Journey of a Meerschaum

[jaytex1969]

I bought this Tekin Rhodesian meerschaum and began smoking it a month ago.



It's been christened with mostly Dark Bird's Eye and a few burley and Dark Plug side trips.

So far, it has been a joy to smoke. An odd (swampy?) smell was there for the first few smokes but has now dissipated.

I've been more cautious than necessary about handling. No gloves, but wash my hands before loading and smoking and limiting most of the handling to the stem.

Also, being diligent to not jam the pipe cleaner in too far, so as to not begin chipping away at the inner wall opposite the draft hole.

Paper napkin "ream" after each smoke.

In my research of meerschaum, I often wondered how and how long color development occurred. The "official" answer, it is different for each pipe and smoker, taking into account material variations, smoking methods, tobaccos, weather, cleaning regimens, the list goes on.

Last night was smoke #20. I decided that would be a good benchmark to share with the forum. So, this thread will document the journey of ONE pipe. Your experience may be different, but this should give y'all a "half fast" summary.

20 smokes in:

 

[smittyd]

Have fun! That's a beauty

 

[Simmerdown☕️]

Keep it going. She is coloring nicely. ️

 

[didimauw]

Keep going! 11 more months to go!

 

[jaytex1969]

I am not as focused as you, didi. I have been smoking other pipes, as well.

 

[exbenedict]

Now would be a good time to give it a good waxing to help bring out the color a bit.

 

[Country Bladesmith]

She’s a beaut!

 

[newportpipe]

Great experiment! It’s already starting to look like an “old friend.”

 

[newportpipe]

Now would be a good time to give it a good waxing to help bring out the color a bit.

I’m curious as to what kind of wax you use?

 

[jpmcwjr]

Now would be a good time to give it a good waxing to help bring out the color a bit.

Wax will bring out the color that's there, but that will fade. You can also see the coloring much quicker by wetting the meerschaum. Both will fade back to what it was a moment ago, while it still will be picking up color as you smoke it.

Nice looker.

 

[weezell]

No wax, let it go...

 

[marlinspike]

Are you trying the old trick of exhaling smoke on the outside to help the coloring along? (I've never done that, though, not wanting to fiddle with it).

 

[BROBS]

Are you trying the old trick of exhaling smoke on the outside to help the coloring along? (I've never done that, though, not wanting to fiddle with it).

The shank is colored like that from the smoke blow-by. ?

 

[marlinspike]

The shank is colored like that from the smoke blow-by. ?

I always thought it would be groovy to have one of those smoking machines to color a new meerschaum.

 

[mso489]

Great pipe. I like the bright stem to liven up the look, along with the intricate but pleasantly understated carving. I enjoy the clarity of Meerschaum's presentation of blends. The late great fish'n'banjo sent me my one and only Meer, a straight billiard with a wine grape etching, an estate. I'll look forward to watching the progress with the coloration of this handsome pipe.

 

[jpmcwjr]

BROBS: Try this: Take a photo of said pipe. Dunk it in water for half a minute, wipe dry and take another photo in the same light.... You may be pleased.

 

[BROBS]

I’ve seen it happen when cleaning them. Also beeswax will make the color show up more and stay that way.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Yes, it does, but then why apply beeswax at all? And it does fade, though often overshadowed by deeper coloring through smoking.

 

[Country Bladesmith]

I just thought the wax was a protective coating rather than anything to do with coloring, but I really don’t know. I’m new to the whole meerschaum thing.

 

[Chasing Embers]

An AKB I used to have. Smoking alone turned it from white to this with no additional wax.