Meerschaum Feel

[rayje589]

So a bit of a weird question I know but:
What does meerschaum feel like?
I ask because I am looking into getting one but I hate the feel of fired, unglazed clay and worried that meerschaum has the same feel.

 

[taerin]

I wax and polish my clay pipe to make it feel soft to the touch, that initial "coral" type feel is something I hate as well. It feels quite nice polished up though!

 

[rayje589]

Hm. What do you use for polishing?

 

[bentmike]

Not a weird question at all. One of the main reasons I like meerschaum pipes is the feel of them. I have a clay pipe but once I got into meers I hardly ever pick up my clay. It now seems heavy like rock. My meers are light and it is hard to put into words but the feeling of the pipe is slippery and soft like velvet. On a cool night once the bowl heats up it almost feels alive like skin. My meers are smooth traditional shapes not carved figures and I don't worry about not touching the stone while I smoke only make sure my hands are clean. I believe this unique tactile sensation is one of many reasons that a meerschaum should be a part of every serious piper's rotation.