the only picture I have. Perhaps you will like this one. It was well colored when I got it, but has continued to color darker. It has an oriface stem to give you an idea of age.
 

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Chasing Embers

Captain of the Black Frigate
Nov 12, 2014
45,287
119,449
because the heat from smoking does not remove any coloring in any way?
That gently warms the wax. A heat gun instantly liquefies it and can blow it around on the surface of the meerschaum causing colored streaks. Just wondering if it is only discolored wax.
 

hairvise

Can't Leave
May 23, 2018
440
2,713
San Francisco
This might be a silly question, but would a completely colored meerschaum lose its ability to provide a drier smoke, since the block's pores are now pretty well saturated and no longer as absorbent as a new pipe?
 
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Chasing Embers

Captain of the Black Frigate
Nov 12, 2014
45,287
119,449
This might be a silly question, but would a completely colored meerschaum lose its ability to provide a drier smoke, since the block's pores are now pretty well saturated and no longer as absorbent as a new pipe?
Even a new meerschaum can gurgle. Completely colored ones would probably take smoking it exclusively for a lifetime.
 
The original intent of this thread was for me to post pictures of my pipe over time / over number of bowls. This creates a record of progress for one pipe.

The discussion of coloring is healthy … but sometimes it is risking locking of this thread. If this thread gets locked, I have to start from the beginning again.

Please do me a favor … discuss / debate logically like a man or woman of science does and keep emotions out.