Local Cob Makes the Big Time
This was the crummiest MM cob that I saved from 2018. It was less than 2-1/2 inches long. Only a few of its kernels developed properly--a genuine Missouri Meerschaum, seed grown, snaggle-tooth midget cob. I saved it because of its girth.
I used no power tools for this unworthy specimen. Sawing was by hand, and the holes were drilled using drill bits held at 90° in a vise-grip plier, and slowly rotated by hand.
The stem is bamboo. The smoke hole in the cob was drilled for a very snug fit to the bamboo, and then the stem was hammered home. No glue was used.
Despite its stumpy, clunky appearance, it is lighter than a typical MM pipe, since it is not burdened with plaster and shellac. The rough looking cob surface is gentle on my fingers, and keeps the solid part of the bowl 1/4" away from skin.
From shelling to smokable in only 40 minutes.
AND...it's a sitter!
Bob