Sometimes I wish I lived in a warmer climate, because it’s about impossible to enjoy a smoke at times! If the wind isn’t blowing all is well.
I Smoked my Meer in a Bad Way!
- Thread starter Speak Easy
- Start date
Come on down. We don't have all of those indoor smoking laws like ya'll have up there. It is way more smoker friendly.
I just assumed because YouTube is notorious for giving bad pipe advice or false information.
Are meerschaum pipe susceptible to cracking with sudden temperature changes? It’s nice and toasty in the truck and then we got out into 30ish degree weather. I’ve not dropped it or thrown it around at all. First I noticed the crack then gave it a little squeeze to see if my eyes were playing tricks on me and…boom.View attachment 282204View attachment 282205View attachment 282202
What a shame; condolences, my brother
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I think flaw, the temp changing probably just pushed it over the edge - I'm pretty rough on my IMP Meers ( They are crazy $$$$ now - doubled in price from my 'ol Meer PAD days ( 10yrs or so ), not sure what is going on these days ~ imagine getting good / solid Meer block to carve and supply-chain issues perhaps ) but they just keep smoke'in.
BTW; I love the new addition
BTW; I love the new addition
I think you’re right. A combination of the both. Luck of the draw perhaps. I’m gonna roll on with the new one and see what happens!
Thank you! Can’t wait to get my hands on it.
Where do you live? Would you care to introduce yourself?
Please put your location in your Profile! .
How:
Under your avatar, (top right, left most of three symbols) you choose "Account Details", which brings up "My Account". "My Location" is halfway down. Whatever you're comfortable with- town, city, county, state. province, etc.
I’d prefer to remain anonymous. Just enjoy sharing my highs and woes on this pipe smoking journey I’m on. No offense to anyone, I hope. Great community and people abound here. Glad I found it.
Your choice, but putting in your location will not break your anonymity in any way.
It's really a courtesy to those who read your posts.
Agree. From a materials perspective, small internal flaws can cause failures under thermal stress over time. I think the Alaskan advice is good to keep in mind. Congrats on your new meer, she’s a beaut.
(Also, check out that coloration in the stem!)
(Also, check out that coloration in the stem!)
Sorry to see that! I bought a plain meerschaum about 35 years ago and only smoked it a little. I don't even remember what the difference was in how it smoked compared to Briar.
First off, sorry for your loss. That sucks.
Second, the pipe is a dimple/lattice carved pipe, there are thinner area's on the pipe that are more susceptible to flaws and cracks.
Third, because the pipe is more susceptible to those flaws/cracks, temperature changes can impact those flaws/cracks causing the pipe to break like it did. Those can be caused by smoking the pipe too hot for an extended period of time or significant temperature changes in the air.
Fourth, temperature changes need to be substantial. Going from a warm room to a cold room won't do it. Going from room temp to below freezing temps and smoking the pipe can definitely make an impact. I've smoked my meers in 40/50 degree temps and haven't had an issue.
Fifth, my guess is the pipe already had a flaw/crack that had gone unnoticed, and when you stepped out of your warm truck into the cold air, the stress from the hot to cold was too much and the pipe broke. It happens unfortunately.
Good luck with the new meer. May it bring you many happy smokes.
Second, the pipe is a dimple/lattice carved pipe, there are thinner area's on the pipe that are more susceptible to flaws and cracks.
Third, because the pipe is more susceptible to those flaws/cracks, temperature changes can impact those flaws/cracks causing the pipe to break like it did. Those can be caused by smoking the pipe too hot for an extended period of time or significant temperature changes in the air.
Fourth, temperature changes need to be substantial. Going from a warm room to a cold room won't do it. Going from room temp to below freezing temps and smoking the pipe can definitely make an impact. I've smoked my meers in 40/50 degree temps and haven't had an issue.
Fifth, my guess is the pipe already had a flaw/crack that had gone unnoticed, and when you stepped out of your warm truck into the cold air, the stress from the hot to cold was too much and the pipe broke. It happens unfortunately.
Good luck with the new meer. May it bring you many happy smokes.
For sure. And I had been running bowls through it that day. Maybe I enjoyed it a bit much.
Live and learn! I’m good at the living, stilll haven’t picked up on the learning side of things as much!
For sure. And I had been running bowls through it that day. Maybe I enjoyed it a bit much.
I smoke meers regularly, and I'll smoke the same pipe all day with multiple bowls through them; however, if I notice the bowl getting a little too warm, I'll put it down to cool for a bit. Just as a precaution.
The key phrase there is "they SHOULD definitely be ok in the temperatures where your body feels good enough."
I don't know too many people where their body feels good in freezing or sub-freezing temperatures. LOL
Like I mentioned earlier, I've smoked my meers in 40/50 degree weather no problem. I'm not smoking mine in freezing temps though.
Live and learn! I’m good at the living, stilll haven’t picked up on the learning side of things as much!
Reminds of a Clint Black verse, “Everybody knows you live and you learn, but the lessons just go on and on.”
Well, you know at least one, superficially at least. Up here we learn, at a young age, not to let the temps ge the best of us. Kids gotta play outside!
I can exist comfortably at about anything down to -40 thanks to a week at the Fort Greely aircrew survival school. They had us out there living in tents at -50. I understand how to dress for the weather. I'm not comfortable there but, -20 is no big deal. Just got to know how to dress for it. Wolf, beaver, lynx and such are great insulators. I was born up here, I guess it's simply a learned thing.
The Air Force taught me survival at extreme temps. Just growing up in Anchorage taught me to thrive at -20 or so. We'd play hockey, outside, no indoor arenas in those days, at -10 or so, hiking twn miles down the railroad tracks to the municipal rink. Just part of the day. It's all about what you grew up with I suppose.