General Discussion About Meers...

[Slow Puffs]

With all the posts and threads about meers lately, I had to pull out a meer and smoke an aromatic... and actually liked it.

I have 4 meers that I would describe as "basket" pipes... they all have that wonderful 'case' to hold them... but they are "el cheapo", given as gifts from family members over the years, rarely smoked...

First, is a meer, a meer? For example, are my "el cheapo" meers, in essence, the same "meer" quality as the more expensive meers with the exception of construction of the mouth piece and fittings.

I suspect a meer is a meer. Am I correct?

 

[puros_bran]

The only pipe I intend to buy before I die is one of those meers that look like an elephant where the stem is his trunk.
James Island has one fer cheap in his estates but the Mrs was looking at them pre-christmas so I'm afraid to buy it..


Notice I said intend.. I'm terrible with impulse buys.

 

[Slow Puffs]

Don't get me wrong... this ain't an "anti' meer thread... I would like to appreciate them more. I think the only thing that goes against meers IMHO are some of the crazy carvings and the fragility issue. In other words, they seem "high maintenance".

 

[puros_bran]

Naw, they are probably lower maintenance than briars, and they aren't as fragile as you'd think.

 

[Joseph76]

Meers are definitely more finicky than briars. First off, you can't smoke them outside in the cold, which turns a lot of people away. They are definitely more delicate than a wood pipe but they can still be knocked around some... just don't drop them on concrete or tile.

Most meers have terrible engineering and drilling. There are a few makers who do a good job but they are few and far between.

With meers, there is pressed and block. Stay away from pressed, who knows what adhesives are used to bind the meer dust. With block, there are something like a dozen different grades. You only want to buy pipes made with the highest grade blocks because many of the lower grades aren't very porous... you won't be able to color the pipe as well.

I like meer pipes but the part I don't like is dealing with the meer sellers. I've had bad experiences with many of them, from receiving pipes with large fills to pipes that wouldn't pass a pipe cleaner (with the stem removed) to pipes that stunk like model car glue... I could tell you quite a few horror stories. BE VERY CAREFUL who you buy from. My suggestion would be IMP pipes through smokingpipes.com. They are great because they have a good return policy... if you get the pipe and it's not up to par, you can return it unsmoked for a full refund.

 

[Hermit]

I had a couple that I didn't think much of...
then I got a Baki (and another Baki).

 

[Puff Daddy]

I've had 2 IMP meers, still have 1. The drilling is so-so, there was an awful smell through the first 2 dozen bowls smoked in them, the stem material is cheap and the button edges are rough and the airways are snug in them for even a thin pipe cleaner. The meer itself is cut nicely, attractively carved, feels nice. Seems they are halfway to making a really nice pipe.

 

[clueless]

I was one of the lucky ones who got my first, and still only, meer from Winslow in his recent gumball contest. I love it! Seldom a day goes by when I don't smoke at least one bowl in it. I have even taken to smoking a couple of higher quality aros in it. Since I wipe out the bowl and run a couple of pipe cleaners through it after each smoke there is no ghosting, which I appreciate, and I feel like I get the true taste of each tobacco.

Maintenance is really no big deal. I keep a roll of paper towels in my car and handy around the house and use about the same number of pieces after a briar as I do a meer. It is, obviously, a little less sturdy than a briar or cob and I'm not about to take one out on the golf course or fishing barge but I will be adding more meers to my modest collection when I see some that catch my eye, are affordable, and seem to be of at least good quality.

An added benefit is that the family finds the meer attractive and appreciate the aros over my usual english blends.

 

[Mikem]

I've got around seven meerschaums. One cheapo (the first pipe my son ever bought me, so you know that is a keeper), three mid-priced Altinok (which I smoke all the time) pipes, one Sevket Gezer flying dragon (also purchased from Altinok) and a estate freehand hunting pipe (Elk) purchased off of Ebay. Oh, and the one from Winslow in one of his great contests. I am happy with all of them. Other than the cheapo they are all block meerschaums. I have been very very happy with my dealings with Altinok. The drilling, fit and finish have all been top notch IMHO.

I mainly smoke English blends in them. IMHO you get a truer sense of the taste of a blend from a meerschaum than a briar when trying out a newer blend. I don't think you get any lingering taste (ghosting from another blend) from a different blend from the cake like you can from a briar. Your mileage may vary as they say. I would agree that they are a little more fragile than a briar but I haven't had any issues with them. As far as upkeep goes I don't think they are anymore difficult than a briar. They have special things you need to do to them to keep them clean just as a briar does. I am curious as to why you can't smoke them outside in the cold? Arizona only gets into the mid-twenties in the cold winter months and I've smoked mine outside with no issues.

 

[gandalfpc]

Our brother to the north is speaking of lower temps than 20 I bet

If a meer gets hot and hits really cold air it will crack - Canada has to be poor meer territory...

I have six - one a calabash, one a churchwarden, two tiny tasters, small sultan, bent billiard - ranging from "good enough" (tiny samplers) to "good as it gets" in the calabash (CAO)

Although I don't own any other than the calabash I can say with certainty that any CAO meer that you get will be of high quality.

The drilling is usually quite bad in a cheap meer - I have even had one that had a poorly angled hole drilled so deeply that after a few smokes a dark brown spot appeared on the outside of the pipe - and in a few days melted away into a hole right through the pipe...

A good meer (or four) is great for getting the pure flavor of a tobacco, and great for keeping aeros out of your briars

I also have two meer lined briars - not quite as good as either for most things - but very handy pipes to have - safer if dropped than a meer, and less delicate feeling in the hand (would you touch your meer with dirty hands?) - toss in bowl after bowl with barely a rest and no worry of ghosting...

on ghosting - Solani Sweet Mystery will still ghost - in ANY pipe

 

[Doc Manhattan]

My very first pipe was a meer, a small figural piece purchased for me by my folks at Disney World, when "Main Street USA" still contained a tobacconist. (Apparently, nowadays you can still have an Uncle Remus log flume, but a smoke shop is in poor taste... But I digress...)

All my meers have been gifts, now that I think of it. They're decent, functional pipes, and charming objets d'art, but I never think of meers when I get the PAD itch. Personal preference, nothing more.

 

[Aztech]

......but the part I don't like is dealing with the meer sellers. I've had bad experiences with many of them, from receiving pipes with large fills to pipes that wouldn't pass a pipe cleaner (with the stem removed) to pipes that stunk like model car glue... I could tell you quite a few horror stories. BE VERY CAREFUL who you buy from. ....

Like you, i have had similar experiences with some sellers. The quality is not consistent and you don't always get what you see. I agree with you that buyers should be very careful, some of the Turkish vendors can be a bit difficult to deal with when it comes to after sales service. umm..... MOST of.... umm....ALL of them!

 

[Slow Puffs]

It almost seems that when buying meers, you need more expertise than when buying a briar... what to look for, questions to ask, reputation of vendor, etc...

 

[sstodvictory]

A fellow in my local pipe shop lived in Turkey and buys the shop's Meers. Recently he talked me into my only Meer, an SMS smooth. It seems well made, open draw, passes the pipe cleaner test, smoke hole at bottom-center. It cost $109.

http://www.smspipes.com/

The IMP page at smokingpipes.com does have some great looking pipes.

Steve

 

[mark]

I've bought and sold several meers with varying quality from different carvers, but I'm totally impressed with Bakis,,,open airways,
precise fit and flawless finish. Not to knock other carvers, there's some great pipes out there,,that's just my experience.

 

[Winslow]

I would reccomend Altinok,Bestmeerschaums[Baki],and Sadik Yanik if you would
have a first rate meer from a reputable dealer.
If you want the biggest bang for your money win one of Yaniks pipes at auction
on E-Bay.He uses the same mortise/tenon fitment as Imp and Baki and his artistic
talent is second to none.
There are a dozen of his pipes on E-Bay now,the auction ends Wednesday......
a guy could get lucky and get a nice piece for $40-$50.

Winslow :sunny:

 

[Joseph76]

The Yanik I bought last year did not have the same tenon/mortise system as IMP and Baki, has he changed things?

 

[Winslow]

Yes,he is now using the system Baki and Imp employ.

Winslow :sunny: