My One Month Meer Experiment

[hoosierpipeguy]

I've had this IMP Meer a month now. I decided to smoke most and somedays, all, of my Virginia blend smoking in this Meer to see how much it would color in a month. Averaged 3 bowls per day in it. I will continue to smoke this Meer most days, it is a very good smoking pipe. I'm a rank Meer novice but I think it the coloring process has progressed rather nicely. I'm not even considering any of the tricks/techniques to accelerate the coloring process. I'm going to do it the old fashioned way, just smoke it. Here are some photos.

 

[admin]

That's great progress!

 

[Casual]

That looks great. I’ve also had good luck ignoring all advice except to “just smoke it”. So far that is working out.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Sweet pipe, Mark! And, congrats on the coloring. I can’t wait to see how it progresses.

 

[kg.legat0]

Looks lovely, I am anticipating a Meer purchase in the coming months... bet that thing is a nice smoker, for sure.

 

[tbradsim1]

You’re doing the right thing, that pipe is coloring just beautiful, I used to cup the pipe and blow the smoke on it, It may not have helped but in my mind it did.

 

[timt]

Looks great, and you've got a couple more on the way to work on too. Wonder what your briars think about all this.... I've been doing the same thing you're doing for the last several months and every now and then I'll go to the pipe rack just to fondle some of my old friends.

 

[shanez]

I'm not even considering any of the tricks/techniques to accelerate the coloring process. I'm going to do it the old fashioned way, just smoke it.

That's the best way!

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Looks great, and you've got a couple more on the way to work on too. Wonder what your briars think about all this.... I've been doing the same thing you're doing for the last several months and every now and then I'll go to the pipe rack just to fondle some of my old friends.

I don't know what the briars think but Jack Howell and Jose Rubio have been sending me hate mail. LOL Since my briars are of high quality, they have patiently and loyally waited for their turn again with a minimal amount of complaining. I think a couple are a bit pissed but the remainder are enjoying the rest.

 

[Chasing Embers]

The only thing I did special with my big skull was waiting to clean it just before smoking it and not dumping the ash and dottle until I was ready to fill it again.

 

[Simmerdown☕️]

That’s what ya wanna see. No tricks needed as ya know already. Just keep smoking it. Love IMPs generally. ?️

 

[warren]

Rest assured, the result will be worth the effort.

 

[Papamique]

Bravo! I have an old Andreas Bauer with a bone tenon that I acquired almost unsmoked. I can tell it will color nicely but have been neglecting it. This motivates me to reach for it more often.

 

[cshubhra]

Nice! My theory is that a Meerschaum colors almost completely by smoking it about 400 times - your data helps!

 

[SoddenJack]

What actually causes the color change? Is it the heat, oils/resins from the tobacco?

 

[anotherbob]

What actually causes the color change? Is it the heat, oils/resins from the tobacco?

magic

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Nice! My theory is that a Meerschaum colors almost completely by smoking it about 400 times - your data helps!

I don't know. I'm guessing the number is higher than 400. I hope you're right.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Nice! My theory is that a Meerschaum colors almost completely by smoking it about 400 times - your data helps!

I remember you saying that back in the fall. I passed 500 in the big skull back in December with no full coloring, and put it up around Christmas to focus on my holiday pipes. Just opened it up a few minutes ago to find it had faded.

Then

Now

 

[cshubhra]

Oh ... the number is higher then. Your pipe is huge, and may take more bowls. Let’s see.

Smaller pipes should color quicker.

I remember you saying that back in the fall. I passed 500 in the big skull back in December with no full coloring, and put it up around Christmas to focus on my holiday pipes. Just opened it up a few minutes ago to find it had faded.

Then
View attachment 61482
Now
View attachment 61483

 

[cshubhra]

I have seen that the color fades when a Meerschaum is not smoked for some time - it comes back when smoked again. I believe it would come back if you start smoking it regularly again.

I remember you saying that back in the fall. I passed 500 in the big skull back in December with no full coloring, and put it up around Christmas to focus on my holiday pipes. Just opened it up a few minutes ago to find it had faded.

Then
View attachment 61482
Now
View attachment 61483