Kabob Filters ? Redux

[OzPiper]

@Coreios posted recently about using kabob skewers in place of balsa filters
Which got me thinking (it was a quiet day at work ! ) of alternatives

I have a stand of slender Himalyan bamboo and another of Tiger Grass in the backyard

Couple of inch long well-dried out pieces in a Stanwell Shape 186 9mm filter pipe.
Disclaimer: I have never smoked with a filter before.
So I have absolutely no idea what to expect
Or if my conclusions are valid.

Tiger Grass:



Himalyan Bamboo:

 

[OzPiper]

Unfortunately I am nursing a cold, so the 2nd part of this experiment will have to wait until I'm fully recovered

 

[Coreios]

@Coreios posted recently about using kabob skewers in place of balsa filters
Which got me thinking (it was a quiet day at work ! ) of alternatives

I have a stand of slender Himalyan bamboo and another of Tiger Grass in the backyard

Couple of inch long pieces in a Stanwell Shape 186 9mm filter pipe.
Disclaimer: I have never smoked with a filter before.
So I have absolutely no idea what to expect
Or if my conclusions are valid.

Tiger Grass:

View attachment 196119View attachment 196120

Himalyan Bamboo:

View attachment 196122View attachment 196123

My thought were how wet it it actually and I broke the bamboo in half it was dry inside. So I called that a fail. Match sticks were suggested to me and that worked great. I know you can't gage it like I did by wetness but let me know if it worked out Im just curious at this point what will and won't work. Just saw you other msg and edited this one....feel better soon look forward to what you discover.

 

[bullet08]

If the experiment is about moisture absorption, may I suggest pipe cleaner or q-tip on a short notice?

 

[kcghost]

Sounds like you need to get some real balsa filters. I don't think you experiment is going to pay off.

 

[Coreios]

@Coreios posted recently about using kabob skewers in place of balsa filters
Which got me thinking (it was a quiet day at work ! ) of alternatives

I have a stand of slender Himalyan bamboo and another of Tiger Grass in the backyard

Couple of inch long pieces in a Stanwell Shape 186 9mm filter pipe.
Disclaimer: I have never smoked with a filter before.
So I have absolutely no idea what to expect
Or if my conclusions are valid.

Tiger Grass:

View attachment 196119View attachment 196120

Himalyan Bamboo:

View attachment 196122View attachment 196123

My thought were how wet it it actually and I broke the bamboo in half it was dry inside. So I called that a fail. Match sticks were suggested to me and that worked great. I know you can't gage it like I did by wetness but let me know if it worked out Im just curious at this point what will and won't work.

If the experiment is about moisture absorption, may I suggest pipe cleaner or q-tip on a short notice?

And heat.

 

[Coreios]

Sounds like you need to get some real balsa filters. I don't think you experiment is going to pay off.

Match sticks worked great. Was suggested to me by someone here. Also toothpicks but I haven't tried that yet.

 

[AJL67]

Pictures of you smoking inside a Kanga's pouch or it didn't happen, also have you tried a shrimp off the barbie?

 

[OzPiper]

Sorry for the hiatus in reporting back caused by a cold.

Disclaimer: I have never smoked a pipe with a filter, so take what I'm saying with a large pinch of salt

I'm not sure what purpose filters serve, but I suspect they
1) reduce moisture, and hence gurglin
2) reduce tongue bite
3) reduce tars and unwanted carcinogens from ending in your throat and lungs
3) reduce particulate material eg tobacco and ash ending up in your gob

So on with the experiment.
The pipe was chosen as it's the only one I have that takes a (9mm) filter.

I'm smoking Peterson's Connoiseuer's Choice, a blend I'm very familiar with.
Packed straight out of the tin.
Moist, but not too much so.

1st 1/4 of bowl: smoking withOUT a filter
Very open draw. No gurgles.

2nd 1/4 of bowl: with the Himalyan bamboo insert.
Again an open draw.
Dry smoking with no gurgles
The bamboo tube was split up and the inside was definitely damp



3rd 1/4: smoking with the a Tiger Grass (reed) insert
Draw is much restricted.
Again dry smoking with no gurgles
On removal and splitting the internal of the reed was quite damp


Last 1/4: smoking without any insert
Again dry smoke. No gurgles
However ash, tobacco in mouth towards the end of the bowl.

Conclusion: Both the bamboo and reed inserts reduced moisture and particulate matter
I did not notice any reduction in the taste of the tobacco.

I'm not sure if either reduced tar or harmful chemicals.
The smoke was too short to result in discolouration of the bamboo and reed.
Activated charcoal filters may be more efficient at this.

Worthwhile using filters ?
Pipe cleaners are cheap and easy to use mid-smoke if necessary
Drying tobacco well and smoking slowly go a long way to reducing moisture