Meershaum pipes and tonque bite

[PaulTheScandinavian]

I have this almost brand new meerschaum pipe which stem has this infamous type of cheap plastic tenon, draw is rather a bit restricted,drilling is spot on , now smoked three bowlfuls in it and each time afterwards I'm feeling that light tongue irritation,could this type of stem tenon with narrow hole be causing it?

 

[Simmerdown☕️]

If the draw is restricted, check the usuals…
1. recheck the moisture level of the blend.
2. packing too tight possibly?
3. If these checks don’t change what’s going on…I may consider using a small bore drill to lightly ream out the tenon a bit. I’d be careful not to go to far.
Best ?️

 

[Streeper541]

If I've learned one thing about pipes smoking over the years it's that tongue bite is more oten than not the cause of the user and not the tool. YMMV

 

[brian64]

draw is rather a bit restricted

The bite is probably because you're having to draw harder on it than you normally do.

3. If these checks don’t change what’s going on…I may consider using a small bore drill to lightly ream out the tenon a bit. I’d be careful not to go to far.

+1

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Whenever you draw too hard, you're likely to heat things up and get some bite. You identified several shortcomings of Meers.

 

[Searock Fan]

The bite is probably because you're having to draw harder on it than you normally do.


+1

If the draw is restricted, check the usuals…
1. recheck the moisture level of the blend.
2. packing too tight possibly?
3. If these checks don’t change what’s going on…I may consider using a small bore drill to lightly ream out the tenon a bit. I’d be careful not to go to far.
Best ?️

Listen to Simmerdown...

 

[Chasing Embers]

I have this almost brand new meerschaum pipe which stem has this infamous type of cheap plastic tenon, draw is rather a bit restricted,drilling is spot on , now smoked three bowlfuls in it and each time afterwards I'm feeling that light tongue irritation,could this type of stem tenon with narrow hole be causing it?
View attachment 121863

You can overheat a meerschaum as well as make one gurgle. Whatever methods you use for smoking other pipes use it on your meerschaum. Even these beasties have those inserts but I pack loose and dry as well as smoke slowly with no mouth burn.

 

[Chasing Embers]

If I've learned one thing about pipes smoking over the years it's that tongue bite is more oten than not the cause of the user and not the tool. YMMV

Yep.

 

[Chasing Embers]

You can overheat a meerschaum as well as make one gurgle. Whatever methods you use for smoking other pipes use it on your meerschaum. Even these beasties have those inserts but I pack loose and dry as well as smoke slowly with no mouth burn.

View attachment 121956

It just dawned on me that technically both of those are reverse calabashes.?‍

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

Thank You folks Your time and advice ,much appreciated, on the other hand, the bowl itself has been turned very nice by the manufacturer, to a degree I may even consider ordering a brand new stem with standard Teflon tenon we will see that later, I know one decent repair shop in Germany who make very nice stems especially for meerschaum pipes,

 

[hakchuma]

If I've learned one thing about pipes smoking over the years it's that tongue bite is more oten than not the cause of the user and not the tool. YMMV

I have to agree but no disrespect intended. I have two meerschaums that cost me more that I should have paid for and my wife would probably kill me if she knew how much I did pay for them. After 5 years they still give me problems. The thing is I don't really blame it on the pipe. I blame it on myself. First of all the bowls are VERY much larger that I am used to. I can smoke for weeks and still not get it right but I am certain it's not the pipe. It's just that I smoke so many other pipes in between that I find that I never really adjust to the pipe itself.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

Enlarging the tenon bore with a needle file has brought some clear improvement to this issue