Filtered Pipes, Love Them? Hate Them?

[Sigmund]

I enjoy them on most blends. My preference is 9mm Activated Charcol. It does a lot more than remove moisture. It also removes a lot of tars and that does alter the taste. I find in most cases its for the better. There are a few blends I smoke straight becuase they can become too lightweight with a filter.

IMHO Vauen makes the best version by far. Not the old blue caps...they suck (resistant draw). The version that was updated from those is great.

 

[Lumbridge]

I use the 6mm Dr. Grabow filters frequently when I smoke cobs. They work well for absorbing moisture and stopping bits of tobacco from going up the stem, and that's about it. Tried the balsa filters in a cob and didn't find them to be as effective.

As for charcoal filters, I tried using them, but can't stand them. They throttle the draw too much.

 

[Sigmund]

@Lumbridge I shy away from any 6mm filter pipes for that reason.

 

[coming to_falling too]

Never tried a filter pipe myself. Never saw the need for a filter. Any cob I get with a filter I toss immediately (the filter, not the pipe) and enjoy the open draw. Some swear by them though. I think they're much more popular in Europe.

 

[Sigmund]

They are specifically popular in Germany. That is where I buy most my pipes.

In the southern counties they are not that common...France, Spain, Italy.
Danish pipes are a big mix.

 

[coming to_falling too]

They are specifically popular in Germany. That is where I buy most my pipes.

In the southern counties they are not that common...France, Spain, Italy.
Danish pipes are a big mix.

Yes now you mention it Germany comes to mind. I'm surprised to hear they're not common in Italy, as many of the Savs I look at are filtered.

 

[JOHN72]

I don't use them at the moment. But my teeth look a great tar yellow.

 

[Sigmund]

If you use ebay as a guide to what people buy ebay italy has few filtered pipes. The French were pretty keen on stingers. Also pipe shops in italy haven way fewer filter pipes. Its super easy to find them in Germany. Shops in the Netherlands have quite a few also.

 

[Briar Lee]

Just wondering, I just recently picked up the pipe. Why I never discovered pipe smoking before is a mystery to this old cigar collector. In the six months I've been smoking pipes I've collected about three dozen varying styles. I really like my Vauen filtered pipes but am split on some of my others. Preferring balsa, charcoal, paper, or adapters on some and enjoying straight unfiltered pipes as well.
Preferences? Opinions?
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Like stingers, they work well enough I prefer taking my dose of nicotine right straight out of the bottle, so to speak.

The 9mm filters filter best.

I had my Daddy put the training wheels on my first bicycle and it made taking them off that much more rewarding.

Filters are a beginner’s friend.

 

[HeavyLeadBelly]

I only have one pipe I use charcoal filters in and it’s dedicated to regular MB blends. I find it cuts down the bits a lot. The HH line I’m fine with. I don’t use filters with the rest of my collection.

 

[Skippy Piper]

I smoke most blends unfiltered, but I do like to use Dr. Grabow paper tube filters or Vauen activated charcoal filters to smooth out the rough edges of Burley blends that bother my throat and straight Virginias that are a little too acidic and nip at the roof of my mouth.

I know a lot of people like using filters to reduce the moisture in the smoke or prevent tongue bite, but I don't have those sort of problems so I just use them to tame down blends I find to be a bit harsh or overly acidic. Balsa wood filters don't do jack squat in that regard, they're really just for drawing moisture out of the smoke, but I do find Vauen activated charcoal filters to be fairly effective and Dr. Grabow paper tube filters to be the best for reducing harshness and acidity.

They really do wonders for smoothing out Cornell & Diehl's burley blends like Haunted Bookshop and Pegasus, and bright Virginia flakes like Sutliff 507C and Peterson Flake. My favorite filtered pipe is a Falcon International, though it smokes equally well without a filter too.

 

[Manawydan]

I've owned and smoked non filtered pipes as well as filtered pipes with 6mm balsa and charcoal, and 9mm balsa and charcoal. I only found 6mm charcoal to be too restrictive by default. I have since standardized on 9mm charcoal (I use Savinelli). I like the reduced moisture, tars, and tongue bite, and I don't notice a significant difference in flavor overall.

 

[Chieftiabo]

I would agree with Sigmund that the Vauen 9mm charcoal filters are the top of line in that category, closely followed by White Elephant. On a proper 9mm filter pipe, I think even the "never filter" guys might reconsider. The 6mm charcoal filters are just "megh". I don't think balsa's function as a filter at all, but more as a component of a pipe similar to a Brigham maple insert. My air gauge shows 6mm balsa's don't restrict airflow anymore than in a standard 3mm-4mm unfiltered pipe, and a 9mm with balsa has as wide open a draw as an unfiltered 6mm. In my experiences I am finding that different pipes with or without filters can be used with different blends to different effect. Both positive and negative.

 

[waterbelly]

Ive been using them more and more. For some reason my tobaccos have seemed more steamy lately so they've helped. Also it can sometimes feel like water in whiskey, opening up the flavors.

 

[Bassman65]

I use them. Preference are Vauen 9mm charcoal filters. I’ll also use either Vauen or Savinelli 6mm charcoal filters depending on the pipe and size required. I also smoke a ton of aromatics.

All personal preference.

 

[krizzose]

I would agree with Sigmund that the Vauen 9mm charcoal filters are the top of line in that category, closely followed by White Elephant. On a proper 9mm filter pipe, I think even the "never filter" guys might reconsider. The 6mm charcoal filters are just "megh". I don't think balsa's function as a filter at all, but more as a component of a pipe similar to a Brigham maple insert. My air gauge shows 6mm balsa's don't restrict airflow anymore than in a standard 3mm-4mm unfiltered pipe, and a 9mm with balsa has as wide open a draw as an unfiltered 6mm. In my experiences I am finding that different pipes with or without filters can be used with different blends to different effect. Both positive and negative.

That’s a good point. Balsa aren’t filters in the same way paper filters (or even charcoal filters with their paper caps) are in that the smoke goes around instead of through them. Like the Brigham maple insert, they basically create an unimpeded channel lined with a material that wicks up moisture.

 

[FLDRD]

I've had some 9mm pipes, but never used a filter as far as I can remember. If I've forgotten, it might have been once or twice waay back when.
I specifically didn't want to have another step in the process that would also add an extra expense.
So I just avoided using them.
Having to buy pipe cleaners is enough of an ongoing thing for me.