Gurgling meer?

[Jevverrett]

My meer developed a gurgle a few weeks ago, and it has kept it up with a variety of blends. It's a good pipe, and has smoked very well for me before this started. I didn't even know they could gurgle, being as porous as they are.

I rested it for 6 days to try and stop it. I can't seem to find any info on what to do about this. It may be some kind of build up in the heel, but a good scrub with a bristled cleaner hasn't changed anything. I'm under the impression that you should not use pipe sweetener or anything on these. I'm sure someone here knows more about this than I do, any thoughts?

 

[ZeroContent]

Too moist tobacco. Too fast smoking. You're drooling down the stem.

 

[MisterE]

I find that gurgling meers tend to be the rule rather than the exception. Many have very restricted draws through the stem, so condensation really backs up. I pulled out one of my meeshaums in December and smoked half a bowl. It promptly went back into the box. :no:

 

[Puff Daddy]

Mister E is right, it's the stem. A gurgling pipe can usually be traced back to a poorly engineered airway, usually a restriction somewhere in the stem or a too small airway or a gap in the tenon area that creates turbulence. It's always amazed me how meer carvers can spend such effort in creating a beautiful pipe yet ignore the basics of engineering to ensure it will smoke well.

 

[Blackhorse]

Okay, here's a weird 'maybe'...

Given that you've not had a problem before now, let's assume that it's NOT the pipe, as that likely hasn't changed. So what might have changed?

1) blend being smoked (someone already suggested this) If there HAS been any change go back to prior blends that worked well and see what happens.
2) the weather (actually, the Relative Humidity) I have been amazed over the years by how much the weather (RH and ambient temperature especially) can effect how briars and meets perform. A spate of humid weather might be to blame.
3) God doesn't like you. Well, I thought we should look at everything. Have you been particularly evil recently? Just checking. Maybe get your Meer blessed?

Good luck.

 

[huffelpuff]

If you are at all handy and have access to tools you might try opening up the draft hole at the tennon. This is usually the problem with meers. As long as you don't try and open it up too much you certainly won't cause any problems. You'll only want to drill the little white nylon piece not the meer itself or the actual stem.

Jim

 

[Jevverrett]

It has been a bit damp around here lately. And believe me I started on the blend itself, I slowed it way down on the puffing too. I'd stick a pipe cleaner in there and get black goop out. I may have to try opening it up a bit if all else fails.

On a side note, this is an IMP meer. I though they were well made considering the price. I only got one bc they were on close out sale on smokingpipes for half off. Any of you guys have one of them? I've really come to like it as my at home pipe. Maybe I've been working it too hard?

 

[huffelpuff]

IMP meers are some of the better ones out there but unfortunately they still use a very restricted draw through the tennon area. I have my doubts as to it being overworked. I find that more usage of a meer tends to make it smoke better. Your comment about getting black gunk however tells me you may need to very carefully remove the nylon mortice from the bowl and clean that area under there out. Normally any liquid you get on the pipe cleaner should at worst be a darker brown being black indicates it's been sitting in the pipe. Be very careful as it's super easy to strip out the threads then you are looking at a lot more work.

My 2 cents

 

[Jevverrett]

So for my next stupid question-

Would it be a bad thing to use a small amount of pipe sweetener on a cleaner and give a quick swab? For some reason I want to say yes, it would be bad. I'm not sure God gave me the nimble fingers to take the joint apart successfully.

 

[huffelpuff]

I wouldn't use anything with flavor. I've had no issues using high proof and swabbing it back out quickly. The higher proof the better though.

 

[Jevverrett]

So, I cleaned it out and drill bitted the tenon to no avail. It still gurgled on me the other night. Come to find out it may have been the weather bit more than anything. We got some rain today during church and the sun came out nicely afterword. Now it is smoking fantastically!

Come to think of it, it may have been a bit of prayer as well lol. Thanks gents for the ideas.

 

[huffelpuff]

Hummmm... Yeah I've no real experience with meers in humid environs. I only really got interested in them once I got up to the high plains desert area of the country. Here if it gurgles you can put money on it being a restricted airway or really wet tobacco. Good info for me to file away. Thanks for the update.

Jim

 

[Jevverrett]

I didn't know they could gurgle in the first place. Good block meerschaum is so porous your tongue will stick to it. I know that's true bc I tried it when I got the pipe lol. I did remove something along the lines of a plastic burr from the tenon with a drill bit, and swabbed the draft hole with graves grain as well.

Either way, I'm just glad it back to its old self. It's become something of a good friend for me in the evenings, if that makes sense.

 

[huffelpuff]

Absolutely does. Certain pipes are very much like old friends. Glad you're back on good footing with it though, it's disconcerting when there's no obvious reason for a change.

 

[oldmansmokingpipe]

I noticed once or twice that abit of tobacco was hung up in pipe hole at the bottom and once i sucked it out or cleaned it out with pipe cleaner it was good. the once i sucked it up by accident was what revealed it to me.