A Cheap Meerschaum and it's evolution

Pipes on the ships of old were nothing new. Tobacco and rum made their appearance in short order with tobacco inherited from American Indians and rum from the Caribbean. Smoking aboard ship was allowed by limited to a safe area and at safe times, ergo the "smoking lamp". Where? Usually near the Galley, as it is here. A huge thanks to the amazing da'rum - a man of high ideals and many talents. This is just one of them.
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da'rum
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A Cheap Meerschaum and it's evolution

Post by da'rum »

I bought a reasonably cheap Meer about 6 months ago

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A nice pipe in it's own way but I've had a rough relationship with it. The engineering was a bit sloppy with the draw hole bored too deep causing wet and inconsistent smokes toward the end of a bowl. So out came the trusty dremel and I fixed the depth by grinding the bowl deeper. This was possible because the pipe had a good thick bottom on it. The problem then was that because the bowl was deeper and the bowl diameter on the smaller side that I'd get wet and unsmokable tobacco in the bottom still. So same problem but different cause. So out came the trusty dremel :) I've been widening the diameter mm by mm over a period of time until I reached a point where I could smoke this with only the minimal amount of dottle in the bottom. I think I'm there now.

The good thing and what I love about meerschaum is it's neutrality, resilience and patina forming qualities. I put all my new tobaccos through the meer first as to get a good gauge on the tobacco alone without influence from wood.

I smoke this pipe nearly everyday and this is how it looks now after 6 months.

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(This is both sides I just mirrored one pic in my editor so it looks like it's been shot from the one side twice)
in goes your eye out
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Capn Jimbo
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Post by Capn Jimbo »

Credit given where credit due...


...da'Rum is not alone in sharing substantial, interesting and well illustrated post, but he is the latest.

Not just a wonderful post, but your craftsmanship is laudable. Nice work. As a tinkerer, I love this stuff - great contribution.
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Dai
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Post by Dai »

nice pipe
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My Link to Save Caribbean Rum Petition
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