An Alternative Technique to Avoid Tongue Bite

[BrightDarkEyes]

Thank you for posting the results of your experiments. I find it very interesting. Luckily for me, I started collecting 9mm pipes without knowing what the charcoal filters were for. I just used the adapters for a long time until I tried the filters. Wow! Was I ever glad my favourite pipes were 9mm.

I might try the charcoal on the bottom for the few unfiltered pipes I have. I can still smoke them from time to time but I enjoy filtered pipes more.

I will always keep a couple unfiltered pipes in the case of the apocalypse where obtaining 9mm activated charcoal filters and pipe cleaners is no longer possible.

 

[Professor Moriarty]

Thank you for the suggestion. The tongue bite to which many of us refer is a chemical burn, not a heat burn.
Such techniques will therefore not replace carbon filtering.

Nevertheless, such techniques offer notable advantage to the pipe smoker by making the draw and burn easier and cooler.
I find it advantageous to have some air space beneath the tobacco, especially in filtered pipes because the filter does somewhat restrict air flow.

I have never attempted the air pocket filling method; it seems difficult to master. But I do sometimes slam a freshly filled bowl top down against my palm -- holding the pipe by its stummel, not the bit! This creates a small air pocket at the bottom of the bowl.
Another, and perhaps better way to accomplish this is to fill the bottom of the bowl with certain non-combustible substances such as charcoal pieces, Denicool crystals (silica), Nording stones (clay), meerschaum chips, rice, etc.

I have tried Denicool but I don't like the taste it imparts.
I will soon give Nording stones a try.
I don't know where to acquire meerschaum chips, other than hammering apart my meerschaum pipes
White Elephant makes a 9mm filter filled with tiny meerschaum granules, but where to find larger pieces?

Researching old threads, I found another candidate, coffee beans! I don't know if they would help with moisture absorption, but they will provide air space, and if they impart flavor, well that might be a good thing.

Regarding coffee beans: I did a little research.
Coffee beans are hygroscopic, which means they absorb moisture from the air and other sources.
Coffee beans have a porous structure that allows them to absorb odors from the surrounding environment.

I will now experiment using coffee beans at the bottom of the bowl while smoking.
I do not plan to experiment if they filter smoke as well as charcoal (I don't think they will), but only if they fill the same role as Nording Stones--absorb moisture, create air space under the burning tobacco, save money for those who sometimes discard the tobacco at the bowl bottom.

Many of us find an airspace below burning tobacco yields a more satisfying smoke. This is particularly the case with filtered pipes (because the airflow is somewhat restricted) and with tobacco blends which do not burn well.

Two things will I observe:
1. Do the coffee beans remain unburnt (This I consider essential)
2. Do the coffee beans impart an unpleasant taste (or perhaps a pleasant taste?)

I will use five beans at the bottom of a large briar bowl while smoking a rubbed flake (Virginias and Orientals) which is tasty and fragrant, but which is difficult to pack properly and does not burn well (difficult to keep lit).

 

[Fuelman]

Regarding coffee beans: I did a little research.
Coffee beans are hygroscopic, which means they absorb moisture from the air and other sources.
Coffee beans have a porous structure that allows them to absorb odors from the surrounding environment.

I will now experiment using coffee beans at the bottom of the bowl while smoking.
I do not plan to experiment if they filter smoke as well as charcoal (I don't think they will), but only if they fill the same role as Nording Stones--absorb moisture, create air space under the burning tobacco, save money for those who sometimes discard the tobacco at the bowl bottom.

Many of us find an airspace below burning tobacco yields a more satisfying smoke. This is particularly the case with filtered pipes (because the airflow is somewhat restricted) and with tobacco blends which do not burn well.

Two things will I observe:
1. Do the coffee beans remain unburnt (This I consider essential)
2. Do the coffee beans impart an unpleasant taste (or perhaps a pleasant taste?)

I will use five beans at the bottom of a large briar bowl while smoking a rubbed flake (Virginias and Orientals) which is tasty and fragrant, but which is difficult to pack properly and does not burn well (difficult to keep lit).

Who knows, you might come up with an espresso blend. Nicotine and caffeine. No need to drink coffee with that bowl. Could be a win, win.

 

[Professor Moriarty]

Regarding coffee beans: I did a little research.
Coffee beans are hygroscopic, which means they absorb moisture from the air and other sources.
Coffee beans have a porous structure that allows them to absorb odors from the surrounding environment.

I will now experiment using coffee beans at the bottom of the bowl while smoking.
I do not plan to experiment if they filter smoke as well as charcoal (I don't think they will), but only if they fill the same role as Nording Stones--absorb moisture, create air space under the burning tobacco, save money for those who sometimes discard the tobacco at the bowl bottom.

Many of us find an airspace below burning tobacco yields a more satisfying smoke. This is particularly the case with filtered pipes (because the airflow is somewhat restricted) and with tobacco blends which do not burn well.

Two things will I observe:
1. Do the coffee beans remain unburnt (This I consider essential)
2. Do the coffee beans impart an unpleasant taste (or perhaps a pleasant taste?)

I will use five beans at the bottom of a large briar bowl while smoking a rubbed flake (Virginias and Orientals) which is tasty and fragrant, but which is difficult to pack properly and does not burn well (difficult to keep lit).

I hesitate to draw conclusions after only one smoke, but so far so good.
The beans definitely char, as do clay and silica. Is the smoke from a bit of coffee bean unhealthy? I cannot say, but if one is willing to risk smoking tobacco ...

 

[Shylock_Homeless]

Just tried the Air Pocket packing method on my meerschaum-lined pipe with 9mm Balsa filter- wow!

• Very easy and controllable draw
• Very cool smoke
• No relights, almost no tampering (but I think I packed too much)

Thank you for the idea! Will hand on to it for now

 

[InWithBothFeet]

I crush up some matchlight bbq charcoal on top. Helps get that ember going.

 

[tobakenist]

P-Lip is the best cure.

 

[justscience]

I've always had to use charcoal filters when smoking C&D blends due to an allergic reaction to their perique they like to use. Charcoal also seems to reduce nicotine, which is fine with me. I have a quantity of quality charcoal that I use for my reef aquarium and I'm going to give it a shot with a couple severely perique-ghosted pipes that don't take filters. Thanks for the idea.

 

[bullet08]

Tongue condom.

 

[Sigmund]

@Professor Moriarty Im gonna give this stuff a try...its cheap and Im still looking for a way to enjoy my non filtered pipes as well as my filtered ones. Currently I simply like the taste of vapers better when I use a filter. English blends are fine either way. Since its the same medium it might work. I will report back with results.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

If it works for you...

 

[Sigmund]

Pipe experiments are always fun...or at least interesting. Obvioulsy I have too much time on my hands.

 

[Fuelman]

I crush up some matchlight bbq charcoal on top. Helps get that ember going.

Does the lighter fluid add anything to the taste of the tobacco?

 

[fireground_piper]

Giving up alcohol has unexpectedly reduced any bite or fatigue I would experience pretty much across the board.

 

[marcmorano]

I had asked a YouTube Piper who has done a series of videos on pipe filters about adding charcoal in the bottom of the pipe bowl and he said he would not recommend.

 YTPC's Redcoat‘s Return wrote: "No…its not good idea….half down the bowl….those charcoal chunks in your bowl will burn very hot…and burn in your briar and your tobacco will go into flames and gives you a burnt tongue too. Active charcoal is a special grade of charcoal…with a high surface to absorb water vapor, tar and some nicotine. It only works at the cartridge in the stem and shank…and the ceramic caps protects the charcoal and the paper cartridge from the glowing burning tobacco…just the smoke….goes through the filter cartridge and it condenses and absorbs the steam and nasty components of the smoke. You can use…Nording Stones, Denicool crystals, meerschaum granules in your bowl….they are all made of minerals….that don’t burn at all. I hope this info helps you."

 

[marcmorano]

Also, you said you do only 9 mm charcial filters. I too suffer from tongue bite and actually more importantly, I get dry mouth Syndrome from smoking. So I also use 9 mm and 6 mm charcoal filters.
I find the Savinelli 6mm charcoal filters to be as good and effective as the 9 millimeter charcoal filters. The only catch with 6 mm charcoal filters is they're not as easy to reuse and if you have a wet smoke they can clog up a little easier than a 9 mm, but the 6 mm withdraw and performance seems almost equal.

I also find that using Biotene mouth rinse and other dry mouth natural versions that promote saliva help eliminate tongue bite by the next day if you should still get it..

 

[woodsroad]

I had asked a YouTube Piper who has done a series of videos on pipe filters about adding charcoal in the bottom of the pipe bowl and he said he would not recommend.

 YTPC's Redcoat‘s Return wrote: "No…its not good idea….half down the bowl….those charcoal chunks in your bowl will burn very hot…and burn in your briar and your tobacco will go into flames and gives you a burnt tongue too. Active charcoal is a special grade of charcoal…with a high surface to absorb water vapor, tar and some nicotine. It only works at the cartridge in the stem and shank…and the ceramic caps protects the charcoal and the paper cartridge from the glowing burning tobacco…just the smoke….goes through the filter cartridge and it condenses and absorbs the steam and nasty components of the smoke. You can use…Nording Stones, Denicool crystals, meerschaum granules in your bowl….they are all made of minerals….that don’t burn at all. I hope this info helps you."

I love it when self-proclaimed experts espouse on things they know nothing about and have no experience with. They often do so with great officiousness.

Having a boobtoob channel doesn’t make you any more knowledgeable than owning a car makes you a good driver.

 

[Choatecav]

Would you say that this charcoal, etc. method is equally as effective as the filters?

 

[Fuelman]

Who knows, you might come up with an espresso blend. Nicotine and caffeine. No need to drink coffee with that bowl. Could be a win, win.

You might want to add some sugar and cream in the bottom of the bowl, before adding the coffee and tobacco.

 

[woodsroad]

Would you say that this charcoal, etc. method is equally as effective as the filters?

If the granulation is fine enough, it should exceed the absorbancy of the filters. More surface area.

EDIT: I'm thinking about how using different wood for the charcoal could enhance the blend, like hickory, alder or oak.....