Meer Is Being Weird

[verporchting]

Recently my meer is developing cake like mad. I’ve reamed it more in the past few months than any time in the past. Not smoking it differently or more often or with any particularly unusual tobacco but ... WTH?

Seriously. I generally twist up a paper towel and clean the bowl after each smoke but it’s building cake like never before. What’s going on here? Do meers reach a certain point where they build cake easily from age, normal usage, gradually becoming more seasoned or what?

It’s not a big deal, it’s easy enough to cut back the cake but I just didn’t expect it to do this.

This is the only meer I’ve ever smoked long enough to start it coloring up so maybe it just happens naturally?

 

[Jwebb90]

I smoke my Tekin daily. If I do not wipe it out after each smoke the cake builds up very quick.

 

[anotherbob]

my meer lined falcon bowl colored black and it builds cake easily even with wiping it out. It didn't used to be like that.

 

[Grangerous]

I own two meer lined briars and both annoy the hell out of me for that very reason. I feel like I’m going to twist the meer lining from the wood with all the cleaning they require. Paper towel twist tightly after every smoke.

This and the fact that they always have an offputting smell (meer lined) as opposed to my briars. Not a terrible smell but not pleasant like a cleaned and ready briar. A cleaned and ready meer smells, I don’t know, sour.

For this reason I believe I’ll stay with briar. I do get curios about owning and smoking a meer, but they seem more trouble than they’re worth to me.

 

[Jwebb90]

For this reason I believe I’ll stay with briar. I do get curios about owning and smoking a meer, but they seem more trouble than they’re worth to me.

For me, they require no more additional care or maintenance then my briars. Just my experience though.

 

[warren]

If the pores are filled there is no other place for the residues to go. So, if the shank and bottom are well colored you will start to get more "cake" on the lower part. If the pipe isn't top grade meerschaum, you'll most likely have to fight off cake more often. It all depends on the pipe. I have a fifty year old which I ream almost weekly. It is a dark mahogany color now. I have a couple of newer ones which simply need a wipe once a week or so. It all depends on the state of the mineral I suppose.

 

[Prunetucky84]

Recently my meer is developing cake like mad. I’ve reamed it more in the past few months than any time in the past. Not smoking it differently or more often or with any particularly unusual tobacco but ... WTH?

Seriously. I generally twist up a paper towel and clean the bowl after each smoke but it’s building cake like never before. What’s going on here? Do meers reach a certain point where they build cake easily from age, normal usage, gradually becoming more seasoned or what?

It’s not a big deal, it’s easy enough to cut back the cake but I just didn’t expect it to do this.

This is the only meer I’ve ever smoked long enough to start it coloring up so maybe it just happens naturally?

I have found the same issue with the couple of meers I have, and was quite confused as well. Lol I while them after every bowl, but they build cake 10 times faster than all my briars! Weird huh?!

 

[verporchting]

I wondered if it was just the way they work. Sounds like I’m not alone. Never had a pipe build cake so quickly.

 

[F4RM3R]

Happens with mine too. I use a folded damp non bristle pipe cleaner and rub the inside of the bowl with good pressure from my finger after every bowl or two. It does the job pretty good. I never found paper towel to really keep the cake off completely. With the pipe cleaner i can apply a bit more pressure and keep it clean. Sometimes it might take a few damp pipe cleaners if there has been a bit of build up.

 

[ray47]

I use these bore brushes to clean my two meers. If your gentle they will remove all cake. I use them after each smoke and there is no damage to the meer.

 

[verporchting]

What gauge is your meer, lol?

 

[edger]

I’ve found that burleys “gum” up bowls more than Virginia’s. I smoked Edgeworth Slice all the time back then. Are there more resins in burley? Someone more expert should weigh in, but that has been my experience. The ash bonded with the gummy stuff and was hard to wipe out, requiring scraping. Meerschaum or briar, it didn’t matter.

 

[verporchting]

The last three tins have been Telegraph Hill, Hyde Park and a house blend VaPer from Story Teller Pipe so nothing with much burley. Shocked at how fast it caked up. Before that it was Erinmore Flake. Pretty standard fare.

 

[ray47]

What gauge is your meer, lol?

You tell me

 

[verporchting]

Maybe .44? Bet you’re careful about what powder you use in that thing! ?

 

[Prunetucky84]

Looks like they made a meer resembling John Wilkes Booth’s hand!

 

[Chasing Embers]

Happens with mine too. I use a folded damp non bristle pipe cleaner and rub the inside of the bowl with good pressure from my finger after every bowl or two. It does the job pretty good. I never found paper towel to really keep the cake off completely. With the pipe cleaner i can apply a bit more pressure and keep it clean. Sometimes it might take a few damp pipe cleaners if there has been a bit of build up.

That's why I use unscented baby wipes on them. Pipe cleaners can score up the chamber and give more surface area for carbon to cling.