9mm Charcol Filters vs Meerschaum Throwdown

[ParkitoATL]

Vauen's website suggests every use for "Maximum enjoyment". Of course they are selling them. Most online pipe shops suggest a maximum of two to three uses. Most the time they are clogged after 2. Vauen pipes are also designed to minimize flow around the filter. A lot of other pipes allow this. I prefer a little flow around for a free draw.

So I reached into my used filter bowl and grabbed the skankiest-looking filter I could find, popped it between my lips and gave it a draw. Surprisingly, there was almost no taste at all. The paper and the charcoal work well together to capture the tars and lock them in.

I typically trashed a filter when it got to this state but I think I could get even more use out of them. This calls for a little experiment...

 

[PiperCalvinist]

I do not have a caliper to measure, my pipe is 6 mm. The savinellis just seems so expensive.

The Savinelli’s may cost more but they are much better, in terms of air flow, then the shorter Dr. Perl filters. If you just look at the end of the filters, you’ll see the difference. In fact, the difference was enough to provoke me to make my 6mm pipes fit the longer Savinelli filters. This can be done by drilling the stem or stummel deeper. If you have room in the briar, it’s much easier to deepen the stummel hole using a 6.5mm drill bit (by hand). You just want to measure the depth (using a pipe cleaner) to the draft hole port to make sure you don’t drill to deep. If you have a sharp bit, briar cuts very easy.

 

[Sigmund]

@ParkitoATL Yes the filter in the photo definitely has more life in it so long as it is completely dry.

 

[life2short1971]

Yep, White elephant are literally the width of an average hair larger than the Vauen 9mm. I had a pipe made and it only fits Vauen unless I enlarge the chamber a bit.

 

[b1gb2olo]

@b1gb2olo do you have any sav filters to measure? Preferably with a caliper. I can measure mine and let you know. Im guessing they fit.

Specs online say they are the same.
Savinelli like to charge a premium on accessories. Theirs look a lot like white elephant which are made by kopp.

Also 9mm filters are not 9mm. The tenon interior on the pipe is 8.8mm. The filter smaller. I guess 9mm sounds better.

It’s hard to beat vauen. They made the 9mm market and have to get it right.

I do not have a caliper to measure, my pipe is 6 mm. The savinellis just seems so expensive.

The Savinelli’s may cost more but they are much better, in terms of air flow, then the shorter Dr. Perl filters. If you just look at the end of the filters, you’ll see the difference. In fact, the difference was enough to provoke me to make my 6mm pipes fit the longer Savinelli filters. This can be done by drilling the stem or stummel deeper. If you have room in the briar, it’s much easier to deepen the stummel hole using a 6.5mm drill bit (by hand). You just want to measure the depth (using a pipe cleaner) to the draft hole port to make sure you don’t drill to deep. If you have a sharp bit, briar cuts very easy.

I really like the savinelli but I've purchased a pack of Dr Pearl just because of the cheapness. I'm gonna see how they compare when they arrive.

 

[Sigmund]

Let us know. I have no 6mm pipes so Ive nothing to go by. Only 9mm.

 

[PiperCalvinist]

Let us know. I have no 6mm pipes so Ive nothing to go by. Only 9mm.

Yeah, for some strange reason the 6mm world is different than the 9mm, and, at least from my experience, the difference between filters is greater. I understand different cap designs, but I’m not sure how or why the lengths vary so much? The 9mm world seems more universal. I much prefer smoking 9mm filters, but almost half my pipes are 6mm.

 

[Hillcrest]

My favorite trick is to wrap a small square of paper towel around the 9mm filter and then screw it into the holder. The paper towel absorbs a ton of steam and let's me get 2-3 smokes per filter, with fresh paper wrap and dry time between smokes.

Hey ParkitoATL, I tried that paper towel trick today on the Pub pipe and it works well so far. The filter stays in place and I was surprised how little paper towel is actually needed. So far so good.

 

[ParkitoATL]

Hey ParkitoATL, I tried that paper towel trick today on the Pub pipe and it works well so far. The filter stays in place and I was surprised how little paper towel is actually needed. So far so good.

Super! Sometimes I will use a small sliver of a cedar slip from a cigar box but the paper towel absorbs a ton of moisture, so that is my preference.

 

[BrightDarkEyes]

I will give some measurements of activated charcoal filters I have:
Savinelli 9mm length 35.76 mm, diameter 8.22 mm
Blitz System length 35.86 mm, diameter 8.09 mm
Vauen 9mm length 35.88 mm, diameter 7.71 mm
Savinelli 6mm length 37.11 mm, diameter 6.23 mm
Vauen 6mm length 27.07 mm, diameter 6.3 mm

I mainly use Vauen 9mm. Some old Vauens, certain meerschaums, I have do not have the conex system that allows the filter to be firmly placed into the stem, so the smaller Vauen 9mm filters move around and have a piston-like action in the chamber. I found the Blitz filters to be sufficient at preventing this in those pipes except the Savinelli pipes.

Savinelli perfectly engineered their pipes to accept their 9mm filters despite having no conex system like newer Vauen pipes. This means that even the Blitz filter makes the piston-like action in the Savinelli pipes.

I would assume that each company has engineered their AC filters if they sell a branded AC filter, to be the optimal fit for their particular pipes. The most obvious example of this being the Dr. Perl 6mm where you cannot simply put a Savinelli 6mm into their pipe. It won’t fit.

Can anyone provide the dimensions of the white elephant meerschaum and meerschaum/AC filters?

 

[BrightDarkEyes]

Do you switch your charcoal filter after each smoke? Or do you use the same one a few times with different blends ?

Unsurprisingly, this is what Vauen said when I contacted them to ask about using their filters for more than one bowl:


“thank you very much for using our contact form.



What you have been doing so far is totally the right thing. The Dr. Perl filters (like any other activated charcoal filters) are suitable for 1 bowl and we recommend to change them after every bowl. It is simply that the capacity of activated charcoal is limited. During smoking, the charcoal takes a high amount of particles and liquid and at a certain point they “are full”, if you will.

Not only will a used filter not function as intended any further, it will also produce unwanted smell and taste.

Having said this, if we refer to a “bowl”, we typically refer to a normal sized pipe bowl. We do have pipes in our program, that have much smaller bowl sizes, such as the Minni, Tiny, Jucan or Quixx. For those, in fact, a second used would be possible, although we do not recommend it.



We hope to have been of assistance wish you a pleasant smoking!



Best regards,
Harald”

I received a reply right away but I’ve been too busy to post this earlier. I’m really impressed at how great their communication is. They have responded within a day both times I contacted them. I tried contacting Rattray’s about their 9mm bamboo pipes they said would be coming out and never heard anything.

 

[didimauw]

I used to use balsa filters in my grabow that I spent a year with. I would get 3 smokes, flip it around, and get 3 more. I only used the filters to stop my tiny dry tobacco bits from hitting my mouth. But they got pretty gross after 6 smokes.

 

[b1gb2olo]

Unsurprisingly, this is what Vauen said when I contacted them to ask about using their filters for more than one bowl:


“thank you very much for using our contact form.



What you have been doing so far is totally the right thing. The Dr. Perl filters (like any other activated charcoal filters) are suitable for 1 bowl and we recommend to change them after every bowl. It is simply that the capacity of activated charcoal is limited. During smoking, the charcoal takes a high amount of particles and liquid and at a certain point they “are full”, if you will.

Not only will a used filter not function as intended any further, it will also produce unwanted smell and taste.

Having said this, if we refer to a “bowl”, we typically refer to a normal sized pipe bowl. We do have pipes in our program, that have much smaller bowl sizes, such as the Minni, Tiny, Jucan or Quixx. For those, in fact, a second used would be possible, although we do not recommend it.



We hope to have been of assistance wish you a pleasant smoking!



Best regards,
Harald”

I received a reply right away but I’ve been too busy to post this earlier. I’m really impressed at how great their communication is. They have responded within a day both times I contacted them. I tried contacting Rattray’s about their 9mm bamboo pipes they said would be coming out and never heard anything.

Damn, I really appreciate this. Thank you.

 

[ParkitoATL]

Can anyone provide the dimensions of the white elephant meerschaum and meerschaum/AC filters?

White Elephant 9mm meerschaum filter: length 35.6 mm, diameter 8.25 mm

 

[BrightDarkEyes]

White Elephant 9mm meerschaum filter: length 35.6 mm, diameter 8.25 mm

Thank you. It seems to be the largest In diameter.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Reply was prompt, polite, but corporate policy. No company who says use once only will ever recommend multiple uses.

Except maybe Aeropress! They were fascinated that I got over 100 uses from their little filters, and applauded it. (Long time ago. Perhaps Control now frowns on such.)

 

[PiperCalvinist]

Wow, a Vauen filter is not even 8mm? Strange. No wonder you can wrap a paper towel around it. I'm thinking I would want to do that simply because, otherwise the filter is likely to play ping pong inside the pipe every time you go to draw on it (if it's a bent pipe).

 

[Sigmund]

I like the space around vaun filters. It keeps the draw free. Remember the interior of the slot is 8.8 or less. A lot of filters sloys are a little smaller at the stem end. I find the white elephant a bit stuffy on the draw.

In terms of multiple uses almost every article you read on filters or ads from pipe shops suggest two to three uses. It varies from blend to blend. Also there is some variance between filters in the same box. Some have a little more resistance than others.

 

[ParkitoATL]

I will give some measurements of activated charcoal filters I have:
Savinelli 9mm length 35.76 mm, diameter 8.22 mm
Blitz System length 35.86 mm, diameter 8.09 mm
Vauen 9mm length 35.88 mm, diameter 7.71 mm
Savinelli 6mm length 37.11 mm, diameter 6.23 mm
Vauen 6mm length 27.07 mm, diameter 6.3 mm

Anyone know if the White Elephant 6mm are the same length as the Savinelli 6mm filters?

I have a new Savinelli pipe but my Vauen 6mm filters are too short, they get stuck in the stem.

Savinelli 6mm filters work but they are out of stock.

 

[PiperCalvinist]

The White Elephant is longer. I don't know exactly by how much because I don't have any on hand (only use Savinelli), but its something around 2-3mm longer.