Meerschaum Coloring

[bentmike]

Firstly I'd like to thank forum member Greg for his update thread displaying how his meer coloring process is coming along. This is something I've wanted to do for a while now -Thanks Greg!
Wow! time sure does fly. I bought my Storient meer from Smokingpipes.com ten months ago already. When I got it the pipe looked like this:

Ah the White Goddess. And what a pale and pure white she was. I'm basically a briar guy and lately I've even fallen under the spell of a couple good cobs but I've not forgot about my one and only meerschaum pipe. As time has gone by she has taken on a little color. I'm making it a point to get it out a little more regularly to hasten on the progress. Besides it is good smoker.





As you can see in the photos I simply hold the pipe in my hands and smoke it. No special treatment really I just make sure my hands are clean before smoking and wipe the pipe down with a soft cloth after smoking. I've never done a beeswax treatment and probably won't. I've read and seen from the experienced meer smokers on this forum that coloring a meer can be an lifelong endeavor and with as little as I smoke it will take me a lifetime.
It's been fascinating to watch the color develop so far and I love the rich brown and golds coming out on the wide rim. Being that my meer has such thick walls I figured it would be slow to change as the oils work their way through all that stone. The last shot reminds me of a hard boiled egg.

 

[dervis]

That is nice. Coloring great so far also

 

[instymp]

Bent, nice Pipe & I thank Greg for starting his post also. & I caught Roth's OCD stuff about sealing also, makes sense to me. Keep them coming. Thanks from the impatient.

 

[tjameson]

It's looking great Mike. That is probably my favorite shape for a meer.

 

[voorhees]

Very nice!

 

[andrew]

I usually smoke my meer everyday, you can smoke them several times a day, it's what makes them great.

 

[bentmike]

Thanks guys! When you add a meer to the rotation it sure illustrates how briars take on a life of their own and really influence the taste of the tobacco based on what's been smoked previously. I love the pure tobacco flavor I get from smoking the meerschaums. Every fan of the pipe needs at least one. I've been perusing our new sponsor's selection and sure wouldn't mind adding another meer to my collection.

 

[dervis]

I like the new sponsor as well.Plan on ordering with them very soon. For some of the pipes they don't have the measurement listed.

 

[redbeard]

I absolutely love these threads!!
And that pipe is beautiful! Love how the top is convex. Being rather new to meers is the coloring on the rim due to char? Heat? Or is that what is always hit first with coloring? I've noticed this on others as well.

 

[bentmike]

Hi redheaded, I've wondered the same thing too. I think the reason the rim colors first is from the smoke rolling over the edge as it exits the bowl. So the meer is absorbing tars and oils directly from contact with the smoke as well as the slow coloring that occurs from the inside.

 

[redbeard]

Ahh that makes some sense mike, didn't think of that one

 

[bentmike]

:x Drat that auto-spell check on the Kindle. Sorry about calling you "redheaded" redbeard although technically if you have a red beard you would be a red head.

 

[gmwolford]

Mike, that is great shape! I have a GBD that is almost the exact same without the "wavy" rim (briar of course though) and really like it. But it looks much better on the meer I must say! It is coloring up nicely, too. It seems to me, IIRCC, that the heat is the main reason we see the rims change color firstly, though I admit I might not be remembering right.

 

[bentmike]

Thanks Greg! Yes when I first saw the shape "No. 11" I instantly fell in love with it. At first I thought the shape was just dreamed up by the Turkish carver who made the thing but after a little looking around I discovered the original design was created by the legendary Sixten Ivarsson who sold many of his designs to Stanwell who then mass produced them. Hence the No. 11 moniker.
It turns out the No. 11 has quite a following and even has its own facebook page: Stanwell 11 fans which has some great photos.
Personally I think the shape with its heavyset walls and shank is just naturally made for meerschaum but I've had my eye on the classic stanwell briar versions like this one: Stanwell 242 Featherweight

 

[hogfoot]

That's a beautiful pipe, can't wait for my meerschaum to get here!

 

[paintedklown]

That is one of the best looking meers I have seen Bentmike. I LOVE that shape, and the color is coming along quite nicely. I am not very familiar with all of the waxing and things, but I do like the idea of going "au natural" as you are doing. It lends an authenticity to the color AND to the experience of coloring it. 8)

 

[john218]

It's coloring very nicely, Bentmike.

Glad to hear it's a good smoker for you.

 

[cortezattic]

That's a great pipe -- all the more so because it is producing good smokes for you. Too bad Storient burned his bridges here.