Meerschaum coloring

[tatanka]

I just received my first carved Meerschaum. I read some time ago on some blog or discussion place, the local I have long forgotten, that you should NEVER hold the meerschaum pipe with your hand/fingers, as the oil from your hand/fingers will cause a blotchy yellow-gold coloring of the Meerschaum. Others said they disagreed.
I will take me years - smoking this now and then (it's a rather large fat carved pipe) - to probably even have the slightest hint of gold color appering. I can't imagine holding it with fingers and thumb by the stem all this time through every smoke. It will be uncomfortable and un-natural.
But I was wondering if is a crucial thing and really affects the colorating, maybe I'd wear a glove. Does anyone have evidence / experience to know if this is true and how important it might be to never touch the Meerschaum?

 

[jchaplick]

Most here will say dont worry about it, you may want to do it the first half dozen smokes but it doesnt matter. It is considered desirable to color your meerschaum, so just smoke away.
John

 

[philip]

Hello, tatanka. Welcome to the forum.
Here's an older thread with lots of good info and links you might be interested in:
Coloring Meerschaums
Oh, and we would sure like to see a picture of yours. Happy smoking. ::

 

[pstlpkr]

This is very good:
Slave to the White Goddess

 

[weezell]

Just smoke it brother!

 

[romanza10]

Here is a picture of my meer, I've done nothing special with, I've just smoked it. In the photo below, I'm holding it that way to show of it's coloring.

Now, in this photo, this happens to my bowl when I smoke it too hot. Also, my bowl is smooth and yours I take is carved. But this condition it has clears ups by it self after a couple of smokes. Me personally, I really like the chaotic look, but others may not.

 

[markw4mms]

I handle my Meers by the stem most of the time, but as long as your hands are clean, it won't really affect the coloring much to touch the bowl while smoking it.

 

[uberam3rica]

I've got meer cigarette holder. I smoked maybe 4 timees, I'm using it for cigarillos now. I smoked an Acid C-Note out of it earlier. So it has at most 5 smokes now, and it's already starting to color

 

[tatanka]

Wow this seems really fast to me, for signs of coloring already. But....that's cool.

 

[uberam3rica]

My cigg holder is coloring nicely. It's got a pink hue throughout and some browning around the rim

 

[locopony]

My wifes meer is very beautifully colored. My baccus meer looks wild with the layers of color, and my full bent is coloring in a marble-y kind of way. I think its the smokers signature (kind of) on the coloring part. I say smoke as you will let the cards fall as they may, and you will have a very personalized pipe with very attractive coloration. I'll see if i can't get a pic or two for ya.

 

[tatanka]

I'm attempting to download some photos of my first "carved" Meerschaum. It is of a dog on the front and a mountain goat on the rear. I hope I can post the photos.
Oops! FAILURE! Anyone able to tell me how? Thanks

 

[nemrod]

tatanka: Go to imgur, click "Computer" on the left, choose picture, "Start Upload", copy the code under "BBCode" on the right of the image (should look like [IMG ]http://imgur.com/random[/IMG ] without spaces) and paste here.

 

[nemrod]

Since others might find it useful, here's how to use imgur to post images:

http://i.imgur.com/a2MPA.png

http://i.imgur.com/1cn2B.png

http://i.imgur.com/PRG9X.png

http://i.imgur.com/sQeDS.png

 

[pstlpkr]

tatanka
Instructions for posting photos on Pipesmagazine.com

 

[uberam3rica]

Heres a visual aid if you need it:
Sign in, upload, copy IMG code, paste into reply box on this site.

 

[nemrod]

@Uberam3rica: Would you please stop avocating Photobucket? imgur is better and faster and no sign-up.

 

[uberam3rica]

: Would you please stop avocating Photobucket?

I don't mean to advocate it. I didn't make those how to pictures, I took them from spartan. I only tell people to use photobucket because its what I use, and I like it.

 

[weezell]

 

[weezell]

nemrod!!!Kiss noises,how easy was that...I'm free to post pics :clap: