Balsa -- A Sign of the Times

[captpat]

Title edited: capitalize important words. -jpm


So I recently received a Savinelli Regimental 624 KS, which takes a 6mm filter. In the past, a package of 20 or so extra filters would be included in the box. This time there were no filters, instead, this note was substituted: "Almost all balsa wood used commercially in the world comes from Ecuador. Due to the global pandemic in 2020, we were temporarily unable to source the balsa lumber in order to manufacture the signature Savinelli balsa filters. ...." They did include an adapter.

Some online retailers have these filters in stock, some like Smoking Pipes are out of stock. Now I typically don't use these filters but did find it interesting that the pandemic affected the global supply of something as mundane as balsa pipe filters.

 

[The Amish Tyrant]

I had the same issue with a Savinelli pipe that was gifted to me for Christmas. It's a sign of the times.

Some grocery stores still limit certain items in the Detroit area and a carton of eggs is now around $2.50. Sometimes it is difficult to find certain food staples, like cuts of poultry or meat and I had the hardest time finding canned mushrooms last month.

 

[bassbug]

Your local art supply store will almost certainly have balsa strips. As an added bonus, you'll save at least half the cost of buying filters.

 

[fireground_piper]

An informative answer was given to this almost a year ago (can’t believe it’s been that long!):

Savinelli 6mm Charcoal Filters :: Pipes Accessories

Anyone tried these? The last 6mm charcoal filters I bought, White Elephant I believe, were too long for most pipes and had very tight draws. Im curious if the Savinellis are made properly.

pipesmagazine.com

I know I bought like 2 x 300 count boxes around this time expecting the issue to linger for a while. I have some craft grade balsa and it’s definitely not even close to the same properties of the filters. I imagine for filters, it comes from specific parts of the tree or species to be as porous as they are.

I am not as big a fan as the charcoals at this time. I picked a pack up this year just to try them out in the event I run out of balsa and I’m not sold in their properties for me yet. Others prefer them.

 

[reloader]

Yes, the supply chain issues have insinuated into every aspect of life. Every product, if available, is now more expensive and I can't see it ending any time soon.

 

[bassbug]

I have some craft grade balsa and it’s definitely not even close to the same properties of the filters. I imagine for filters, it comes from specific parts of the tree or species to be as porous as they are.

Sorry....no

One slight edit....just don't buy anything labeled as "hard balsa". Other than that, the difference is negligible for use as filters.

 

[captpat]

An informative answer was given to this almost a year ago (can’t believe it’s been that long!):

Savinelli 6mm Charcoal Filters :: Pipes Accessories

Anyone tried these? The last 6mm charcoal filters I bought, White Elephant I believe, were too long for most pipes and had very tight draws. Im curious if the Savinellis are made properly.

pipesmagazine.com

I know I bought like 2 x 300 count boxes around this time expecting the issue to linger for a while. I have some craft grade balsa and it’s definitely not even close to the same properties of the filters. I imagine for filters, it comes from specific parts of the tree or species to be as porous as they are.

I am not as big a fan as the charcoals at this time. I picked a pack up this year just to try them out in the event I run out of balsa and I’m not sold in their properties for me yet. Others prefer them.

Yes the enclosed note went on to refer users to their charcoal filters. I don’t use their filters normally, charcoal or otherwise; I did think the issue was interesting evidence for the fragility of supply chains

 

[dctune]

They did include an adapter.

Now I typically don't use these filters

Just curious if you use the adapters when you don’t use the filters?

I have a Sav, and I go back and forth with the filters. Usually use them, but lately I’ve just left them out.

i was able to buy a 50-pack recently at my local B&M. But the fit is a little too snug, restricting the draw a bit much. I sort of roll them between my fingers to compress them and get a better fit. But once they fill with moisture, the same issue occurs.

I’ve started taking a fruit knife and cutting them in half lengthwise. Leaves them quite loose, but they still do the job of wicking moisture.

I’ve considered buying an insert, which I’m assuming is like a stinger. I’m not very fond of stingers and usually toss them. But the opening on the Sav is rather large and sometimes gets too much gunk when I smoke it sans filter. I figured the insert adapter would at least help keep the stem clean.

 

[Sweet Home Alabama]

Would / could cork from a wine bottle be made to work as a filter?

 

[FurCoat]

I use balsa filters in my yard cobs since I clench them while working outside in the summer when the humidity is high. I bought a couple of boxes of 300 so I'm good for awhile. I have looked into buying 1/4x36" square stock and making a jig to slice them into triangular filters if I run out before they come back in stock. I did the math and there is no savings to doing it yourself if you compare it to a box of 300. On another note, I've been waiting on tires for my truck for four months. Every tire manufacturer is out of stock for the size I need. Probably floating idle on a container ship on the Pacific 150 miles off shore. To make it seem like it's not so bad the "administration" pushed the ships back so you can't see them from shore. See problem solved. Thank goodness our foreign pipes and tobacco go to Eastern ports.

 

[mikethompson]

Have you guys tried sourcing Brigham maple inserts? They work in generally the same way.

 

[mikethompson]

Would / could cork from a wine bottle be made to work as a filter?

I don't think it would, but give it a shot.

 

[mso489]

I think most Savs smoke well without balsa filter or adaptor, though some may prefer them.

 

[fireground_piper]

Sorry....no

One slight edit....just don't buy anything labeled as "hard balsa". Other than that, the difference is negligible for use as filters.

Thank you for telling me I’m wrong about the craft balsa in my physical possession doesn’t have the same properties as the balsa used to make the filters that are also in my physical possession.

 

[bassbug]

Thank you for telling me I’m wrong about the craft balsa in my physical possession doesn’t have the same properties as the balsa used to make the filters that are also in my physical possession.

Balsa is graded by grain orientation and density. Most craft balsa is 5-7 pounds per ft3, hobby store balsa will be 4 and competition grade will be 3 or less. The less dense the wood, the more porous it will be. if you are not satisfied with craft grade you can certainly buy hobby store balsa at a price premium of about 20%. In my area 1/4" square by 36 inches of hobby grade is about $1.25. that yields 36 filters (assuming a length of 2 inches) that's about $.04 each. Not sure what the unit price is if you buy them premade because I've never bought them due to shipping costs.

 

[PipeIT]

So in a Craft/Hobby shop, what grade should we look for that is similar to like Savinelli balsa filters?

Could you find balsa in Craft/Hobby shops, that is just as good if not better? And when buying Savelli filters, you’re just paying for the name is all?

 

[FurCoat]

Balsa is graded by grain orientation and density. Most craft balsa is 5-7 pounds per ft3, hobby store balsa will be 4 and competition grade will be 3 or less. The less dense the wood, the more porous it will be. if you are not satisfied with craft grade you can certainly buy hobby store balsa at a price premium of about 20%. In my area 1/4" square by 36 inches of hobby grade is about $1.25. that yields 36 filters (assuming a length of 2 inches) that's about $.04 each. Not sure what the unit price is if you buy them premade because I've never bought them due to shipping costs.

That is good to know. The grade didn't cross my mind when I was looking for square stock.

 

[bassbug]

So in a Craft/Hobby shop, what grade should we look for that is similar to like Savinelli balsa filters?

Could you find balsa in Craft/Hobby shops, that is just as good if not better? And when buying Savelli filters, you’re just paying for the name is all?

If I had to guess, I would say 4-5 pound balsa with what is referred to as "A" grain. Your local Michael's or Hobby Lobby probably won't be able to tell you what density their balsa is but a good hobby shop that specializes in remote control planes should be a good place to start. Of course, if you have an accurate scale you can weigh the strips you buy and calculate the density yourself.

And just in case anyone is wondering why it is that I happen to know this, I build and fly rubber powered airplanes where a difference of 3 grams on a 16 inch wingspan plane can translate into an extra 20 seconds or more of flight time.

 

[AlanH]

Sorry....no

One slight edit....just don't buy anything labeled as "hard balsa". Other than that, the difference is negligible for use as filters.

Bassbug great name! So many things are hard to get now

 

[PipeIT]

If I had to guess, I would say 4-5 pound balsa with what is referred to as "A" grain. Your local Michael's or Hobby Lobby probably won't be able to tell you what density their balsa is but a good hobby shop that specializes in remote control planes should be a good place to start. Of course, if you have an accurate scale you can weigh the strips you buy and calculate the density yourself.

And just in case anyone is wondering why it is that I happen to know this, I build and fly rubber powered airplanes where a difference of 3 grams on a 16 inch wingspan plane can translate into an extra 20 seconds or more of flight time.

So the lighter in weight for filters the better?