Is This Me or the Pipe?

[SteveW]

So as I said in my tale of woe thread my new pipe broke four days after purchase. I got a new one I love it. They said they wouldn’t replace this one.

Two days later this happens.

79-D95-D73-EF07-48-BC-9-D12-AA3-BB437-B6-D0 hosted at ImgBB

Image 79-D95-D73-EF07-48-BC-9-D12-AA3-BB437-B6-D0 hosted in ImgBB

ibb.co

I haven’t been smoking them too hot, and I haven’t dropped it or tapped it against my shoe or hard surfaces. I put it in the case last night and it wasn’t cracked. I open the case this morning and there it is.
What the hell?

I can’t tell if the crack goes into the bowl itself. Doesn’t appear to be. I’ve got no other option than to continue to smoke this pipe until it lasts me the rest of my smoking days or there’s a catastrophic failure one bowl.

Im smoking it right now and it seems to still smoke well, so cosmetic damage I suppose I’ll have to live with.

Two pipes from the same manufacturer in the same style with the same problem has me a little suspicious.

Obviously I need to eventually buy another meerschaum, so I’ll take recommendations on different manufacturers.

 

[geopiper]

Shouldn’t be cracking like that.

 

[SteveW]

Shouldn’t be cracking like that.

I didn’t think it was an intended result. I’m just baffled as to how it could’ve happened. Before I just pass it off as poor quality craftsmanship I’d like to make sure it wasn’t user error either.
The coldest I smoked either of them was 6°C outside and the pipe was in a hoodie pocket, so still quite warm when I lit it.

 

[Sloopjohnbee]

There's a fault in the block - they are carved from a low quality pieces of meerschaum
Nothing that can be done physically - smoke it until its un-smokable

 

[jerseysam]

SteveW, I'm sure folks more expert with meerschaum than I may/will contradict this:

1. I'd be a bit leery about smoking meerschaum outside once the temp starts dropping below 50F.
2. I would let the pipe dry in open air overnight (or in the case unclosed) after smoking.

I smoke several meerschaums in the Spring/Summer and I don't baby them. However, I know several semi-local pipe smokers that have had cracking going from cold weather smoking to indoor storage or (this especially) putting their pipes in a closed case after wiping down.

Maybe 1. is "wives tales" stuff and we'll get some mini 'that's not science' umbrage.....I can't deny that I've only encountered that anecdotally locally and on the netz'. But 2. I've seen in person, different occasions/smokers, with pipes similar to yours. Especially where you may have more more of a pressed-grade meerschaum going into a tight-fit, mass-produced style case.....that could be trouble if the pipe hasn't completely cooled/dried out. One pipe cracked....yeah, could be a flaw in the material. But two of the same shaping in the same place (from different meerschaum pieces) .....odds much longer that there is the same natural defect in the same place.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I agree, smoking inn the cold may likely be the culprit. How much did you pay for the pipe?

 

[lukasstrifeson]

I see you're in Toronto. I understand it's been a pretty mild winter but even still it may be a little cold to be smoking a meerschaum outside right now.

I didn’t think it was an intended result. I’m just baffled as to how it could’ve happened. Before I just pass it off as poor quality craftsmanship I’d like to make sure it wasn’t user error either.
The coldest I smoked either of them was 6°C outside and the pipe was in a hoodie pocket, so still quite warm when I lit it.

It's almost like glass, it's not always about how hot or cold it is but how quickly it goes from a hot to cold environment or vice versa. Might be a combination of factors but a solid (less decorated) larger piece of block meerschaum might help.

 

[ashdigger]

Here’s my unprofessional but educated through Darwin like moves tells me.

In the very beginning of smoking a Meer it’s at its most fragile. After it’s been smoked for a while they become tough as steel.

I have an estate Meer that bounced off my tile floor and it no worse for wear. That Meer is over 100 years old and is heavily colored. I’ve only owned the Meer for a short while and have smoked it four times. I was in the process of loading it for smoke number 5 when I juggled, fumbled and nearly shit myself when it fell.

Cold is the enemy. Not hard tile. Expansion is real.

 

[mso489]

I have only one Meer, so I don't know. However, it sounds to me like a defect in the Meer itself, not craftsmanship. They mine Meer underground just like coal, and probably some veins are more prone to cracking than others.

 

[warren]

I've smoked meers outside at zero and a wee bit below often. Mine apparently do not do as many of you expect. Not sure why a nice warm, smoldering pipe, held in the hand should fall apart in the cold. What am I doing wrong? Is there some science I'm missing?

On topic, I'd suspect a flaw in the meerschaum as suggested above.

 

[kcghost]

No expert on meers but I suspect the cold temp outside and the warmth of the case as the culprits.

 

[SteveW]

Well I smoked a bowl in the car and I felt it crack further. That will be the last bowl smoked in it. After the failure of this pipe and the one before it I will be getting a display case with a plaque reading “2020 Pipe”

If any pipe embodies the spirit of 2020 it’s this pipe.
C’est la vie.
Merry Christmas all.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Damn. Sorry for your losses.

At the same time, I'd never light a Meer outside in the Winter. Inside, room temp. Then you can go outside, keeping a glove around the stummel.

 

[SteveW]

Damn. Sorry for your losses.

At the same time, I'd never light a Meer outside in the Winter. Inside, room temp. Then you can go outside, keeping a glove around the stummel.

Given the responses I’ve received so far I am going to chalk this one up to somewhere in between poor quality and user error. The next meerschaum I buy will be a solid piece instead of the fancy lattice.
The solid ones I am eyeing cost twice as much as this one so I suspect there is a bit of difference in quality as well.

 

[anotherbob]

I know sudden shifts in temp can break glass. I had a shitty apartment where the heater broke regularly and had a few glasses break right above the hot tea. Maybe something like that is going on.

 

[verporchting]

Buy the next one from a different maker, smoke it in less extreme outdoor conditions, in 2021, and let it air out before recasing it. Just to cover all bases, lol.

Numbers 1 & 3 being your best bets.

I’m blaming 2020 for everything that sucks, just saying.

 

[anotherbob]

I’m blaming 2020 for everything that sucks, just saying.

even the black death and half of our collective exes? Just making sure.

 

[timt]

As far as smoking meers in freezing temperatures, I haven’t had any problems up here in frigid Minnesota. It’s not like I’m standing out there for extended periods of time but occasionally I’m out in it.
My pipes don’t have any engraving either, for the record.

This problem of yours could just be plain old shitty luck, like me and windshields.

 

[Chasing Embers]

As far as smoking meers in freezing temperatures, I haven’t had any problems up here in frigid Minnesota. It’s not like I’m standing out there for extended periods of time but occasionally I’m out in it.
My pipes don’t have any engraving either, for the record.

This problem of yours could just be plain old shitty luck, like me and windshields.

It's 18°F here right now. Was out in the woods with my big Kenan skull earlier with no problem.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Tim- Do you take it out of a pocket and light it while you're out in the cold?