FILTER OR NO FILTER

[jimmyg]

Was wanting to know what my fellow pipe smokers think on this.

I know the hole thing about the health issue, but i have around 20 pipes 2 which take filters, i find it spoils, or should i say takes the flavour away from the tobacco, and prefer unfiltered pipes, and just every now & then i think about the health issue and try a filtered pipe, but quickly put it back down am i on my own on this look forward to your replys cheers Jimmy

 

[menckenite]

I don't own a filter pipe because I don't want to pay more for a maintenance item that could potentially hender a full flavor experience.
However, I will say that I'm a bit intrigued by Brigham pipes and might purchase one at some point if I learn they can be smoked without the filter.

 

[jimmyg]

Hi William as far as i know you can smoke any pipe without the filter in, just seems when smoking it that theres a lot of air if that makes any sence,i like the look of the bringham pipes myself

 

[schmitzbitz]

William - All my Brigs smoke wonderfully without the filter, although they are not like other filter pipes...its a wooden tube, doesn't seem to negatively impact the smoke like a regualar 6mm or 9mm filter would...more like the Sav. balsa system, but you can still pass a pipe cleaner through the Brig filter.
That said, the only pipes which I use filters in are my Brigs - well, that and cobs for the first smoke or two, until that corny-piney-burney flavour is gone.

 

[tiltjlp]

All that filters do is get soggy and smell bad. Never used one and never will.

 

[marmal4de]

All that filters do is get soggy and smell bad. Never used one and never will.

Amen!

 

[bubbadreier]

I am in the No Filter group... Throw it in the trash!

 

[shotokun16]

I use a filter. I love it how it absorbs moisture and reduce "bad" chemicals? i believe the hype and i believe in carbon rocks. Someone needs to study this ASAP!
I use Balsa filters in my savs. and they work great!

 

[cortezattic]

JOHN PATTON !?!? :worship: MY HERO!

Welcome to the PM forums!!!! What a blessing to have you on board.
I can't say much for your choice of smoking implements (not a big cob fan);

but hell, your blends are among the best in my cellar. Mainly Cool Hand Fluke

and Virginia Squire; but Quad Va OK too!
Never thought I'd see the day I could tap your wisdom and experience! Hoo Boy! :clap:

 

[puffintuff]

I have about 5 pipes that take filters, Savs and Grabows, but I don't use them.

 

[krgulick]

Not much use for filters for me.

 

[fshu2]

a lot of my pipes can take filters but they are the first thing to go before i smoke them.

 

[menckenite]

I agree with the “no filter” as noted in my previous post. However, to buy a filter pipe with the intention of not using the filter is another matter.
A while back I found a pipe at a local B&M that really caught my eye. When I ask to see the pipe, I was told it was a filter pipe, and disappointment cast a shadow over me. I was then told that I could just take the filter out and smoke it and all was great again for a brief moment until I removed the bit. I then saw the extra engineering changes made inside the bit and shank in order to accommodate a filter. This was a red flag for me because of the potential cleaning difficulties. All those added nooks and crannies looked like extra cleaning time & materials needed that would not be necessary with a non filtered pipe with the same outer shape. And so, I passed on the pipe. Something like this may not be a big deal to most of you but this is a significant issue for me when deciding on purchasing a pipe.
With all of that out of the way, my question now is: Do Brigham pipes have similar design inside the bit and shank, as I’ve alluded to above, that would require extra cleaning time and materials?

 

[schmitzbitz]

William, that is a real loaded question - the simple answer is no, however, they are not engineered like your normal, filterless pipe. In the older Brigs, the filter is held in an aluminum insert, in the newer, a plastic insert, but it seems to fit very tightly in the vulcanite (or, if your in the high-end, lucite) stems, leaving no little crannies for crud to hide, like my Grabows and Medicos.
After re-reading my post, I realize I am talking in circles, so here is a pretty picture of the Brigham system; and here is a pic of a Brig broken down. The filter extends into the stem right up to the curve...and like I said, the fit is tight - I can't even convince a Falcon Xtra Thin to wiggle down between the stem and filter. When its inserted, the aluminum end on the filter sits flush with the end of the insert, which is slightly flaired to allow for a tighter fit.

 

[menckenite]

schmitzbitz,
Thanks for all information and I appreciate the pic of the broken down Brig. That helps but at some point I'll need to take a look inside the mortise and ferrule before I go further.

 

[lordnoble]

I'll go against the grain and say that the pipes that take filters get them and I can't discern ANY difference in taste. My only discernment is the moisture that the filters trap. Almost all of my non-filtered pipes gurgle (which probably can be attributed to any number of user errors), but I have no problem with shoving a pipe cleaner down to clear that up. I do use the filtered pipes when I go for a stroll or take the mutt out around the neighborhood just because I don't want to have to stop and futz with a pipe cleaner on the sidewalk like a fool. Just my 2 cents, and YMMV.
-Jason

 

[unclearthur]

I don't use filters they stink and get soggy as was mentioned. Besides I buy a pipe to smoke as is and have no intention of buying something extra for the life of the pipe, which may exceed the life of the owner.

 

[pipevilleworld]

Wouldn't one only use a filter... if they inhale? I thought most pipe tobacco smokers DON'T inhale.

 

[tiltjlp]

@cortezattic I'll gladly offer my experience when I can, but you're out of luck if you expect any wisdom from me. Glad some of my blends twang your taste buds. They were tested first in a cob and perfected in a briar, which is why they work in most any pipe.

 

[cortezattic]

Well, wisdom or not, it's great to have you on board! Welcome. Maybe Kevin can talk you into doing an article or two for our edification. (Maybe something to do with pinball?)