so what's the deal with the filters?

[iergeni]

Do you use filters in your pipes, and why?

Or why not?

Personally, I'm new to pipe smoking. I've been trying smoking it both ways and I can't really decide which one's better.

 

[mdwest]

You wont find a filter in a "premium" pipe.... they come standard in cobs, dr. grabows, etc.. though..

theyre ok for trapping moisture... and supposedly catch a little bit of the tar, nicotine, etc..

Personally.. I just make sure my pipe tobacco is ready to smoke (properly stored.. the right RH.. etc..etc..).. so moisture is rarely an issue.. and when I do get a "gurgle" I prefer just to push a pipe cleaner down the stem...

Ive always taken the filters out of my cobs... I dont use them at all..

 

[Craig Mac]

Savinelli isn't a premium pipe???

 

[mdwest]

Savinelli isn't a premium pipe???

you got me there.. totally forgot about them...

now that I think about it.. there are some pete's out there that take filters too....

I guess I should have said none of MY premium pipes :grin:

 

[Grrrrr609]

I smoke em till filter gets plugged then toss filter and keep smoking.

Sent from my SPH-D710BST

 

[javajunkie]

point craig. actually, the whole filter thing is major in europe. i myself am not a fan, but that's me.

smoke for a while, try out both, pay attention. it's ultimately your choice. kinda like choosing the humidity of your stash; LOTS of opinions, and some even informed, but ultimately your cigars, your smoke time, your choice.

 

[Hoshneer]

Savinelli isn't really a filter though I don't think, it's more of balsa wood for trapping moister. I think of filter and I think of the corn cob filters.

 

[Craig Mac]

For your reading pleasure.

http://www.savinelli.it/en/balsa-system

 

[Hoshneer]

Huh.... Interesting, I have never really used them. I tried it once though and it wasn't really for me. I still call shenanigans on the filtering though. I could see it catching a little bit but I don't see how it would do much though. Thanks though.

I am sure it's a personal preference though. I do know it helps with moisture but I usually use a pipe cleaner for that now.

 

[Constantine]

I've never used a filter. But if you have a real heavy strong blend I can see how it could beneficial, such as places like Europe. I guess it all boils down to preferences, you may like a filter for some blends or you may go filterrless. I would say smoke a few bowls without the filter, and then smoke a few with the filter and see how you like it

 

[iergeni]

Savinelli isn't really a filter though I don't think, it's more of balsa wood for trapping moister. I think of filter and I think of the corn cob filters.

what I use are disposable 9 mm actived carbon filters (when I was buying my latest pipe I made a point of making sure it would accomodate such filters). they also fit in an old savinelli I found in an antique store.

With Dunhill My Mixture 965, I find that the filter, well, filters out the bitterness and tar, leaving only the "pure" taste of tobacco - up to a certain point. Once the burn isn't at optimum (which it almost never is), it gets bitter quickly. I'd say more quickly than without the filter, but I have to smoke a few more bowls to really make sure of that. Questions of taste aside, I find that with the filter, there's significantly less tar in the stem after smoking.


A milder blend smokes better without a filter (and it leaves less tar in the pipe to begin with).