Questions About Meerschaum for Meerschaum Smokers

[Chasing Embers]

I had heard that meerschaum never needed to break in,

They'll mute flavors for the first several smokes until they begin to saturate with oils from the tobacco.

Falcon meerschaum bowls and meerschaum lined ones are fine but with all meerschaum, they're natural sponges and can ghost from the first smoke.

 

[gord]

I’ve never had any bad break-in tastes out of the more than 10 new meers I’ve owned from several different carvers. At most a light mineral taste for the first couple of bowls.

Interesting that some people find strong off flavors in their new meers.

The White Lady beacons. Why resist?

I shall not resist!

 

[gord]

They'll mute flavors for the first several smokes until they begin to saturate with oils from the tobacco.

Falcon meerschaum bowls and meerschaum lined ones are fine but with all meerschaum, they're natural sponges and can ghost from the first smoke.

I'm more concerned about the Falcon meerschaum bowls in a camping environment . . . can't see how they'll stand up in a rough careless environment so I'll look at pipes instead. At least that was my rational. They are also expensive, and serviceable meer pipes come in at roughly 60% or so of the bowls. Maybe one later for in home use.

I had experiences with that ghost with the miniature. Happened real fast, as you pointed out above. Thanks.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I'm more concerned about the Falcon meerschaum bowls in a camping environment . . . can't see how they'll stand up in a rough careless environment so I'll look at pipes instead. At least that was my rational. They are also expensive,

They come with cases and this guy takes reasonable offers.

Smooth Billiard Bowl For Falcon Pipes Block Meerschaum New Handmade Case#1886 | eBay

<p>Brand new and perfectly finished meerschaum bowl for Falcon pipes,made from block meerschaum </p><p>48 mm high</p><p>39 mm wide</p><p>19 mm bowl diameter</p><p>30 mm bowl depth</p><p>Great engineering </p><p>I have 5 in stock ,will ship out randomly</p><p>Dimensions and look may...

www.ebay.com

 

[Sobrbiker]

I’ve only bought two new meers, both AND mini-meers. Both have tasted a hair chalky at first, but fine by the second smoke.

 

[Brig]

Everything sounds good to me.

Except whoever said meerschaum doesn't need to be broken in, was a liar. I prefer mine after 10 to 12 bowls. 1-9 are just pure chalk taste. I hate breaking in meerschaums. But it's worth it to me. They are my favorite pipes, after the break in period.

Estate meers solve that problem near-instantaneously

 

[gord]

They come with cases and this guy takes reasonable offers.

Smooth Billiard Bowl For Falcon Pipes Block Meerschaum New Handmade Case#1886 | eBay

<p>Brand new and perfectly finished meerschaum bowl for Falcon pipes,made from block meerschaum </p><p>48 mm high</p><p>39 mm wide</p><p>19 mm bowl diameter</p><p>30 mm bowl depth</p><p>Great engineering </p><p>I have 5 in stock ,will ship out randomly</p><p>Dimensions and look may...

www.ebay.com

I bought my miniature from him and he was a pleasure to deal with. Have bookmarked his site. As the Terminator said, "I'll be back." Thanks!

 

[Chasing Embers]

I bought my miniature from him and he was a pleasure to deal with. Have bookmarked his site. As the Terminator said, "I'll be back." Thanks!

Fatma is a great fellow. Many of my pipes were purchased from him.

 

[SmokingInTheWind]

I

I'm more concerned about the Falcon meerschaum bowls in a camping environment . . . can't see how they'll stand up in a rough careless environment so I'll look at pipes instead. At least that was my rational. They are also expensive, and serviceable meer pipes come in at roughly 60% or so of the bowls. Maybe one later for in home use.

I had experiences with that ghost with the miniature. Happened real fast, as you pointed out above. Thanks.

I dropped my smooth, bent apple meer on the tile floor yesterday and I thought it was a goner. It did put a small flat spot on the side of the bowl, but no visible cracks on the outside. Hopefully, no cracks on the inside of the bowl. I am smoking it now, so far so good. Meerschaum is more resilient than I expected, but I agree with you that there are better choices for camping pipes.

 

[sardonicus87]

I suppose it depends on the pipe and maker.

I have a real Turkish block meer made by Hüseyin Ege and I have a composite/pressed meer from Royal Meerschaum.

The Ege meer you couldn't even tell it had wax on it, the wax layer on the outside was so thin. The RM meer had a wax layer so thick you could dig into it and see it on the pipe and made the pipe look as if it were a fake made of a white on. <<<<<< I'm going to leave this here cause it's funny that this still happens. For the new members it's supposed to say **c r a y o n ** --didimauw

The Ege meer tasted fine from the beginning—the first few smokes were SLIGHTLY muted, but didn't taste off. No sour taste, no chalk taste, no milky taste, none of that. I know he boils them in beeswax (I've seen video on his official page on Facebook).

My RM composite meer basically just tasted like almost nothing, super muted, and having a slight waxy taste. After two smokes, I put some heat to it and then pulled a crapload of the wax out of the inside of the bowl and then it tasted normal.

These are my only meers and the only meers I have experience with, I'm hardly an authority on meerschaum. Just my anecdotal experience with two very different ones.

 

[gord]

I suppose it depends on the pipe and maker.

I have a real Turkish block meer made by Hüseyin Ege and I have a composite/pressed meer from Royal Meerschaum.

The Ege meer you couldn't even tell it had wax on it, the wax layer on the outside was so thin. The RM meer had a wax layer so thick you could dig into it and see it on the pipe and made the pipe look as if it were a fake made of a white on.

The Ege meer tasted fine from the beginning—the first few smokes were SLIGHTLY muted, but didn't taste off. No sour taste, no chalk taste, no milky taste, none of that. I know he boils them in beeswax (I've seen video on his official page on Facebook).

My RM composite meer basically just tasted like almost nothing, super muted, and having a slight waxy taste. After two smokes, I put some heat to it and then pulled a crapload of the wax out of the inside of the bowl and then it tasted normal.

These are my only meers and the only meers I have experience with, I'm hardly an authority on meerschaum. Just my anecdotal experience with two very different ones.

And your anecdotal information is most welcome! Thank you!!