Meerschaum dilema when kilted.

[Kilted Rogue]

Reading this makes me what to get out my pipe and smoke it... they are both briar, but l long for a churchwarden , meerschaum or Briar.

[Beertigger]

Also, there are a number of soft cases out there for those who choose to smoke from glass pipes. The patterns tend to be pretty psychadelic, but there may be some tamer options out there.

Speaking from professional experience alone, right Streetcar? ; )

[Bruno]

Now, I smoke a pipe every once in a blue moon, but I'm afraid I rather doubt the notion of a healthier smoke. Really, if we're going to indulge our vices, I think it's best to just wallow in them.

Anyway, I don't know that I can help with the bag-and-carry issue, but I do love that multi-colored number you showed. Makes me want to get one.

Regards,
Rex.

No I am not saying a Meer is healthy and good for you just that a portion of the the tar and chemicals in the tobacco is actually absorbed by the pipe material. Its not a lot better but if you smoke a pipe its got to be better getting some impurities removed. After a few weeks the pipe goes a yellow colour which is better in the pipe than me.

In many ways a meerschaum actually makes you more aware of what your smoking as you see the build up of chemicals being absorbed by the pipe it does get you thinking a bit about what you are building up inside.

[Bruno]

Reading this makes me what to get out my pipe and smoke it... they are both briar, but l long for a churchwarden , meerschaum or Briar.

I have a briar Churchwarden that tends to only come out when walking in a windy rainy day, Its a big sturdy robust job that you can use upside down well balanced to keep the rain out.I find that the wooden pipe is never as clear tasting as the Meerschaum version and can taint the tobacco a bit.

http://www.smoke1.co.uk/acatalog/II_smooth.jpg Thought I better show the one I bought a few years ago still in stock to my surprise.

[MMorgan]

Actually HIGH quality Meerschaum is mined in turkey for the most part.... the smaller deposits found in Africa and even here in PA are of much lower quality.....

that being said turkey has made it illegal to export raw material many many years ago...... so if you have any OLD meerschaum that labeled as coming from venise or other places they are worth a lot more because the artistry was better AND made out of higher class Turkish meerschaum....


AND THAT being said..... my meerschaums are way to precious for me to take out on walks or whatever lol unless I am sitting at a pub somewhere(and thats not happening anymore with the smoking bans around here...)

a properly taken care of briar does not effect the taste of the tobacco once you have it seasoned correctly and have a cake built up in the pipe...... A lot of pipe smokers clean their wood pipes TO well.... you have to let a thin cake develop and keep it that way and not scrape back down to the wood when cleaning..... it protects the wood AND keeps the wood from tainting the smoke your trying to enjoy.....

On the other hand you CANNOT clean the bowl of a meerschaum pipe to much.... as long as your not removing the stone your good.... the cake will trap unburnt pieces of tobacco under it and it heats up at a different rate then the pipe and will cause your very expensive very beautiful pipe to crack.....

I wont even get into the debate the purists have about whether or not your even supposed to touch meerschaum with your bare hands or to wear a smoking glove when handling it so the oils dont get into the mineral and cause off colors and permanent finger prints LOL.....

meerschaum collector... and yes I do touch my meerschaum.... ok well a couple of them... the rest get gloved

[Monkey@Arms]

MMorgan said it better than I can. I would never take my meerschaums out and about - too fragile. A good briar pipe will not impart flavors to your tobacco. Perhaps you just need to experiment with a different make or model of briar. (I tend to favor Petersons).

Best regards,

Jake

[Bruno]

MMorgan said it better than I can. I would never take my meerschaums out and about - too fragile. A good briar pipe will not impart flavors to your tobacco. Perhaps you just need to experiment with a different make or model of briar. (I tend to favor Petersons).

Best regards,

Jake

I have several Briar pipes. Peterson's, Falcon, Dunhill etc. I smoke milder tobacco so maybe that's why I notice it more! But personally as someone with a good sense of smell and taste I must say I find it noticeable. Even the temperature is different.

[MMorgan]

I have several Briar pipes. Peterson's, Falcon, Dunhill etc. I smoke milder tobacco so maybe that's why I notice it more! But personally as someone with a good sense of smell and taste I must say I find it noticeable. Even the temperature is different.

Oh the temp will be different thats for sure! but as long as you maintain a good cake in the pipe you shouldn't have much of a difference....

Hrmmm now something you COULD try is to dedicate a pipe for certain tobacco's, ones with complimentary or similar flavors.... you could be getting a tainted flavor from the oils in the cake especially if you have a good sense of taste/smell like you say.

another really great pipemaker is Boswell just do a search for it... they make some amazing pipes and the customer service is great every time I have talked to them or needed something repaired!!(I am hell on churchwarden stems lol)

Hrmm methinks we might need a "show me your pipes" thread LOL

[McMurdo]

Hrmm methinks we might need a "show me your pipes" thread LOL

There is one here
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/y...569/index.html

Please feel free to add to it.

[KD Burke]

A quick suggestion for those who think a messenger bag or satchel is just the ticket.
While there are a great many functional bags out there, and there are many tough and durable ones, I chose to go with this one:



I admit it's pricy, but no velcro, full-grain leather. I figure it's classier than nylon.

http://saddlebackleather.com