A Meerschaum Issue - Any Advice?

[BriarWolf]

So today I received a long awaited calabash pipe, brand new. In my enthusiasm, I immediately dove in and smoked four bowls out of the thing, allowing it to cool to the touch first each time. I have since noticed a hairline crack has appeared on the lip of the Meerschaum bowl insert; its purely superficial - but it has me concerned. I was under the impression Meers, unlike Briars, required no break-in period. Of course, I only learned after doing some additional reading that Meers, if exposed to excessive heat too quickly, without gradually absorbing moisture from use, will crack. So they, do, in effect, need to be slowly broken in. So my question is, did I jump the gun and sink myself? As I mentioned its purely superficial, but cracks do widen. If I slow way down and take time breaking it in, can I expect the crack to stabilise? I've even heard of Meer 'healing' itself over time. Or will it continue to grow with use until the bowl splits?

 

[HudsonHawk]

Is the meerschaum insert block or pressed? If it's the latter, which is quite common for calabash inserts, particularly on less expensive pipes, then four bowls right off the bat without complete cooling between was probably not a great idea. The good news is, it's relatively easy and inexpensive to replace the insert, should it split completely.

 

[BriarWolf]

Looking back now I've realised I just overreacted. It was nothing more than a surface imperfection in the meer being brought out by colouring. All is well and smoking happily.