Meerschaum Pipes and Oily Tobaccos
While you can smoke any kind of tobacco you want out of meerschaum smoking pipes there are plenty of pipe aficionados who will tell you that some tobaccos are better suited to the material’s natural characteristics than others.
Can you burn out a meerschaum pipe?
As it ages, meerschaum colors a rich honey-brown, improving both in appearance and taste. Meerschaum Pipes – with a minimum of proper care – will last for a lifetime. They will not burn out as briars do. … Enjoy its light weight and silky feel, its distinctive taste, its ripening to a mellow golden-brown.
How long will a meerschaum pipe last?
If you take care of them, they will last 150 years. Do not push a pipe cleaner through the stem too hard into the bowl, though.
Are meerschaum pipes fragile?
1. Your Meerschaum pipe is quite fragile and requires more careful handling than other pipes. … Some smokers prefer to handle a Meerschaum only by the stem. Of course, you should always take care not to drop your Meerschaum on a hard surface.
How do you clean a clogged meerschaum pipe?
Moisten a another pipe cleaner with saliva and rub the mouthpiece with it to remove any buildup there. Blow gently through the stem of the pipe to dislodge any loose, leftover ash, and wipe your pipe down with a soft, dry cloth. Place the pipe back on its rack or stand and allow it to cool.
What is a meerschaum pipe worth?
Museum-grade antique meerschaum pipes go for $2,000 to $10,000. Overall, high quality tobacco tins have appreciated more than 15 percent within the last 18 months, some selling for more than $1,000.
Are old smoking pipes worth anything?
A clean, well-made pipe in good condition nearly always has value, though markets can vary wildly by area. We’ve seen them sell for only $15, while others can go for upwards of $100. Still others, like a rare and pristine Dunhill can sell for thousands.
Are meerschaum pipes marked?
Some meerschaum pipe artisans were known to sign their creations with their marks or signatures carved into the pipe itself, but not all of them did.
How often can you smoke a meerschaum pipe?
Smoking a minimum of five bowls per week continues the coloring process. Rotate your pipes. The threads in the mortise can weaken if they become too moist. Let a meerschaum air dry in a rack or open case between smokes.
How can you tell a meerschaum pipe?
Examine the color of the pipe. Real meerschaum pipes absorb tobacco tar and oil, which is wicked to the surface by a beeswax coating. Over time a meerschaum pipe’s color turns from creamy white to a rich golden brown or cherry. Check for any “burn out” places on the bowl of the pipe.
Do pipe filters remove nicotine?
The Pass-Through filter specializes in reducing the amount of nicotine and tar present in tobacco. The most prevalent complaint of Pass-Through filters is that because of their high absorption levels, using them inhibits the flavor of your pipe tobacco.
Can you smoke a filtered pipe without a filter?
Due to the physics of air movement, this is not the best idea as a filtered pipe without a filter will tend to smoke wet. The pass-around filters are usually made of wood (balsa or maple), and their whole purpose is to remove excessive moisture from the smoke.
Can you smoke a bowl without a filter?
If you haven’t changed out the filter, that is already a problem making for a bad smoke. They don’t last long. One big bowl could clog it up if the tobacco is, say, an aromatic. If you only got one filter with the pipe, try getting some and see if that improves your experience.
What is the most expensive tobacco pipe?
The Smoking Dragon: The World’s Most Expensive Smoking Pipe
Priced at $85,000, it is said to be the world’s most expensive smoking pipe and a cursory glance at its components quickly reveals why.
Can I sell smoking pipes on ebay?
Items that claim to provide a “legal high” Pipes, or any item marketed as for use with marijuana or illegal drugs. Tobacco pipes, and other smoking accessories not intended for drug use, are allowed.
What are old tobacco pipes called?
Old, well-smoked meerschaum pipes are valued by collectors for their distinctive coloring. Meerschaum pipes can either be carved from a block of meerschaum, or made from meerschaum dust collected after carving and mixed with a binder then pressed into a pipe shape.
What is the most expensive meerschaum pipe?
The “Guinness Book of World Records” lists the most valuable meerschaum pipe at $50,000, owned by Cano Ozgener.
What is African meerschaum?
Meerschaum pipes are tobacco pipes made from hydrated magnesium silicate, also known as sepiolite. Sufficiently soaked raw meerschaum takes on a softness that allows pipe makers to shape the mineral readily into both classical and freehand shapes and even carve elaborate figural and floral motifs into the stummel.
How old are meerschaum pipes?
The first recorded use of meerschaum for making pipes was around 1723. It quickly became prized as the perfect material for providing a cool, dry, flavorful smoke.
How do you break in a new meerschaum pipe?
There is no need to break in your new pipe. Unlike Briar, the natural mineral quality of Meerschaum needs no caking to enjoy the true taste of your favorite blend. Fill it gradually, remember it only needs to be filled half way. Now your ready to light it so strike a match or flick a lighter and apply the flame.
Do meerschaum pipes ghost?
They do not ghost. At all. Having said that, if you do not clean them (warm water under the tap and then allow to dry) you might get residual crud.