Opinions on meerschaum lined bowls please

[Brewdude]

What can anyone tell me about meerschaum lined bowls? The one meer I have is nice and I've been reserving it for Embarcadero recently, which really lets me taste this delicate blend.

I figure a meer lined bowl on a briar will be much the same thing. But is it durable?

I've got my eye on a Brebbia Author right now which has one, and I love the shape. Never owned a Brebbia. Are these recommended?

Any insight fellow pipers?

TIA


Cheers,

RR

 

[williamcharles]

I've got three and love hell out of all three of 'em. One is a meer lined Falcon bowl, one is a Doc Grabow billiard and one is a gourd. They smoke cool with nary a hint of gurgle. Treat em like you would a meer and you'd have no problems with them.

 

[Dutch]

RR, there are definitely differences in some meerschaum lined bowls. The pipe in the first pic, has a meerschaum lined bowl cut from genuine block meerschaum. It has a very smooth texture, and adds virtually no extra weight to the briar bowl.

The pipe in the second pic is made from pressed meerschaum. It is similar in production to particle board. This adds considerable weight to the briar bowl. Unfortunately, it is hard to see the difference by looking at pics on the internet, but the difference is glaringly obvious, with pipe in hand. The pressed meer has a coating that looks like paint of some sort, but the block meer lining appears smooth and polished like any high grade uncarved meer.

I really enjoy smoking the pipe in the first pic with Virginia flakes, when I am behind the wheel of my pickup. It has a 9mm filter, so I don't have to worry about gurgling, and with the meer lining, I don't have to worry about the flake tobacco getting too hot, and potentially spider webbing or pitting my bowl, when I am unable to give the pipe my full attention.

Block Meercschaum

Pressed Meerschaum

 

[Brewdude]

RR, there are definitely differences in some meerschaum lined bowls. The pipe in the first pic, has a meerschaum lined bowl cut from genuine block meerschaum. It has a very smooth texture, and adds virtually no extra weight to the briar bowl.

The pipe in the second pic is made from pressed meerschaum. It is similar in production to particle board. This adds considerable weight to the briar bowl. Unfortunately, it is hard to see the difference by looking at pics on the internet, but the difference is glaringly obvious, with pipe in hand. The pressed meer has a coating that looks like paint of some sort, but the block meer lining appears smooth and polished like any high grade uncarved meer.

I really enjoy smoking the pipe in the first pic with Virginia flakes, when I am behind the wheel of my pickup. It has a 9mm filter, so I don't have to worry about gurgling, and with the meer lining, I don't have to worry about the flake tobacco getting too hot, and potentially spider webbing or pitting my bowl, when I am unable to give the pipe my full attention.

Block Meercschaum

Pressed Meerschaum

Thanks for the info Dutch.

So, based on your experience how does the pressed compare to the solid block express itself into smoking? This is most important.

I get the weight issue, but is it significant? Looks to me to be a relatively small contribution to the overall weight but there again I have no first hand knowledge.

The Brebbia I'm considering has no info on this.


Cheers,

RR

 

[Dutch]

RR, to tell you the truth, I have only smoked one bowl in the pressed meer pipe. It is one of the Carey Magic Inch pipes, and I didn't care too much for the carb design in the stem, as well as the clenching qualitys of the bowl heavy design. I wish I could tell you from experience which is more durable, and how the smoking qualities compare, but I just haven't invested the time in finding out.

 

[Brewdude]

RR, to tell you the truth, I have only smoked one bowl in the pressed meer pipe. It is one of the Carey Magic Inch pipes, and I didn't care too much for the carb design in the stem, as well as the clenching qualitys of the bowl heavy design. I wish I could tell you from experience which is more durable, and how the smoking qualities compare, but I just haven't invested the time in finding out.

Dutch I appreciate your insight.

The Brebbia Author I'm interested in is 2.07 oz in weight. Don't think this is a deal breaker. Looks like I did take a flutter on it.
In any case I like the style. Just got in an Author Sav Sistina 320 and it feels great in the hand.

This Brebbia has similar lines, and the meer lined bowl has appeal. Being the weekend, there's no one there who can answer any questions.

I'll report back on this.



Cheers,

RR

 

[Anonymous]

For the very little it may be worth, I still have the first non-news stand pipe I ever bought --
a "Bolo Pipe" nosewarmer with a meerschaum lining which was white at the time, as I recall.
It smokes & tastes good. I doubt if it's 4" long and doesn't last much longer than 20 minutes
but I like it.

:face:

 

[Brewdude]

For the very little it may be worth, I still have the first non-news stand pipe I ever bought --
a "Bolo Pipe" nosewarmer with a meerschaum lining which was white at the time, as I recall.
It smokes & tastes good. I doubt if it's 4" long and doesn't last much longer than 20 minutes
but I like it.

:face:

Thanks for the input brother.

The Brebbia has a chamber of about .97" tall by .71" wide IIRC. Didn't think to save the pics.

Should be good for a pretty reasonable load.


Cheers,

RR

 

[femur]

Hey, I just learned something here!

 

[Brewdude]

Hey, I just learned something here!

Well BUST MY BUTTONS....

....welcome femur my mate from another site. Glad you found us.

Take off yer shoes, set a spell, y'all come back now, hear?

:joker:


Cheers,

RR

 

[Brewdude]

Well, good news...

I asked the vendor I bought the Brebbia meer lined Author from if the meer bowl was solid or pressed meer. Their merchandising mgr said it was carved from a solid block of meerschaum, so feel pretty good about that in light of what Dutch had to say.

Here's a pic from a google search. I didn't think to save one from the vendor.

Should have this early next week and will report back on how it smokes.






Cheers,

RR

 

[femur]

Nice looking pipe dude.

 

[Brewdude]

Nice looking pipe dude.

Thanks, although it's a pretty poor pic. The one from the vendor I got it from (smokingpipes) was much more detailed. I should have saved it.........oh well!

Anyway it's one of my favorite shapes. And I liked the amber stem. And of course the meer lined bowl.

So there ya go!



Cheers,

RR

 

[Brewdude]

Just took delivery of the pipe, and boy howdy it's a winner winner chicken dinner!!

Fat and chunky, great finish, the stem is awesome beyond words!

Feels great in the hand too. Pre draw is just right, like the 3 bears porridge....

The meer lined bowl looks great. Can't wait to fire it up.

This looks a million times better in person than it did on line. Too bad I can't share a pic.

Ya, I'm stoked!



:cheers:



Cheers,

RR

 

[lb]

If briar is so good smoking material, why put meerschaum inside? , on the other hand,why cover the meerschaum with briar? if it is for protection,then any other wood would do it. I do not see any advantage by doing this combination.I only see some disadvantages.

 

[gravel]

If briar is so good smoking material, why put meerschaum inside? , on the other hand,why cover the meerschaum with briar? if it is for protection,then any other wood would do it. I do not see any advantage by doing this combination.I only see some disadvantages.

What disadvantages to you see?

 

[Brewdude]

If briar is so good smoking material, why put meerschaum inside? , on the other hand,why cover the meerschaum with briar? if it is for protection,then any other wood would do it. I do not see any advantage by doing this combination.I only see some disadvantages.

I can only offer this-

Meer is supposed to be neutral to any flavors that might otherwise influence a briar bowl. So what you get in a meer is a true representation of the 'baccy minus any carryover.

That's what I've come to understand anyway.

So to me, this pipe has the advantage of that plus the style of a briar. Best of both worlds. Plus it looks way cool!

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

:joker:



Cheers,

RR

 

[lowflyingpenguin]

I have a meer lined Rhodesian by Isle of Man (not producing for many years now).

Love that little bugger!

It's great for flakes.

 

[lb]

The disadvantage of not seeing the meerschaum patina progression over time.

 

[Dutch]

RR, that's a really fine looking pipe! You will notice that the meer lining in your pipe is just a little thinner walled than a pressed meer pipe, and at least half the weight .

I have read that a meer lined briar offers the durability on the outside of briar, with the ability to smoke bowl after bowl without moisture building up in the pipe, in the manner a solid briar pipe builds moisture. In other words, the moisture from the tobacco supposedly cannot pass thru the meer lining. Maybe monbla can weigh in on this, since he was in St. Claude when meerschaum was invented.

Anyhow, I have never been in the right situation to test the theory, but maybe someday I will give it a go.