Meerschaum, Cracking Push Mortise Insert

[MikeDub]

It might be the fact that you are holding it by the stem instead of the bowl. The shank can handle the weight of the stem better than the stem can handle the weight of the bowl and shank. Even smoking it cool is likely to soften the insert enough that holding by the stem might be enough to cause it to crack.

 

[brian64]

This is one of the reasons I like 9mm meers...much simpler design. Female ends on both shank and stem connected by a simple plastic tube...not threaded. I've not yet had one of these tubes crack, but if it ever does it'd be simple to replace.

 

[jhowell]

I've a meer that uses this standard plastic mortise/tenon setup. The original cracked like yours but the replacement is fine after a decade. However, it is too narrow and causes condensation which makes the pipe gurgle. All in all, it's an awful design. For whatever reason I still smoke the pipe once in a while. I should really get rid of it.

I drill mine out to 1/8"