In The Name of Science

[renfield]

Well I know the wax is penetrating. When I did my application I put a layer of wax on the warm pipe and then held it to the heat. The pipe soaked up the wax completely and returned to a dull look after 20 seconds of heat. I repeated this about 5 times and it kept soaking it up. It started to take it up at a slightly slower rate and I didn't want to over do it. So I stopped there. My colour hasn't faded at all since doing that. It slightly changes during the course of a smoke but it returns to it's same coloured state it retains when cold.

It’d be interesting to weigh the pipe before, wipe off all surface wax after waxing, then re-weigh.

 

[renfield]

Here was the theory I posted last time

Messing With Meerschaum :: Meerschaum Pipes

Hi Jeff, can you try cetyl esters? They are supposedly closer to spermaceti and have similar applications as beeswax. Have just ordered some to try. Jojoba was a fail as I will explain in depth later. It appears Fred Bass was right and coloring is enhanced by the migration of wax into and out...

pipesmagazine.com

Thanks for the link.
Sectioning an unsmoked but freshly waxed stummel would be interesting to see how far the wax penetrates. Probably hard to find volunteers for that.

 

[jpmcwjr]

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.

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

Yes, seems pretty definitive. Colors from the inside out.

Meerschaum is quite porous, and can hold twice its weight in water- or absorbed tars over time.

As to wax inducing color, complete BS. When you first apply wax- a colossal waste of time- the color deepens. Exactly as running water over the meer for a bit does. But both start to fade- with water, almost immediately, and with wax over a week or two.

 

[jhowell]

Thanks for the link.
Sectioning an unsmoked but freshly waxed stummel would be interesting to see how far the wax penetrates. Probably hard to find volunteers for that.

I have an unsmoked strummel that I have used for testing (soaking in water, alcohol, bleach for testing) that I would gladly send to someone who wants to wax it (checking weight before and after) and then cut in half to check for penetration... -jeff

 

[jhowell]

[QUOTE="chasingembers, post: 3609357

I just received a well colored strummel if you are interested in cutting it in half and posting pictures...

 

[renfield]

[QUOTE="chasingembers, post: 3609357

I just received a well colored strummel if you are interested in cutting it in half and posting pictures...

Let’s put a pin in that, and the waxing experiment, for later. A bit much crazy at the moment. SCIENCE !!!

 

[jhowell]

Let me know when you are ready - I have them set aside. -jeff

 

[oldguyoldpipes]

The answer to “why” is buried in the following why questions

1. Why did humanoid apes started to walk in two feet?
2. Why did cavemen drew paintings in the cave walls?
3. Why did Alexander cut the Gordian knot?
4. Why did we sent men to the moon?

As a species human beings have been naturally curious, have always tried to solve problems by lateral thinking, and not being content with what they have.

Ooh, it makes me wonder
Ooh, it really makes me wonder

 

[oldguyoldpipes]

The best I can add is here is an example of a smoked only meer coloring (large lion head bent stem) and a put-in-a-jar-and-blow-smoke-on meer coloring (smaller lion head straight stem). I have both pipes.

 

[renfield]

Let me know when you are ready - I have them set aside. -jeff

Will do, thanks in advance.

 

[anotherbob]

Yes, seems pretty definitive. Colors from the inside out.

Meerschaum is quite porous, and can hold twice its weight in water- or absorbed tars over time.

As to wax inducing color, complete BS. When you first apply wax- a colossal waste of time- the color deepens. Exactly as running water over the meer for a bit does. But both start to fade- with water, almost immediately, and with wax over a week or two.

wait so it works in the same way waxing a floor or burnishing a waxed floor would at least as far as appearance and aesthetics go.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Not sure what you're saying, bob. A fresh coat of wax will bring color to the fore, but it dissipates.

If you like the aesthetics of a waxed pipe, go for it. I'd rather have the look of a clean natural meer that is colored over time.