Filtering any Pipe: a Method.

[ARTOPUT]

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.

That's what I thought to give it a try just to see what it's like heck even might like it. Kind of like a steak how many ways to cook it for folks? I guess why the waitress asks how you like it.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Whatever helps someone enjoy the hobby. I have never used these, but I'm not going to make fun of someone for doing so... at least, not as much as I make fun of aromatics, ha ha. JK... sorta.

 

[Law]

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.

I would mostly agree...just a little note on the filter thing. Well, maybe moisture absorbers such as the balsa filter or just a paper filter would not be needed, but not activated charcoal. To me, activated charcoal takes the edge of blends, smoothes things out incredibly. It takes away the tongue bite from rough blends and overall makes it a smoother blends in all dimensions. I remember once I had a jar of a nearly empty tin of elizabethan mixture, it was pretty dry. I told myself to experiment without a filter (at that time I used a traditional Savinelli filter) and it bit me like hell. I had this experience again and again with different tobacco's even till this day, it is the same story. I also discovered that if I puff like a freight train, I get some flavor and kiss my tongue goodbye. With filters I Cana actually sip the smoke and taste nuances. Why not try it and report back? Maybe on a blend that has bit you before?

 

[Law]

Whatever helps someone enjoy the hobby. I have never used these, but I'm not going to make fun of someone for doing so... at least, not as much as I make fun of aromatics, ha ha. JK... sorta.

What happens if you tried my method on an aromatic, and actually liked it? And detail the steps on how you will come about to apologize?

 

[TheIronMonkey]

I would mostly agree...just a little note on the filter thing. Well, maybe moisture absorbers such as the balsa filter or just a paper filter would not be needed, but not activated charcoal. To me, activated charcoal takes the edge of blends, smoothes things out incredibly. It takes away the tongue bite from rough blends and overall makes it a smoother blends in all dimensions. I remember once I had a jar of a nearly empty tin of elizabethan mixture, it was pretty dry. I told myself to experiment without a filter (at that time I used a traditional Savinelli filter) and it bit me like hell. I had this experience again and again with different tobacco's even till this day, it is the same story. I also discovered that if I puff like a freight train, I get some flavor and kiss my tongue goodbye. With filters I Cana actually sip the smoke and taste nuances. Why not try it and report back? Maybe on a blend that has bit you before?

The only tobacco I've had problems with is Samuel Gawith Full Virginia Flake. I've done eight hours of drying and cube cutting, and it still had properties of asbestos—I sometimes feel you have to use a blowtorch to get the stuff lit. It's probably just a matter of more drying time.

 

[Law]

The only tobacco I've had problems with is Samuel Gawith Full Virginia Flake. I've done eight hours of drying and cube cutting, and it still had properties of asbestos—I sometimes feel you have to use a blowtorch to get the stuff lit. It's probably just a matter of more drying time.

Well here is one problem my method can't fix.

 

[Searock Fan]

Tongue bite? Try a calabash.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

As an alternative, dry the tobacco more before loading the bowl and smoke slower. Don't complicate something the process or attempt a bandaid, keep it simple.

 

[mso489]

I like to keep the smoking process as simple as possible including accessories and filtering devices, but the Nording stones sound like they might serve a function. Are they actual stones? And if so, would river or lake smoothed pebbles serve the same purpose, well washed and dried in advance? If so, that I might try.

Since I'm mostly a one-bowl a day guy, I don't usually use filters of any kind, except in my one old time stinger pipe, if you count that as a version of a filter. It's a Kaywoodie Drinkless.

 

[SBC]

I've never smoked a filtered pipe, and never had a problem with bite; but, if my chemistry did result in this problem, I'd probably prefer something like this this suggestion versus the conventional filter. I'm not sure why, but psychologically it's a less a turn-off to me.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

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.

Put me down for eschew!

I didn't get past how much stuff I have to add to a bowl to get to the point of then adding tobacco. But, I've never had an issue with getting bit.

If this works for anyone who suffers "bite" to the point it allows them to enjoy certain blends, probably worth the effort, but seems like a lot of effort.

 

[Law]

As an alternative, dry the tobacco more before loading the bowl and smoke slower. Don't complicate something the process or attempt a bandaid, keep it simple.

I did that. I replied to someone about my dry elizabethan that one time, nothing works till this day. I do think some people have different chemistry on their tongues. I wouldn’t go this far in figuring out a method unless the issue really bothered me. As long as I can help someone like me, I have done my job. Alternatively, someone who has some troubles with a blend or type of tobacco, then my method works too. You don’t have to invest in a 9mm pipe. You can use your Castello’s and filter it fully without the drawbacks of filters. Hey, why not. Some tobacco’s like my beloved Plum Cake by Mac Baren causes tongue bite galore(reading from the tobaccoreviews.com) and with my method, simply put you can enjoy the blend without the bite, no harshness( this is not tongue bite, harshness is something people who are used to filters will notice/ taste immediately if they smoked without a filter, unlike none-filtered smokers who are used to it), and with the keystones a dryer and cooler smoke.

 

[Law]

Put me down for eschew!

I didn't get past how much stuff I have to add to a bowl to get to the point of then adding tobacco. But, I've never had an issue with getting bit.

If this works for anyone who suffers "bite" to the point it allows them to enjoy certain blends, probably worth the effort, but seems like a lot of effort.

I don’t understand the efforts thing. Dump the keystones until draft hole is covered, and dump activated charcoal until keystones are covered. Thats it. It takes 15-20 seconds maximum. When you dump the tobacco, take the keystones out of the ashtray to somewhere that it dries and can be re used and put back in the tin.

With smoking pipes, there is so much finicky stuff that we can collect (lighters, pipes, tools, pouches, wind caps, cleaning supplies, pipe racks, etc) and so many tobacco’s, cellaring, techniques on packing, lightning, pipe shapes and sizes, but having 2 tiny “keystones” tins, one for the keystones and the other for activated charcoal pellets, aside to filter a pipe is a lot of effort? A portable ashtray to dump the keystones if you are out and about? I can understand people not finding the purpose of it due to them not having the issues and such, but the effort thing is strange to me. Its really not that hard or complicated to use or even carry outdoors.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I did that. I replied to someone about my dry elizabethan that one time, nothing works till this day. I do think some people have different chemistry on their tongues. I wouldn’t go this far in figuring out a method unless the issue really bothered me. As long as I can help someone like me, I have done my job. Alternatively, someone who has some troubles with a blend or type of tobacco, then my method works too. You don’t have to invest in a 9mm pipe. You can use your Castello’s and filter it fully without the drawbacks of filters. Hey, why not. Some tobacco’s like my beloved Plum Cake by Mac Baren causes tongue bite galore(reading from the tobaccoreviews.com) and with my method, simply put you can enjoy the blend without the bite, no harshness( this is not tongue bite, harshness is something people who are used to filters will notice/ taste immediately if they smoked without a filter, unlike none-filtered smokers who are used to it), and with the keystones a dryer and cooler smoke.

I'm not sure what chemicals are filtered out by charcoal or anything else but if it works for you and possibly other people, that's great.

 

[warren]

I don’t understand the efforts thing. Dump the keystones until draft hole is covered, and dump activated charcoal until keystones are covered. Thats it. It takes 15-20 seconds maximum. When you dump the tobacco, take the keystones out of the ashtray to somewhere that it dries and can be re used and put back in the tin.

You listed the efforts. I just load and smoke, keeping it simple. But, then I've never experienced the problems you seem to. So, I can keep it simple and just smoke the leaf, no drying of stuff, replacing stuff, fishing stuff out of the ashtray, inserting stuff before the smoke. A lot of stuff to do as opposed to stuffing the bowl and lighting up.

But, there are those who enjoy complicating a simple vice. We're all wired differently I suppose.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

I don’t understand the efforts thing. Dump the keystones until draft hole is covered, and dump activated charcoal until keystones are covered. Thats it. It takes 15-20 seconds maximum. When you dump the tobacco, take the keystones out of the ashtray to somewhere that it dries and can be re used and put back in the tin.

With smoking pipes, there is so much finicky stuff that we can collect (lighters, pipes, tools, pouches, wind caps, cleaning supplies, pipe racks, etc) and so many tobacco’s, cellaring, techniques on packing, lightning, pipe shapes and sizes, but having 2 tiny “keystones” tins, one for the keystones and the other for activated charcoal pellets, aside to filter a pipe is a lot of effort? A portable ashtray to dump the keystones if you are out and about? I can understand people not finding the purpose of it due to them not having the issues and such, but the effort thing is strange to me. Its really not that hard or complicated to use or even carry outdoors.

I’m not going to write a dozen paragraphs explaining it, it’s just my opinion. I hadn’t even thought about reclaiming the material when I dump the bowl - not for me. As stated, if it works for you or anyone else, enjoy.

 

[romaso]

The only tobacco I've had problems with is Samuel Gawith Full Virginia Flake. I've done eight hours of drying and cube cutting, and it still had properties of asbestos—I sometimes feel you have to use a blowtorch to get the stuff lit. It's probably just a matter of more drying time.

Try rubbing it out, rather than cube cutting it. You can also dry it a bit after rubbing it out, if necessary.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

Try rubbing it out, rather than cube cutting it. You can also dry it a bit after rubbing it out, if necessary.

I’ve done all manners of prep, rubbing out included. I believe the key is much longer drying time, then even more on top of that.

 

[Law]

I'm not sure what chemicals are filtered out by charcoal or anything else but if it works for you and possibly other people, that's great.

I remember reading an article about the use of activated charcoal filters in removing harmful chemicals from cigarettes. I think it was done in japan. It did remove a good amount of harmful chemicals, but not all. Maybe that is why with activated charcoal makes things smoother? Probably. I’ve used paper filters and balsa and nothing seem to replicate the activated charcoal benefits hence the main culprit: Activated Charcoal.

 

[Law]

You listed the efforts. I just load and smoke, keeping it simple. But, then I've never experienced the problems you seem to. So, I can keep it simple and just smoke the leaf, no drying of stuff, replacing stuff, fishing stuff out of the ashtray, inserting stuff before the smoke. A lot of stuff to do as opposed to stuffing the bowl and lighting up.

But, there are those who enjoy complicating a simple vice. We're all wired differently I suppose.

There is no need to complicate anything if you are satisfied. Of course, smoking is a personal activity or “vice” depending on which school of thought you come from. All I am doing is providing a way for filter smokers to, maybe, switch to none-filtered and enjoy the many benefits that it has, and none-filtered smokers to enjoy blends that they deemed harsh, bitey, unpleasant, etc. It is not necessarily for people who have been enjoying pipes for a long time without any issues to concern themselves about.