In today’s video I would talk all about Block Meerschaum Pipes. What is Meerschaum - What are the advantages of a Meerschaum - Best after care & much more.
Main Advantages of a Block Meerschaum
No breaking-in is needed, no carbon cake is needed, no moisture accumulation in the bowl, therefore no resting between smokes, no ghosting, cool and dry smoking are only a few excellent features of a quality block meerschaum pipe.
Basics About Meerschaum
Meerschaum is a German word meaning sea foam. The geologist knows the light, porous Meerschaum as hydrous magnesium silicate. The pipe smoker knows it as the perfect material for providing a cool, dry, flavorful smoke. The mineral itself is the fossilized shells of tiny sea creatures that fell to the ocean floor, there to be covered and compressed over the ages by layer upon layer of silt. Profound movements in the earths crust raised the creamy white stone of Meerschaum above sea level. There men eventually discovered it and created an incomparable pipe from it. The first record of Meerschaum as a pipe dates from around 1723. Meerschaum is also one of the more heat resistant materials, capable of withstanding heat of up to 2,000 degrees Celsius, equivalent to 3632 degrees Fahrenheit.
Pressed Meerschaum Vs Block Meerschaum
One crucial thing that you should take extreme care, you must make sure that when you’re buying a meerschaum pipe, you’re buying one that’s made of block meerschaum. Because, only the purist block meerschaum (magnesium silicate, Mg2Si3O8.2H2O) is suitable to make real pipes that deserve all the features below. Block Meer are mined at greater depths (200 ft or more is not uncommon) is very high quality, while block that is located closer to ground level is of poorer quality. The pressed block that we mentioned that you shouldn't buy is made from lower quality Meerschaum chips, dust and a binding agent, and the reason pipes produced from this aren't so good is that they just aren't as porous.