An Alternative Technique to Avoid Tongue Bite

[Choatecav]

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.

There you go....... applying "logic" and "science" to the matter.....

 

[woodsroad]

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

There you go....... applying "logic" and "science" to the matter.....

I apologize for that.

 

[Sigmund]

Im gonna have some in a couple of days. I will compare it to my filter pipes. I can definitely taste a difference with vapers between filtered and unfiltered.

 

[kcghost]

You have really persevered to conquer tongue bite, Congratulations from someone who doesn't suffer tongue bite.

 

[Professor Moriarty]

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

As described in my intro to this thread, I have found charcoal pieces in the bottom third of the bowl to be as effective as a 9mm charcoal filter with codger blends. I have yet to test with Virginia forward blends.
I have no intention of testing with goopy aromatics as I avoid those blends.

 

[Sigmund]

I dont get tongue bite. I simiply like the taste of most tobaccos better with a 9mm. The separation and clarity of flavors really comes about with a lot of blends. Latakia blends are pretty similiar in filtered and non filtered.
With vapers which I like a lot, a slight muddiness is removed with a filter. Its not a bad taste that is removed, just one that when gone allows the other flavors to really shine.

Meer chips dont change the taste in non filtered pipes. It would be really cool if this behaves like an acitivated carbon filter. Ive a number of pipes I really like that are non filtered.

 

[Sigmund]

Ok filter lovers (and haters). Amazon is bringing my activated charcol this afternoon. First round will be a vaper. I will post my findings. I can pretty much immediately tell if it functions like a 9mm filter. Occasionally, I forget to put in filter with my vapers and Im like..."what the heck is going on."

 

[Roach1]

Ok filter lovers (and haters). Amazon is bringing my activated charcol this afternoon. First round will be a vaper. I will post my findings. I can pretty much immediately tell if it functions like a 9mm filter. Occasionally, I forget to put in filter with my vapers and Im like..."what the heck is going on."

Sigmund taking one for the Team. Go Sigmund

 

[Sig]

Luckily Ive never really experienced tongue bite. A bit of a tingle, but not the fire like many describe. I also love hot sause and spicy foods, I guess its in my chemistry.
And its a good thing I do not experience tongue bite.....my absolute favorite tobacco on earth is MacBaren VA#1.......followed by their other honeyish tasting offerings....Symphony, Golden Extra.....
Yes, after many years of pipe smoking and buying all the "have to have" blends, and spending absurd amounts of money with Pipestud and others.....I have settled on MacBaren VA#1 as my favorite.... so sue me!

 

[Professor Moriarty]

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..

Interesting. Perhaps with age, my saliva production is not what it used to be -- leading to less tolerance for tongue bite. I will give Biotene a try to see if it relieves tongue bite. Thanks for your suggestion.

 

[gord]

Background
I smoked unfiltered pipes for many years and accumulated a nice collection of pipes. Tongue bite has always been an issue with which I struggled. Eventually, I researched the topic and decided to switch to 9mm charcoal filtered pipes.
I now smoke filtered pipes exclusively. I can smoke almost any tobacco in any filtered pipe with zero tongue bite.
But what of my collection of unfiltered pipes? Are they no longer of any utility to me?
I experimented filling the bottom of their bowls with silica crystals, but that did not stop tongue bite.
Then I hit upon an idea.

The Experiments
Fill the bottom third of the bowls with charcoal pieces (see photos)

Constants

Pipes
several quality unfiltered briars -- medium size bowls -- well broken-in

Tobacco
Carter Hall -- a typical American codger blend -- mostly burley with a little virginia and a little flavoring -- I let it dry out a bit, but not to crumbling -- I pack it medium (not too loose, not too tight)

Smoking Technique
I smoke slow (pipe does not get hot on the outside) -- I smoke it down to ash -- I sip water now and then

Result
No tongue bite!

Conclusion
I can now enjoy smoking my old unfiltered pipes, albeit only the top two thirds of the bowl.

Notes:
1. If I smoke Carter Hall in an unfiltered pipe without charcoal, I get tongue bite and require about two days to heal.

2. I still prefer to smoke filtered pipes, all things considered. Filtering is better, and I can enjoy a full pipe.

3. After packing the bowl, I give it a few hard draws, as I usually do. Little bits of charcoal (as opposed to little bits of tobacco) must then be rinsed from my mouth before lighting.

4. Smoking down to ash is no problem. There are no issues with burning charcoal instead of tobacco.

5. I detect no charcoal in the smoke flavor or scent.

6. The draw is particularly good because of the air space under the tobacco.

7. I find a third of a bowl to be the minimum required charcoal.

I will be happy to answer any questions and entertain any suggestions. I hope some may find this information useful.

View attachment 305710

View attachment 305712

This is an excellent post . . . . and I'm working on a similar post with the same conclusions for "gurgling." Bravo! and stay tuned :D

 

[RPK]

I've never experienced tongue bite but for whatever reason I cannot distinguish the various flavors and essences that many describe when smoking. The various tin notes are discernible to me but when packed and lit they all pretty much taste the same ? ? ? I've tried filter versus no filter and smoked slow and sipped and p-lip versus fishtail to no avail. Guess I do not have a sophisticated pallet. Similar with wine, scotch or beer I either like the taste or don't but again can't distinguish the subtle differences ?

 

[gord]

I've never experienced tongue bite but for whatever reason I cannot distinguish the various flavors and essences that many describe when smoking. The various tin notes are discernible to me but when packed and lit they all pretty much taste the same ? ? ? I've tried filter versus no filter and smoked slow and sipped and p-lip versus fishtail to no avail. Guess I do not have a sophisticated pallet. Similar with wine, scotch or beer I either like the taste or don't but again can't distinguish the subtle differences ?

Me three. I've spent fortunes on flyrods, reels, shotguns and comptetition airguns. Madness, eh? I also share your lack of pallate. Some days fine, other days I can't taste much difference except for general category. Pretty much always happy with English, but aromatics are hit and miss.

 

[RPK]

Me three. I've spent fortunes on flyrods, reels, shotguns and comptetition airguns. Madness, eh? I also share your lack of pallate. Some days fine, other days I can't taste much difference except for general category. Pretty much always happy with English, but aromatics are hit and miss.

I do best with English and Sam's Blend being my favorite overall tobacco. Don't know why I buy others.... looking for the holy grail I suppose.

 

[Professor Moriarty]

I stumbled upon this just now:

"I will now discuss using activated charcoal pellets dumped inside of the bowl. This method is just as effective as using charcoal filters and significantly cheaper (10x to 50x even). It does require an extra step and some space in the bowl (very little), but the draw is not affected even the slightest. You are also in full control how much charcoal you want to use for which pipe and blend. I put down just a small amount of tobacco first to make sure pellets are not sucked into the pipe. You can also mix with meerschaum flakes for added effectiveness. I know many smokers have hesitation about putting anything other than tobacco into the bowl and I completely understand this. If you have no problem putting charcoal inside the bowl you can save significant amounts of money by buying activated charcoal in bulk for dirt cheap."

by user ender1204 in a post dated Jan 31, 2024 at Filter Guide - https://pipesmokersdens.com/threads/filter-guide.22757/

This fellow and I seem to agree on almost every aspect of filtered pipes!

 

[gord]

I stumbled upon this just now:

"I will now discuss using activated charcoal pellets dumped inside of the bowl. This method is just as effective as using charcoal filters and significantly cheaper (10x to 50x even). It does require an extra step and some space in the bowl (very little), but the draw is not affected even the slightest. You are also in full control how much charcoal you want to use for which pipe and blend. I put down just a small amount of tobacco first to make sure pellets are not sucked into the pipe. You can also mix with meerschaum flakes for added effectiveness. I know many smokers have hesitation about putting anything other than tobacco into the bowl and I completely understand this. If you have no problem putting charcoal inside the bowl you can save significant amounts of money by buying activated charcoal in bulk for dirt cheap."

by user ender1204 in a post dated Jan 31, 2024 at Filter Guide - https://pipesmokersdens.com/threads/filter-guide.22757/

This fellow and I seem to agree on almost every aspect of filtered pipes!

Great post. Thanks! I have found that with meerschaum chips, reuse of them negates the slightly mineral taste that fresh ones have. I find this especially important now that I'm in an oriental phase, where there are so many more notes and flavours to enjoy. I'm also enjoying plain or spirit cured tobacco more and more, especially the Whiskey tobacco from Smokers' Pride. That it is cheap as borscht is a real bonuis; easy on the pensions.

I should also mention that a single slightly pebbly meerschaum chip works wonders on those pipes that have the draft hole dead center. They invariably get stray tobacco down them and cause a messy cleanup. Doesn't seem to affect the draft at all.

 

[jdlander]

I will now experiment using coffee beans at the bottom of the bowl while smoking.

Any further update on this? I LOVE coffee and the idea of using beans inside my pipe is very appealing to me, especially if it imparts any coffee smell/flavor to my smoke.

 

[Professor Moriarty]

Any further update on this? I LOVE coffee and the idea of using beans inside my pipe is very appealing to me, especially if it imparts any coffee smell/flavor to my smoke.

try it, you'll like it

 

[jdlander]

Ok filter lovers (and haters). Amazon is bringing my activated charcol this afternoon. First round will be a vaper. I will post my findings. I can pretty much immediately tell if it functions like a 9mm filter. Occasionally, I forget to put in filter with my vapers and Im like..."what the heck is going on."

How was the experience? Also ... what "size" of activated charcoal did you get? Is it the small cylindrical pellets (looks like rabbit food or smoker pellets) or were they more like charcoal chips? Also, did you go with carbon, hardwood, coconut shell charcoal? Does it matter?

 

[Sigmund]

They were charcol chips. What I found is they heat up and taste funny...either that and/or too much charcol removes excessive amounts of flavor. It didnt work out.

On some pipes what I have been doing lately to experiment is to put in a coupld of meer chips and then up near the draft whole I sprinkle in Just a small layer of charcol. Then I put meer chips on top. This sounds involved but it really isnt. I still prefer filter pipes over this method. Most of what I smoke in my non filter pipes are lat blends.

I dont do it for tongue bite but rather becuase I like the effect of filter pipes on virginias, vapers, and burley.