Filter or no filter?

[seagullplayer]

Maybe I'll change as time goes on but as of now I like filters.
I tried my cob without a filter and did not care for it.
I kind of like a little restriction it would seem. Like I said, maybe that will

change sometime down the line.
A agree, try the same pipe with and without...

 

[fadingdaylight]

I just got my first 9mm filter pipe today. Ive been smoking pipes for about 2 years now, mostly aromatics. I find that the filter doesnt really affect the flavor of my tobacco, at least not enough to bother me. Im using the Vauen Dr Perl Junior charcoal filters. Honestly, I like the filter, most aromatics tend to have a good bite to them, but I find I can smoke a lot more with no issues using the filter. Dont let the hardcore no filter ever guys get to you, theres nothing wrong with filters. It cuts back the moisture, so you dont wind up with brown sour spit, and blocks those little bits of ash from getting in your mouth after you tamp.

 

[smeigs]

I have a cigar box full of filters that have came with my pipes over the past couple years.. Never use them personally. Seems like more of a hassle to carry them around and take them out and replace them and so on..

 

[johnnyz]

I think maybe I'll get a pipe with a filter in it to try it out and see if I like it or not. You never know until you try..
With that being said, what's the way to go? What is the "best" type of filter? Balsa? Charcoal?

 

[mso489]

Mostly, I don't use filters, buy pipes without filters, including Savenellis which come unfiltered in

the Oscar Lucite series, in some of their other pipes like the 601 churchwarden, and in some of the

unfinished pipes. I have a few pipes with filters, one of four MM cobs, a Dr. Grabow Royalton. I find

filters occasionally help with a tobacco that has some bite, or is harsh, or is stronger than I want to

smoke at the moment. I don't think there is anything to be said against filters, if that is what you like.

But the taste of the tobacco is central to the experience, and it is better without a filter, mostly.

It's not a point of pride, principle, or belief, just a preference.

 

[starcat]

No Filter.

No need to overcomplicate things.

 

[mso489]

The least expensive way to try a filter pipe is with an MM cob, filtered; they are made in either filtered or non-filtered.

They will take Dr. Grabow, Medico, or (I think) Savenelli balsa filters. Another way to try a filter would be with a

Savenelli pipe; these usually also come with an adapter that makes the pipe smoke without a filter, but still with

restricted air flow. Some people enjoy filter pipes with the filter removed, with no adapter, preferring the more

open air flow. I feel I lose some flavor that way, but it depends on the blend and the pipe. The filtered pipe that gets

the most praise seems to be the Brigham with "rock maple inserts," wooden tubes that fit in the stem and shank.

People say Brighams with the inserts give a great smoke; I haven't tried these. My favorite pipes are no-filter pipes,

made that way.

 

[brudnod]

Okay, let's say for the sake of argument that you did NOT want to use a filter on a filtered pipe AND did not want all that extra dead space that the filter takes up (views expressed in this thread). Where does one find the spacers for the 9 mm filter that essentially turn the pipe into a 3 or 4 mm conduit through which the smoke would pass? There are adapters that you can buy on eBay that either are from China (lots of 6 to 12, from whom I prefer not to shop) and VERY expensive single adapters. It does present a problem for those who have 9 mm filter pipes and wish not to use filters...

Spencer

 

[redstar]

My first pipe was a Peterson Dalkey Billiard that I happened to buy whilst on holiday in Germany, so it came with a filter, which seems to be standard there. I have a work trip to Munich shortly and saw on Huber's pipe shop website that even their Peterson System Standards come with a 9mm filter, so I might buy one to see how it smokes. The 'double filter' effect will be interesting.
Peterson Systems pipes effectively have a 'built in filter'.
If your budget stretches to it - and since it makes sense to have at least two pipes on the go, buy one of each.
Pros -
I just love my Peterson Dalkey with filter (but would need to smoke the exact same pipe to compare.)
Damper tobacco smokes better with a filter than without.
In my experience, aromatics are more enjoyable when smoked with a filter pipe.
I like a bit of pressure on the draw sometimes - the filter provides that. This is particularly useful when having a thirty minute smoke and filling the whole bowl would mean wasting tobacco. Perhaps I need to improve my packing technique, but this saves time.
Cons -
You have to remember to bring filters with you (though a bit of tissue paper in an emergency situation works fine). If you tend to smoke in the same places, this isn't an issue as you can build up a stock. Finding a shop that sells pipe filters in Nigeria, during a work trip, is difficult for me...
If you forget to take the filter out, it can foul the pipe a little bit.
You have stinky filters you need to throw away. I tend to throw mine in the bin of a colleague I don't like, but you may not have this option.

 

[reap]

I used to throw the filters out and never use them in my filtered pipes (I have some adapters for some of my pipes). Winter came and I started trying aromatics in order to smoke indoors and happened to try a Dr Grabow with the filter, worked great for goopy aromatics. Usually I don't smoke aromatics but since they tend to smoke wet I've found filters work great for them. Otherwise no filters.

 

[thehappypiper]

I never use a filter and prefer pipes which are not set-up to take them. The extra-large tenon collects dirt incredibly easily and may also contribute to a weaker tenon. I have experimented with a balsa-wood filter a la Savinelli, and it wasn't a bad smoke at all, but the gunk which accumulated from just one use was terrible. Maybe I'm looking at this backwards and the presence of the gunk is a warning to any sensible person that they simply must use a filter. But this is not the message I took from it.

 

[pipedreamer]

I use 9mm filters because they give me choices in how I smoke a particular tobacco.I can always have a standard pipe by inserting the tenon adaptor. I have the choice with a harsh tobacco to tone it down with a charcoal filter. Often with va or vapers I'll use meerschaum filters.You have paper, paper and charcoal and of course a Savenelli balsa wood adsorptive filter.Filters absorb moisture which becomes steam which causes tongue burn. Quality pipes offer no more resistance than a standard pipe and all the bad tobacco people have given to me could be smoked instead of becoming mulch.They serve a purpose for a pipe smoker that wants to have choices.They have served me well for over 54 years.The bias you hear in the u.s.a. is mainly based on misinformation and the poor quality 6mm pipes that had poor quality filters.The most basic reason I use 9mm pipes is to me they make the experience better and I don't have to use pipe cleaners constantly to clean up condensation.Your pipe can cover a broader array of tobaccos also.Each to his own, and yes I have many standard pipes, They pick which tobacco they will smoke best and thats what they do.Good smoking my brothers and sisters.

 

[seagullplayer]

I gave the no filter idea a go for a few days. Gotta say I don't care for it.
Seems to me that without a filter there is a better chance for bite and I could

"taste" the lighter.
So its back to filter for me...