Are Crystals and Filters Necessary for Mild Smoking ??

[jb235]

Probably the production quality went down of Larsen pipes recently

 

[kcghost]

Filters are not needed for a cool, pleasant smoke.

 

[OzPiper]

I will respectfully disagree with your post. My pipes smoke as dry as a bone as they are made to exacting standards. When a stem is perfect, it never whistles. If the shank and mortise are done properly they never create turbulence and never smoke wet. If you know what humidity levels that your blends smoke best at, you won't ever have to use a pipe cleaner while smoking to remove excess moisture.

If you pack your pipe properly, the pipe will smoke fine. There are many things you can do to make sure your pipes smoke great and you will never need a filter to get the perfect smoke.

You have culled your collections several times and kept only the best smokers.

In a perfect world we would all smoke perfectly drilled pipes with perfect stems and buttons

Well, I have a pretty decent Larsen smoking pipe but it whistles from time to time, and get wet inside pretty often

Unfortunately most of us have to make the best with what we have on hand.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

if something is needed,instead of filters, I'd put meerschaum chips into the bowl

 

[Epip Oc'Cabot]

Serious question here…. I must be an old codger…. but what the hell are “crystals” for a pipe? I have never heard about nor seen any crystals for pipe smoking in my life.

Filters I know about, and if they come with a pipe, I will use them until they are gone, but then go without.

 

[Puff nstuff]

Filters are an aid that some smokers find helpful. They can dry out the smoke (which may help to cool it a bit), slow the rate of inhalation, and draw out some of what might otherwise reach one's mouth as far as particulates and ash. If you don’t believe me, try sucking on a used filter or balsa stick - you wouldn't believe how much crud and acrid juice can come out of one of those after even just a single use. I've never used the stones, clay bits, or charcoal filters but I'd wager they do the same things.
While a lot can be said for the excellent engineering of high quality pipes, the importance of adequately drying your tobacco, perfecting one's cadence, etc., filters can be helpful for many things, especially for those who are still novices with pipe smoking.

 

[Akoni808]

Filters are an aid that some smokers find helpful. They can dry out the smoke (which may help to cool it a bit), slow the rate of inhalation, and draw out some of what might otherwise reach one's mouth as far as particulates and ash. If you don’t believe me, try sucking on a used filter or balsa stick - you wouldn't believe how much crud and acrid juice can come out of one of those after even just a single use. I've never used the stones, clay bits, or charcoal filters but I'd wager they do the same things.
While a lot can be said for the excellent engineering of high quality pipes, the importance of adequately drying your tobacco, perfecting one's cadence, etc., filters can be helpful for many things, especially for those who are still novices with pipe smoking.

I think filters can be a very helpful teaching tool in the beginning of smoking as one is learning cadence and which blends tend to be more agreeable to them. The issue can arise though if one is a wet smoker, the filters actually can end up creating more steam from becoming saturated later creating more of an acrid smoke. Just based on personal experience. This moisture issue can be easily tamed without a filter by using a pipe cleaner.

 

[Akoni808]

Serious question here…. I must be an old codger…. but what the hell are “crystals” for a pipe? I have never heard about nor seen any crystals for pipe smoking in my life.

Filters I know about, and if they come with a pipe, I will use them until they are gone, but then go without.

Never used them, but from what I understand they are small crystals that you dump into the bowl. These crystals are absorbent and are intended to create a dryer smoke.

 

[fireground_piper]

I think filters can be a very helpful teaching tool in the beginning of smoking as one is learning cadence and which blends tend to be more agreeable to them. The issue can arise though if one is a wet smoker, the filters actually can end up creating more steam from becoming saturated later creating more of an acrid smoke. Just based on personal experience. This moisture issue can be easily tamed without a filter by using a pipe cleaner.

On the other hand, by using a filter I never have to use pipe cleaners because of the moisture absorption properties. I don't even keep pipe cleaners around other than to clean the pipe after smoking has completed because it wicks it all out of the stem.

I find it more convenient to throw a balsa in before smoking and go about my business compared to carrying around a handful of pipe cleaners.

 

[Akoni808]

On the other hand, by using a filter I never have to use pipe cleaners because of the moisture absorption properties. I don't even keep pipe cleaners around other than to clean the pipe after smoking has completed because it wicks it all out of the stem.

I find it more convenient to throw a balsa in before smoking and go about my business compared to carrying around a handful of pipe cleaners.

I think balsa filters might be the exception. I was thinking more of charcoal and paper filters

 

[Briar’s Echo]

What are these crystals being mentioned?

 

[woodsroad]

I will respectfully disagree with your post. My pipes smoke as dry as a bone as they are made to exacting standards. When a stem is perfect, it never whistles. If the shank and mortise are done properly they never create turbulence and never smoke wet. If you know what humidity levels that your blends smoke best at, you won't ever have to use a pipe cleaner while smoking to remove excess moisture.

If you pack your pipe properly, the pipe will smoke fine. There are many things you can do to make sure your pipes smoke great and you will never need a filter to get the perfect smoke.

I guess that you never smoke in humid, cold weather.

 

[Puff nstuff]

D

What are these crystals being mentioned?

Denicool silica crystals. There are also Nording keystones, meerschaum chips, clay chips, charcoal filters, etc.