Meerschaum troubles

[niner]

I just thought I would share my bad experiences with meerschaums

I do not buy meerschaums anymore since the last 4 or 5 I bought had cracked within the first 3 bowls smoked. Granted I can't afford to spend $200+ on a nice one...yet, but these are $40-$50 ones.

One completely fell apart around the base of the bowl all the way around the shank = useless. One had multiple cracks down the length of the bowl but not completely thru = display to show people what look like before being smoked. I have 3 other meerschaums that are beautifully colored. One had a broken stem and when I got it replaced, the pipesmith cracked the shank = display. The other two I still smoke, but not very often, I have a feeling meerschaums do not agree with me and I don't want to break them. Is it just me or has meerschaum within the last couple years a lower quality than it was a few years back? The three that I had smoked a bunch are a few years old and nothing was wrong with them until the stem broke the the pipesmith cracked the shank

I love the way meerschaums look when colored and they smoke wonderfully too, but maybe they are too fragile for me.

What prompted this was I was looking at my Stanwell straight grain and I noticed a crack in it just now . Briars still are smokeable with cracks but meerschaums ARE NOT

[ShawnP]

I don't have a Meerschaum yet but hearing this makes me want to wait a bit.


Shawn

[Hellraiser]

There is alot of really poorly made meerschaum pipes out there it seems. I bought 3 relatively cheap ones (around $30 each) and sent them all back because I could tell they would not last long since the button on one was already broke (cheap grade plastic) and the tenon attachments on all 3 were rediculously weak. Got stuck with $20 of shipping charges for the returns but better than being stuck with 3 crappy pipes that would soon be broken. When I do buy another meerschaum pipe, it will be an IMP, having looked at a friends IMP pipe, they are made really well.

[carbonbased_al]

I have a couple of IMP Meers and I love them! They smoke great, are starting to color, and I can smoke whatever I want in them. No cracks at all.

[ShawnP]

Any opinions on the CAO Meers?


Shawn

[niner]

Originally Posted by ShawnP

Any opinions on the CAO Meers?


Shawn

I too am interested in the CAO meers, specifically the Bekler series

[CthulhuDawn]

Originally Posted by ShawnP

Any opinions on the CAO Meers?


Shawn

I love my Meerschaum, and I'd probably cry if it'd ever cracked! It's a CAO I got from Cup O' Joes. I haven't had any problems with it. I only smoke it occasionally though, as it is heavy and I would worry about dropping it out and about. It's sort of my special occasion smoke .

[Charles]

Originally Posted by CthulhuDawn

I love my Meerschaum, and I'd probably cry if it'd ever cracked! It's a CAO I got from Cup O' Joes. I haven't had any problems with it. I only smoke it occasionally though, as it is heavy and I would worry about dropping it out and about. It's sort of my special occasion smoke .

That is a beautiful pipe. I've also been looking for another pipe, but want to improve my packing, lighting, smoking technique before dropping $$$ on a nice meer.

I have read that meers will crack if smoked too hot too fast.

[burninator]

CthulhuDawn, you've gotta start smoking that pipe! That thing is beautiful, and it will be interesting to see how it colors.

[celticgent]

unfortunately, i too broke my meerschaum pipe. i was smoking it and it just cracked.

i was heartbroken, because it was so nice. luckily it only cost $40.

i most likely won't be buying one anytime soon, until i can afford a nicer made one.

[simmich]

I have two old Meers, one a no name and one a Beckler...no problems with either and they smoke great Seems there are definite quality differences in the material used to make these pipes!

[warrantmatt]

I used to have a couple of pipes with meerschaum lining. They would burn fine and really smooth, the only thing I ever found with them is the lining would burn out or get soft in the bottom. I have a meerschaum from my grandpa, but have not smoked it. I may when I get back from Afghanistan.

[burninator]

Sounds like you had moisture building up in there or either condensation settling into the pipe. Did you keep it in a case?

[fitzsmoke]

I read somewhere that the cheap meers are man-made material. Might have something to do with cracking. I have a fairly cheap meer (about $45.00)that I have smoked maybe 10 times. No problems yet.

[omowasu]

Ever try the "pre-conditioned" meershcaums? My CAO meerschaum came from the factory conditioned to be semi-brown with a protective coating. I have had that pipe over 10 years and have had no issues. In fact, it has been dropped before without cracking. I still smoke it to this day, although I have started to like my briars more in the last year.