In The Name of Science

[renfield]

Posting here rather than the meerschaum sub forum so more people will see it.

There’s a long running debate on how / why meerschaum colors. I’m not going to re-open that discussion again. A lot would be learned if we could cut a well colored pipe in half.

If someone has the misfortune to accidentally break well colored specimen to the point that it’s un-repairable would they be amenable to cross-sectioning it? This would reveal whether it colored all the way through, or only on the outside.

I ran across a pipe magazine from the early 50s that said the reason for waxing was to pick up the smoke floating around and have it stick to the outside. Interesting, but true or not? Real data would tell us.

So far I’ve not seen a candidate on eBay.

 

[lightmybriar]

I’ve got a candidate. It’s a sultan face carving. I was planning on recarving it myself just for fun, but this is a much better idea. If I can remember, I will get some color into it and then cross-section it.

 

[cshubhra]

Someone did similar experiments 6 months back. There is a thread if you can search it

 

[warren]

If you refuse to believe to the science extant, porosity, tobacco residues and the interaction you'll just have to disbelieve the the science. With regards to temperory coloring with wax, it'll pick up everthing in the air, smoke, dust dirt, skin, human oils, and grease all of which will discolor the surface of the pipe, not the meer but the hard wax shell and any new wax added. Just observe it as it happens, nothing in the least arcane or mysterious about the process.

 

[didimauw]

If you refuse to believe to the science extant, porosity, tobacco residues and the interaction you'll just have to disbelieve the the science. With regards to temperory coloring with wax, it'll pick up everthing in the air, smoke, dust dirt, skin, human oils, and grease all of which will discolor the surface of the pipe, not the meer but the hard wax shell and any new wax added. Just observe it as it happens, nothing in the least arcane or mysterious about the process.

I'm glad that was mentioned, as I have never owned or smoked a meer, but love the idea of coloring one naturally. But I'm dissapointed that the science not what it seems....

Haha

 

[alaskanpiper]

I'm glad that was mentioned, as I have never owned or smoked a meer, but love the idea of coloring one naturally. But I'm dissapointed that the science not what it seems....

Haha

You’ll get the chance in a few months after you burn that grabow into the ground. At the rate you smoke after a year that thing should be jet black.

 

[Chasing Embers]

 

[lukasstrifeson]

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Any stats on the pipe's usage?

- - -

I've been "coloring" a Tekin meerschaum for the last 6-7 months, it's been a joy to watch the colors develop and then "settle" in. I've made some hypothesis as to how and why a meerschaum colors; pictures above seem to tell a similar story.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Any stats on the pipe's usage?

None I can find. Here's a one I used to have with around four years age on it.

 

[warren]

Damn! I just reread my post. My apologies for the typing mistakes, past my bedtime. I'll just slip into my Dr. Dentons (onesies for you youngsters), button the flap and toddle off to bed.

 

[docrameous]

Damn! I just reread my post. My apologies for the typing mistakes, past my bedtime. I'll just slip into my Dr. Dentons (onesies for you youngsters), button the flap and toddle off to bed.

Happens to me at the beginning of the day as well. Then half way... etc.

 

[renfield]

If you refuse to believe to the science extant, porosity, tobacco residues and the interaction you'll just have to disbelieve the the science. With regards to temperory coloring with wax, it'll pick up everthing in the air, smoke, dust dirt, skin, human oils, and grease all of which will discolor the surface of the pipe, not the meer but the hard wax shell and any new wax added. Just observe it as it happens, nothing in the least arcane or mysterious about the process.

I agree. My belief is that oils and other compounds migrate through the meer and are primarily responsible for the coloring. Being an engineer I’d like to see evidence. Belief isn’t knowing, it’s just belief.

Not sure where you got the notion I refused to believe one thing or another.

Thanks for posting the pictures, Embers, that answers the question.

 

[renfield]

None I can find. Here's a one I used to have with around four years age on it.

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I have a pipe identical to that. I’ve been smoking it only with a coloring bowl as an experiment. After 125 bowls it’s about 3/4 as dark as yours. Interestingly the coloring on yours is similarly even. I assume you weren’t using a coloring bowl.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I assume you weren’t using a coloring bowl.

I could never see the point of those and it would just be more stuff in my pocket.

 

[mso489]

I say science has nothing to do with it. It's all astrology and magic. Also crystals help. Seriously (?), it is a little hard to figure, though chasing' gets right down to business with his Meer dissection. I can't see the coloration moving through the meerschaum much beyond the shank.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I say science has nothing to do with it. It's all astrology and magic. Also crystals help. Seriously (?), it is a little hard to figure, though chasing' gets right down to business with his Meer dissection. I can't see the coloration moving through the meerschaum much beyond the shank.

I've never thought that they colored from the inside. Always thought smoke and oils from hands caused it from the outside.

 

[renfield]

I could never see the point of those and it would just be more stuff in my pocket.

I got it for this experiment. You get used to it but it definitely adds inconvenience. On the plus side it makes for an extremely cool smoke, like a calabash. I doubt I’d use it if I got another meer.

 

[condorlover1]

So what's the end conclusion here people? What turns these things a shit color?

 

[mingc]

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What in the world was that? A system pipe with a juice well of some kind? Looks like the coloring came from whatever that collected at the bottom.

 

[cshubhra]

Yes ... this one colored from the inside exposed surface at the heel which is not covered by carbon. That is how every Meerschaum colors - in contact with tars, oils etc... on an exposed surface both inside and outside, but mainly inside. Since the chamber is covered with carbon, it mostly absorbs in the heels. This is clear from @chasingembers photos.

Even with the wax barrier, it should also color from outside in theory, but the concentration of tar and oils outside is low, so that is negligible unless one keeps the pipe permanently in a smoke chamber.Some members like @hauntedmyst has done it before.

Finally the wax in my theory acts as a organic solvent medium when hot, allowing the tars and oils to migrate by capillary action.

What in the world was that? A system pipe with a juice well of some kind? Looks like the coloring came from whatever that collected at the bottom.