Help For a Meer Rookie

[frennchy11]

Hey guys I have a couple questions about a meer I have just recently got.

1. Do the bowls on meers tend to get pretty hot or am I just smoking too fast?

2. Is it my packing method that needs to change or do meers have a harder time staying lit? (my packing method works just fine for a briar)

3. Is it necessary to apply beeswax, or is that just for faster coloring?
Any help would be much appreciated! ::

 

[pstlpkr]

I'm far from the expert, but I believe they do get a bit warmer than briar.

You might try packing less tightly.

And, you should read this blog post by Fred: Slave to the White Goddess

 

[ocpsdan]

Beeswax is useful for coloring, but not necessary. Fred's blogs are a great resource.

 

[baronsamedi]

Meers will get a little hotter, because the material does not insulate in the same way briar does. It never hurts to practice smoking slower, though. If it's heating up and you're having trouble keeping it lit, your packing may be to blame. The size and shape of the bowl can call for a lighter pack or a different method. If the bowl is larger than average like my meer, try gravity filling and go super light on the first couple fills. A short, wide bowl like a bulldog or small apple may actually need a slightly tighter pack, so experiment a bit. Wax isn't necessary every single time, but it depends on how often you smoke. You can get a tin of Burt's Bees lip balm that uses beeswax and apply it in a thin layer every time you smoke and it's easier to work with than pure beeswax. If you buff your Meer off and it doesn't look glossy, it may be time for a wax coat, though. Beeswax is great for bringing out the patina, too.
That's my experience, but as mentioned above Fred has done some serious research and I defer to anything he says about the subject.

 

[pipemama]

I've found that thinner walled meers, like briar, will heat faster and feel hotter. So smoke a little slower and be sure to keep the cake removed for better coloring. I pack mine the same as my briars, it depends more on the tobacco and how wet--I like my tobacco to be a bit on the dry side. Like the others have said, the wax is more to hold in the tars, etc that leach out to give the meer that wonderful color. I only rewax with pure beeswax after 100 or more smokes, and do this only twice at the max. Now this is my way of working with my meers and so far, so good. I'll get around to putting up some pictures soon.

 

[fred]

Like a clay pipe, a meerschaum will get hot, which is the way that these pipes cool the smoke. I'm not sure why it would be more of a problem to keep blends lit in a meerschaum vs a briar... Many pipe smokers don't use beeswax on their meerschaums, which is OK if you're in it for the way they smoke and not the general appearance of the pipe. Besides being a way to develop color as the pipe is smoked, beeswax serves to protect the surface finish of the stone, which is soft and can easily become stained and/or scratched. Personally, I use it to protect the surface of the block.

 

[frennchy11]

Thanks for the replies guys. I think I am just going to have to play around with my packing and preparation process.