Meerschaum questions

[nogbert]

i just got a stellar deal on two meers ($20) which makes me question their quality.

they look pretty nice, but i wanna know things to look for in crappy meers.

thanks

 

[jhuggett]

I have a cheap one that is not made from block but is pressed. Besides just flakey engineering, like wobbly stem and cheap feeling it started to develop cracks after a few smokes. I do believe that was partly to blame from using a metal tamper while smoking. It seemed as though it started as soon as the cold metal touched the side of the hot pipe. This shouldn't be a problem with pipes carved out of block though.

 

[nogbert]

i know there are various types of stem/shank/bit attachments and i have heard some are better than others, can anyone educate me on this?

the ones i have aren't simply screw in, but there is a removable plastic insert in the meer itself, and in the bit there is a little plastic tube that goes into the meer plastic. (kinda hard to explain)

any info/ experience?

thanks again

 

[nogbert]

also, there are no names or stickers anywhere on the pipes/case

is there any way to determine what company produced them?

 

[puros_bran]

Ha, finally a question I can sorta answer... You aren't being ignored, our most knowledgeable meer guy (IMO anyway) has apparently taken a break from the board...

Unless it is 'signed' in the pipe itself by a 'master carver', or made by a meer pipe house (SMS, IMP ) who usually put their nomenclature on the stem, you are stuck with tons of uncertainty as to who actually produced the pipe.. Looking on the case is a good place to start, but if there's nothing there you are relegated to hunting the web for matching pics and making an educated guess.. The situation is far from clear cut especially when considering how many carvers copy each others designs,

 

[Winslow]

Go over to SmokersForum and join the AllThingsMeerschaum social group.There is
answers to all your questions there.
Probably you have a couple of lower-end pipes which should give you some smoking
experience and then you can decide whether or not you wish to go further with the hobby.

Winslow :sunny: