I Smoked my Meer in a Bad Way!

[TN Jed]

Thank you all for the info. I’ve got this one headed my way for a replacement. View attachment 282240

Looks like a pretty nice upgrade.

 

[alaskanpiper]

I’ve always been told to never take them from warm to cold, especially when they are lit or they can crack.

 

[warren]

In my opinion the pipe was already cracked. I've smoked meers outside in below zero temps and never had a problem. I keep the pipe in my inside pocket until ready to smoke, my hand keeps it warm, load and light, the burning tobacco keeps the meerschaum warm. Now, I've always been smart enough not to load and light a pipe that has been sitting outside in the truck over night in subzero temps without warming it a bit.. It gets to ride in my pocket for a while. But, I treat my briars the same way, no radical temp changes unless it's already simmering away. Never had a pipe crack or "blowup". 60 years smoking in Alaska and never a problem nor, any concerns.

Nowdays I only smoke meers in the house or on the wooden deck. I pay no attention to to temp changes but, particularly with figurals, try not to expose them to drops on concrete.

 

[jpmcwjr]

I grew up in Anchorage, Alaska and one of my first pipes was an estate meer. This was roughly 1994. The proprietor of the tobacco shop where I bought it was in his 80s and been smoking a pipe daily for at least 60 years at that point. When he sold me the meer he mentioned to never light up indoors and then take it outside in the winter, it will crack. His name was Pete Switzer and he ran Pete’s Tobacco Shop in Anchorage until he passed away, 2003 I believe.

Certainly better safe than sorry! I appreciate warren's experiences. I suppose keeping the pipe out of a wind chill, and wrapping a mit around it would help.

 

[craig61a]

I grew up in Anchorage, Alaska and one of my first pipes was an estate meer. This was roughly 1994. The proprietor of the tobacco shop where I bought it was in his 80s and been smoking a pipe daily for at least 60 years at that point. When he sold me the meer he mentioned to never light up indoors and then take it outside in the winter, it will crack. His name was Pete Switzer and he ran Pete’s Tobacco Shop in Anchorage until he passed away, 2003 I believe.

Now that I could see, 70F indoors to -40F outdoors is quite an excursion.

 

[Speak Easy]

Looks like a pretty nice upgrade.

Thank ya!

 

[alaskanpiper]

Now that I could see, 70F indoors to -40F outdoors is quite an excursion.

Alot more than 70 if that sucker is already lit.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Thank you all for the info. I’ve got this one headed my way for a replacement. View attachment 282240

Who made that one?

 

[Chasing Embers]

I recall being advised not to even take a lit meerschaum from a warm room into a cold room. Apparently, there is some truth to them being fragile when thermally stressed. I've always regarded them as a pipe for the easy chair.

I use them as work and hiking pipes and have always found them to be very durable. I dropped a giant three piece figural on my kitchen floor once. It left a dent in the linoleum without leaving a mark on the pipe.

 

[LeafErikson]

Thank you all for the info. I’ve got this one headed my way for a replacement. View attachment 282240

Looks like a nice one!

 

[kcghost]

This might fall in the category of "shit happens".

 

[brian64]

Thank you all for the info. I’ve got this one headed my way for a replacement. View attachment 282240

Looks like a very nice replacement.

I agree with the others who said it almost certainly must have had a pre-existing flaw. The temperature may have helped it along but I seriously doubt it would have caused it otherwise.

 

[Coreios]

Who told you that?

Probably YouTube. I literally saw a YouTube video a few weeks ago that said the same thing he's saying.

 

[lraisch]

Probably YouTube. I literally saw a YouTube video a few weeks ago that said the same thing he's saying.

I've never watched a YouTube video about pipes. This was information I heard or read many years ago. I couldn't tell you where specifically I got this advice since it was 40 or more years ago when I got my first meerschaum.

 

[Speak Easy]

Who made that one?

Not sure, was not listed with the maker. I believe it may be a Baglan due to the stem and case.

 

[Speak Easy]

Looks like a nice one!

Thank you!

 

[Speak Easy]

This might fall in the category of "shit happens".

My luck….yes, this is the correct categorization.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

There have been many posts on here about meerschaums breaking when stepping into the cold while smoking them. Fortunately, I don't own a meer nor live where it gets that cold.

 

[Speak Easy]

There have been many posts on here about meerschaums breaking when stepping into the cold while smoking them. Fortunately, I don't own a meer nor live where it gets that cold.

I’m seeing that it may be a coin toss on the belief of whether it’s detrimental or not. I’m a bit of a coin flipper. Reckon I’ll keep on flipping.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I’m seeing that it may be a coin toss on the belief of whether it’s detrimental or not. I’m a bit of a coin flipper. Reckon I’ll keep on flipping.

I haven't read the whole thread, but what i remember was people would get the pipe going in a warm room, and then step out into very cold weather and the bowl would snap away from the stem, as pictured in this thread. It makes sense, thermal shock affects all rocks.
When I was considering buying a meer, I saw this quite a bit on here, which added to my hesitancy, even though I don't think that cold down here is anything like the cold up North. I eventually just decided that I didn't like the way that they turn all splotchy brown at the bottom like a dirty diaper. But, but, but... I'm glad that you guys like them. More power to you guys.