Filtering any Pipe: a Method.

[Law]

Title edited for caps and brevity. See Rule 9! Original:

"Filtering Any Pipe Without The Drawbacks Of Traditional Ones: A Method."


Greetings people!

Any of you suffer from tongue bites? Maybe a beautiful blend doesn't work with whatever chemistry and biology God (if you believe in him) put in your mouth? Some Virginias bite you too much? The dreadful Red Virginias anyone??? Anyways, No, I am not selling you anything. Here it is:

Simplifying my numerous trials and error with many different filtering system, and nearly all failed, I have came with a simple solution. Simply, dump a couple of Nording Keystones inside the bowl until the draft hole is covered, next dump in activated charcoal pellets until most if not all the keystones are covered. That's it. Increase or decrease activated charcoal pellets to suit your liking, but the general rule is to dump until the keystones are covered.

Why Nording Keystones? The keystones mold into the shape of any pipe. Small, miniature, Peterson house pipe, or someone carving skills turned into a pipe somehow. Put keystones until the draft hole is covered. Period.

Other filters aren't too great compared to the keystones, including Sharrow philtpads. Sharrow philtpads leave a chalk residue that you can detect while smoking, plus they don't fit all pipes.

When you finish smoking, simply dump everything. Grab the keystones, and put them somewhere to dry. It can be used up to 15 times from what I read. I would also assume that it depends on how wet the blends are. In any case, if it turns black, throw it.

If you want to take this on the go, easy. Have the keystone tins and grab an extra one for the activated charcoal. 2 in total. Label it or put black duck-tape for the second one, so you could differentiate it from the keystones, and fill it with activated charcoal pellets. You finished the bowl? simple. Have a portable ashtray and dump it there. When you go back home, take the keystones out.

You want a even smaller version on the go? Here is to a truly portable system. Well, see the small bottles for the Kiribi flints? Yes, get 2 and one is for the activated charcoal, and the other is small keystones. You will have to pick smaller ones that could go in. You could then just leave it in your pouch and forget about it. and when you need to use it in a pipe, just pour it like salt and pepper.

My simple and humble home set up for this filtering system is also, simple. One 100G tin of any Mac Baren products, put the 2 tins there and any keystones that need drying or used. grab yourself eye brow tweezers and expand the ends a little. Just be careful of your manly hands don't snap it in half, and pick the used ones to re-use in bowls or pick the wet ones from the ashtray without having your fingers getting involved.

My preference of activated charcoal is Savinelli's 9mm filters. For some reason, Vauen 9mm doesn't taste as clean or pure as Savienlli's. I also had fish tank pellets, they too don't taste great, or don't filter the pipes well. be wary, some activated charcoal pellets aren't the same as others. When in doubt, Savinelli no doubt. Oh yes, if you need help opening filters just grab a good scissors. I had to mentioned it. there as some other ways too. Experimentation on tools you have around your house is what is stoping you from enjoying the rest of your smoking career.

What are you waiting for? Go grab that Mac Baren plum cake and taste it!

Any questions? I'll try to answer them. I just wanted to put this out there for people who have no guidance in filtering unfiltered pipes, or want to excuse their PAD issues. Either way, I don't judge.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Some also use meerschaum shards and akadama granules.

 

[Law]

Some also use meerschaum shards and akadama granules.

I knew about the meerschaum shards, but never tried them. The keystones seem to do the job and more especially with the portability of the tins.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I knew about the meerschaum shards, but never tried them. The keystones seem to do the job and more especially with the portability of the tins.

You can also use the cannon ball (air pocket) packing technique to achieve similar results.

 

[Law]

You can also use the cannon ball (air pocket) packing technique to achieve similar results.

My deal breaker is the activated charcoal pellets. I may forgo the keystones, but I know the pellets will come up to the mouthpiece when smoking. So, the keystones act like a buffer between the activated charcoal pellets and the mouthpiece while also cooling the smoke. It does a good job at that too.

I may have not stated that, but the culprit of soothing any harsh blend is the activated charcoal. the paper filters restricted the draw way too much for 6mm( a preference since I like smaller pipes), plus they tasted like paper in the first couple of puffs. Not mentioning other problems with normal activated charcoal filters such as acrid taste if used too much, or if re-used, sometimes mid way it tastes horrible so you would have to start disassembling again.

I could see people first putting a small pinch of tobacco to cover the draft hole, and then using activated charcoal. I tried it but preferred keystones either way. nothing wrong with it, but it is always better to have something taking some moisture even if the blend is dry. a cooler smoke is never bad. anyways, yeah. That could work. But it wouldn't fix moisture issues if you had those, and maybe people wouldn't mind. suit yourself.

 

[ARTOPUT]

My preference of activated charcoal is Savinelli's 9mm filters

How many of the 9mm filters do you use in one pipe fill?

 

[Law]

How many of the 9mm filters do you use in one pipe fill?

Usually one, but depending on the size of the pipe. A smaller size 1-2 dunhill probably half. Bigger ones require around 1 (maybe say group 3-4) or 1 and a half for group 5+

As I stated, as long as the keystones are covered on top that should be enough. A good rule that never failed to tame all blends. I have tried less than that, in which you can see the color of the keystones on top, but it didn't produce the same results in soothing blends and removing all the tongue bite. Trial and error is your friend.

 

[ARTOPUT]

Usually one, but depending on the size of the pipe. A smaller size 1-2 dunhill probably half. Bigger ones require around 1 or 1 and a half.

As I stated, as long as the keystones are covered on top tha should be enough. A good rule that never failed to tame all blends. I have tried less than that, in which you can see the color of the keystones on top, but it didn't produce the same results in soothing blends and removing all the tongue bite. Trial and error is your friend.

Thank you for the response I was wondering I tend to like the bigger bowls.

 

[bullet08]

Too much work. But to smoke or not to smoke pipe.. Man's gotta have a vice, and it's cheaper than a mistress or two.

 

[Law]

Too much work. But to smoke or not to smoke pipe.. Man's gotta have a vice, and it's cheaper than a mistress or two.

Hmm. I don't see it that way anymore. I used to feel that when I used the normal filtered pipes, but then I just applied everything on top and it is just a habit like filling an Oldboy lighter, or taking an extra care of a vulcanite stem by rubbing it with obsidian oil or using an extra pipe cleaner to get rid of a pipe funk. The post may be long, but once applied it is a good habit that rids all the harshness, on any pipe, without the drawbacks of the traditional activated charcoal filter. It takes an extra 15-20 seconds before and after smoking a pipe. It's not much compared to the benefits of smoking any blend, any tobacco, without bite, taming them, in any pipe, and producing a cooler and dryer smoke.

 

[ARTOPUT]

Mini Hydroponics Clay Pebbles I wonder if these might be the same thing I use in my garden supplies. I usually buy them on amazon hmm what you thinks?​

 

[Law]

I searched it up on google, doesn’t seem to be small enough to fit most pipes and even if it imparts its own flavor. I wouldn’t recommend it since I never tried them. You could. But also, keystones work well enough and priced fairly to not warrant alternatives.

 

[ARTOPUT]

I searched it up on google, doesn’t seem to be small enough to fit most pipes and even if it imparts its own flavor. I wouldn’t recommend it since I never tried them. You could. But also, keystones work well enough and priced fairly to not warrant alternatives.

Yes, you are proablly correct will have to order some and give it a try.

 

[Law]

Yes, you are proablly correct will have to order some and give it a try.

if you are used to normal filters, you will, in the initial puff upon lightning the pipe, taste smoke or raw tobacco, not harshness. Wait you didn’t get it? I understand. I used to smoke filtered pipes and noticed this phenomenon too at first, but that isn’t harshness or anything. What you where used to is the paper taste at first, from the filters. It isn’t actually harshness as I said, and after a while you get used to it, just like how you got used to the paper-ish taste from the filters. that taste is just tobacco. But I promise this: Put a side to side completely unfiltered pipe and a pipe using my method. The difference in everything is astounding. It is in fact filtered, fully, without the paper. Oh, and get used to the open draw. It is actually better and a fuller experience. The first phase is overcoming a habit problem, the second phase is realizing how much trouble the paper filters actually are in taste and smoking experience.

 

[Law]

A small note I forgot in the post: The only problem you may face, if you are coming from filtered pipes to this method, is the issue of gurgling. Now, that happens only on blends that are soaked. Even some blends that are generally moist will hold up decently. But, drying tobacco is a good habit. Do it. I wont expect any problems anyway from people who are already doing it as a habit, or ones coming from unfiltered pipes as they are used to this problem and have ways to mitigate it.

 

[Epip Oc'Cabot]

I do not really know…. but to me, it still seems a bit risky (and messier) to put things into your pipe beyond tobacco, flame, and (if desired) traditional balsa or paper filters. I still think beads of “stuff” or charcoal pellets, or other “do-dads” would likely burn/melt or at least vaporize other “stuff” while smoking that I would not really want.

Again, though, to each his own and YMMV….. but I would think more traditional options like drying out the tobacco more, packing the bowl differently, or (if desired) using traditional filters are a better route.

 

[Law]

I do not really know…. but to me, it still seems a bit risky (and messier) to put things into your pipe beyond tobacco, flame, and (if desired) traditional balsa or paper filters. I still think beads of “stuff” or charcoal pellets, or other “do-dads” would likely burn/melt or at least vaporize other “stuff” while smoking that I would not really want.

Again, though, to each his own and YMMV….. but I would think more traditional options like drying out the tobacco more, packing the bowl differently, or (if desired) using traditional filters are a better route.

I understand your way of thinking, that “messier” part of it is only at the start. Don’t people who start smoking a pipe either like the finicky part of it or they complain? This one seems the same. But way less finicky in text than applied. How many times have we read articles about a certain thing, how to do something, but later on all the things become habit or second nature?

Also, it doesn’t need to be done for people who have no complaints of their smoking. It is a way, perhaps also for unfiltered users, to use filters without the drawbacks of traditional ones. To tame blends that bite, or tobacco’s that are harsh.

Can’t knock it until you try it. Maybe if you are an unfiltered smoker, get a small pinch of tobacco to cover the draft hole, and pour in the activated charcoal. See how it does. it will give you 75-80% of the experience. Keystones are mostly to make the smoke cooler and dryer.

 

[jpmcwjr]

My "method" is to eschew all of the above. Load a few larger pieces first of properly dried tobacco. No muss, no fuss, no extra steps or materials.

 

[Law]

My "method" is to eschew all of the above. Load a few larger pieces first of properly dried tobacco. No muss, no fuss, no extra steps or materials.

What about the people who complain of blends biting them? Aromatics, Virginias (mostly Red Virginias from what I've read), even seemingly normal blends seem to bite some folks more than others? This method helps them. I have also read somewhere in this forum people complain of not being able to smoke Virginia blends due to their bite and being a "English only smoker". This method gives you the activated charcoal and moisture absorber, similar to a filter, without compromising on draw, taste, pipe shapes, etc.

This method is based mostly on the use of activated charcoal. The keystones only help with moisture problems and stopping the small pellets coming up to the stem. Drying tobacco is only helping with the moisture, not the inherent harshness of those blends to unblessed tongues that can't keep up. Me included. If I had an iron tongue, I wouldn't have had to go this far to ease my problem.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

Having options is a good thing. I'm sure I have an unopened packet of keystones somewhere and some charcoal capsules (I definitely have Savinelli filters). I might give this a try just to experience it—but, I'm in the camp of drying, packing loosely and adjusting with tamping—there's no substitute for better smoking practices and techniques which can eliminate the need for stones and filters.