What is the attraction and benefits of meers? Do they get hot, more so than briars or cobs?
So - Why Meerschaum?
- Thread starter badbriar
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The opposite: they smoke cooler. Another thing some might find appealing is that you don't have to rest them, just wipe 'em, load 'em, and smoke 'em again.
Oh, and another big appeal is the amusement of seeing them change colour over time.
Oh, and another big appeal is the amusement of seeing them change colour over time.
Same as briar.
Couldn't find the experience notably different from smoking a briar or cob so I got rid of the two meers I had.
I knew you were gonna say that!! ?
I've only got one (so far) but I'm loving it. I'd definitely consider getting another in the future.
Yep. Cooler and dryer smoke. Which can help with tongue bite/burn or with blends that tend to smoke hot(ribbon/ shag vs flake). The taste is very pure and you will be able to detect more subtleties of blends, less ghosting(or they leave after a few bowls).
This doesn't make it better than a briar, as sometimes the flavour from a briar matches a blend nicely and tasting every nuance may not be necessary. Also some blends work better with a pipe that gets a bit hotter and warms the tobacco, sometimes with a cool smoking meer you have to puff more frequently to keep it going. I found after I waxed my meer and smoked it a bunch it started to smoke hotter, which I actually liked as the tobacco stayed lit better. It smoked so cool before I had to puff more.
One thing to watch out for is that some meers, while they may look nice. Are not designed very well in terms of the drilling and airways so they can cause moisture and gurgle.
This doesn't make it better than a briar, as sometimes the flavour from a briar matches a blend nicely and tasting every nuance may not be necessary. Also some blends work better with a pipe that gets a bit hotter and warms the tobacco, sometimes with a cool smoking meer you have to puff more frequently to keep it going. I found after I waxed my meer and smoked it a bunch it started to smoke hotter, which I actually liked as the tobacco stayed lit better. It smoked so cool before I had to puff more.
One thing to watch out for is that some meers, while they may look nice. Are not designed very well in terms of the drilling and airways so they can cause moisture and gurgle.
I use them for reviewing aromatics because I won't ghost a briar. Some meers are better than others for that. Meers can be ghosted, but not as easily as briars. I mostly get a purer taste of blends from them, which is important for me.
I like smoking heavy English blends in them, too.
I like smoking heavy English blends in them, too.
I smoke meers 99% of the time. I’d have to say it’s a preference that evolved over time. Just a preference. I like everything about them. I don’t dislike briars, but meers make me happy ?
I would say they smoke dryer, maybe, but depending on the thickness of the meer, they don't necessarily smoke cooler. I have a billiard that got extremely warm when it was new. My other three are thicker and therefore I don't have any issues with heat.
I like them because the material is novel. It feels lighter than it should be. It’s not flammable, which is a great choice for a pipe. If it was less fragile, it would be perfect.
I find that the export restrictions lead to a smaller selection of pipes than I would like, but I finally found what I wanted with altinay.
I find that the export restrictions lead to a smaller selection of pipes than I would like, but I finally found what I wanted with altinay.
I'd reckon, for those who continuously smoke blends heavy in latakia or Lakelands might consider acquiring a meerschaum pipe, personally I do like how Lakeland blends taste when smoked in meers, the taste is somewhat more pronounced, although finding a good reasonably priced meerschaum pipe may not always be that easy, oftentimes stems and drilling on meerschaum pipes leave a lot to be desired,,
2 good points. The 2nd point aided in my decision to purchase a meerschaum.
Meerschaum, because concrete just isn't as pretty. 
I have a huge piece of pipestone that a member here gave me that I really ought to do something with. But, it is a much heavier material.
I need to get me a meer though.
I have a huge piece of pipestone that a member here gave me that I really ought to do something with. But, it is a much heavier material.
I need to get me a meer though.
I have several meerschaums and they all smoke cool and dry. They used to be occasional smokes for me because I always pampered them and took pains to protect the finish. I have found more satisfaction, however, in handling them as I would a briar pipe - they are less pretty to look at now but more enjoyable to smoke.
If only they would stay white or fully color faster. I didn't find them to smoke any better or worse than briar. They're somewhat fragile and if you want the finish to look nice, you need to handle them somewhat carefully. I think they're kind of ugly when they are partially colored (which most are as the time it takes for them to fully color is long). I do admire the amazing carves many Meers have. I may eventually get another one just as a novelty.
#1 hoosier, and the times I am going to want to smoke the same pipe over and over, aren't going to be when I am setting within the comfort of my home. It is going to be when I am in the car or out hiking, and a meer just isn't the best option for a pipe that needs to take a licking over and over. If I am at home, I have access to racks full of pipes to chose from.
Agreed on the coloration. I am just resigned to the pipe looking mottled and dingy after some time. I don’t understand how the coloration is a draw at all.
If I only had one pipe, it'd be a meerschaum. No moisture issues, no ghosting issues, etc. Pure tobacco taste. I'll wash it out under the faucet for 30 sec, and I can still smoke it that day. I just wish I could get over the disappointment and not having any meers with color. I've seen so many pretty ones, and mine are all meh. Maybe they will show some color in 20 years. I smoke one exclusively 3 times a day for three months straight, and it looked exactly the same.
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