Smoking Briar vs Meerschaum Pipes

[badbriar]

What is the difference between smoking Briar and Meerschaum pipes?
And...are Meer as easy to clean as briars?

 

[Green Hill Hermit]

Meerschaum is pourus allowing for a much cooler dryer smoke and it allows you to enjoy the pure tobacco taste of the blend you are smoking. That and the effect that the pipe will color over time make it one of my favorite pipes to smoke.

 

[TheWhale13]

Meerschaum smokes about as cool as a briar. Maybe a little bit less moisture in the dottle, but that's about it. Meers are harder to keep clean too. All in all, they feel similar, but it's cool to color a meer.

 

[jerry]

I really enjoy the coloring process of the meers. And, their smoking qualities are … well … some are superior and some aren’t! I only smoke meerschaums, and have for many years. Keeping them clean and happy isn’t a problem.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Once broken in, not much difference. Meerschaum will mute flavors for the first several smokes.

 

[olkofri]

I've found Meerschäume more difficult to clean than briar. Caked in bits of tobacco are more difficult to dislodge since I can't scrape as firmly as I do on briar lest I gouge the sepiolite. Some of this debris have by now become inclusions.

 

[didimauw]

I find AFTER a meerschaum is fully broken in, you get a much more "Natural tobacco" taste. I believe they add less flavor to the smoke than a briar. I like them both equally for their characteristics.

 

[kcghost]

It doesn't seem to have any effect on the quality of smoke from either type.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I've found Meerschäume more difficult to clean than briar. Caked in bits of tobacco are more difficult to dislodge since I can't scrape as firmly as I do on briar lest I gouge the sepiolite. Some of this debris have by now become inclusions.

Wipe them out with a damp paper towel or use sandpaper.

 

[anotherbob]

frankly the difference is not huge in my opinion. Hows that work? For me it depends on the blend. Some are better in one then the other. But I find the difference between cobs and others to be more significant and noticeable. Kind of depends on how much attention you want to pay to the difference as well. Generally one way I could put it, if you like one it's hard to imagine not liking the other relatively equally. Though the only way to find out is to get one or two or three to try.

 

[OzPiper]

Only one way to find out for yourself

 

[MichaelMP5]

Meer's are a bit more fragile imo. My wedding ring put a light scratch in my Petersen Meer years ago, every time I see it, it pains me a little.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I smoke about 50/50. I smoke them both the same. Once they're broke in with some cake built up, not much difference. Perhaps the Meer is a bit more neutral. Blindfold someone, I doubt 99% could tell the difference.

 

[proteus]

Can't tell any difference from my perspective. I like the ornate carving and coloring changes which is to me the only difference.

 

[badbriar]

Ok - great feedback! Now, are Meer as susceptible to ghosting as briar?

 

[didimauw]

Ok - great feedback! Now, are Meer as susceptible to ghosting as briar?

Meers ghost worse than briar Id say.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Ok - great feedback! Now, are Meer as susceptible to ghosting as briar?

Meers ghost worse than briar Id say.

^^^^
This

Meerschaum is like a sponge. Once it absorbs something, it's there to stay.

 

[bassbug]

Meer's are a bit more fragile imo. My wedding ring put a light scratch in my Petersen Meer years ago, every time I see it, it pains me a little.

The pipe or the wedding ring?.....

 

[olkofri]

Wipe them out with a damp paper towel or use sandpaper.

Sandpaper! I'm assuming high grit, north of 320, right?

 

[Chasing Embers]

Sandpaper! I'm assuming high grit, north of 320, right?

I use 320 or 380.