Cracked Meerschaum Bowl: Can I Smoke it?

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Dr.Jimmy

Lurker
Sep 8, 2019
12
32
Great White North
Is that a Falcon bowl or a bowl for some other metal pipe? It looks to be made of Pressed Meerschaum, also called Composite Meerschaum. I've not seen Block Meerschaum crack like that. If it can't be return, I'd smoke it to death. What do you have to lose. Who knows? That may be as bad as it gets. Either way, it can't be returned.
^^^This

Looks like pressed meer to me as well.
 
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rel2099

Lurker
Sep 2, 2024
3
7
I, too, just bought a Meerschaum Calabash. I was cleaning it before smoking it for the first time. One of the threads I read said to seal the bowl with beeswax and heat it to melt the wax, which I did. I noticed two veryPXL_20240831_232702951.jpg faint hairline cracks, so I'm kind of afraid to smoke it. The cracks seem to be only on the top of the bowl - but I cannot tell if they go down into the bowl. I do not think so. However, I noticed just now that the cracks have 'disappeared'. See the pictures. Am I being overly cautious?
 

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Said.ALTINAY

Might Stick Around
I, too, just bought a Meerschaum Calabash. I was cleaning it before smoking it for the first time. One of the threads I read said to seal the bowl with beeswax and heat it to melt the wax, which I did. I noticed two veryView attachment 333975 faint hairline cracks, so I'm kind of afraid to smoke it. The cracks seem to be only on the top of the bowl - but I cannot tell if they go down into the bowl. I do not think so. However, I noticed just now that the cracks have 'disappeared'. See the pictures. Am I being overly cautious?
Hello
Unfortunately this bowl is not block meerschaum.
A little much heat or liquid (even beeswax) will cause the press meerschaum to crack.
 

rel2099

Lurker
Sep 2, 2024
3
7
Hello
Unfortunately this bowl is not block meerschaum.
A little much heat or liquid (even beeswax) will cause the press meerschaum to crack.
Thank you for the information. I have not researched it online yet - but do you know where I might purchase a better bowl for the pipe?
 

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Said.ALTINAY

Might Stick Around
Thank you for the information. I have not researched it online yet - but do you know where I might purchase a better bowl for the pipe?
Actually we make block meerschaum calabash bowls but making a custom bowl for a non-standard calabash body from a distance can be disappointing. No matter how precise the measurements you give, finishing the bowl without fitting it to the body can cause the bowl to crack or become loose.
 

jpmcwjr

Moderator
Staff member
May 12, 2015
26,221
30,175
Carmel Valley, CA
I, too, just bought a Meerschaum Calabash. I was cleaning it before smoking it for the first time. One of the threads I read said to seal the bowl with beeswax and heat it to melt the wax, which I did. I noticed two veryView attachment 333975 faint hairline cracks, so I'm kind of afraid to smoke it. The cracks seem to be only on the top of the bowl - but I cannot tell if they go down into the bowl. I do not think so. However, I noticed just now that the cracks have 'disappeared'. See the pictures. Am I being overly cautious?
So, pressed meerschaum, per Alitnay. Especially as they have disappeared, I think what you saw are seams- where 3 or 4 pieces were glued together.