I was reading an article about how years ago smokers put small coins or silver buttons in the bottom of the pipe to aid in coloring and when I got my new poker I decided to give it a try. I had a lone philtpad stone that I used for ten or fifteen bowls but then it crumbled away on me and my B+M doesn't carry them anymore.
As a replacement I used a regular deck screw head with groves filed into the sides. First I heated the head red hot for about 20 seconds to burn off any coating it may have had. I remove it for cleaning and haven't had any issues with it sticking in the bowl.
Since adding it I've noticed zero affect on the flavour of the tobacco but since starting with the "bottom button" I have noticed this pipe coloring faster then my other meers, and I don't have any tiny tobacco flakes getting sucked through the stem.
As a replacement I used a regular deck screw head with groves filed into the sides. First I heated the head red hot for about 20 seconds to burn off any coating it may have had. I remove it for cleaning and haven't had any issues with it sticking in the bowl.
Since adding it I've noticed zero affect on the flavour of the tobacco but since starting with the "bottom button" I have noticed this pipe coloring faster then my other meers, and I don't have any tiny tobacco flakes getting sucked through the stem.