10 Things to Consider When Buying Pipe Filters

EDIT: Fixed Capitalization in Title (See Rule 9) - Bob

I have pipes that take 9mm, I have Balsa (Savinelli) pipes, and I also have filterless pipes.

Here's my take:

The 9mm filter: It does take away some of the flavor in the smoke, but it also does provide a much cooler and more dry smoke. The flavour will taste more 'bland' with a 9mm filter. If you are a noob, you will not even notice the difference. Experienced pipe smokers will.

Balsa: I wouldn't even call these filters. They are basically just moisture traps. They do not alter the smoke taste, but they prevent gurgling and moisture build up within the pipe. They are really only good for one smoke. If you try to smoke two bowls with the same filter, the pipe will gurgle. They also smell rancid.

Filterless: Highest flavour, highest difficulty. However, ease of access and abundance of pipe options come into play. I don't want to shit on anyone, but most experienced pipe smokers prefer filterless (myself included). This provides a huge range of options for aesthetics, shapes, sizes and brands. Also, naturally, if you don't have to buy filters ($0.10/smoke) then filterless is a cheaper long term option. I have avoided filters big time. I really don't like them and have been really negatively disposed towards putting another thing into my smoke.

Recently however I have been have been experimenting with Balsa filters to help in taming some blends. In some cases I regret to admit that I really like the effect of what I perceive to be a slightly cooler and dryer smoke.

It has taken me a while to admit it, but I think as I am a bit of a wet smoker anyhow, it really has helped me enjoy smoking more. So the .10 cents a smoke is worth it, though I have read of some people making their own out of a sheet of Balsa for much less.

So some pros and cons from my point of view...

Pro: Potentially dryer and cooler smoke - for tongue bite/burn people, this might be a help.

Con: More cost, another component to carry (albeit really small) and may alter the taste.

I am very pleased with my experiments with Balsa filters so far and suspect I will be sticking with them in the short term. I smoke a bowl a day, maybe two on weekends, and I mostly don't use filters, but either filterless pipes or adaptors or filter pipes without adaptors mostly. However, I use filters on occasion, though sometimes I have to look around to locate them. I think they are good for pipe shows or pipe clubs where you may be sampling blends and end up smoking more than usual. Also, for getting a milder take on a strong tobacco, just because that's what you'd like at the moment, or in sampling heavy duty leaf before you smoke it neat. Europeans have take the 9 mm totally to heart, it seems, and it would be interesting to know if, in the process, they have increased the number of bowls they smoke to compensate. With some milder blends, a filter pretty much eliminates flavor for me. I smoke a 9mm charcoal filter about 80% of the time and I find the whole less flavour thing to be untrue. I can smoke moister tobacco in a 9mm and (to me) moister tobacco has more flavour. A 9mm also knocks off the rough edges in the same way a filter on a cigarette does (again just my experience.)
The whole open draw thing I don't really notice, I get about the same from both filtered & unfiltered. Obviously you cant pass a pipe cleaner halfway through a bowl as the filter is in the way but using a 9mm I've never felt the need to anyway.
Tongue bite I definitely notice more in an unfiltered pipe and especially so if there's red Virginia in the blend. As for 9mm's not really doing anything to clean the smoke all I can think is that carbon is well known for its filtering properties and every used 9mm is wet and full of gunk. To me it would be the same as saying a filter on a cigarette does nothing when I only have to look at a used one to see it does.
As with most things in smoking you need to try it and make your own mind up.

I did some obligatory search functioning before starting this thread but came down with my usual feeling of desperate curiosity so, please - for all you filtered types: What kind of filters are you using im ? Meerschaum or Charcoal? Or do you prefer the old Grabow/Medico paper tube style? Is anyone using those meerschaum puck things? I'm about to order more 6mm jobs but am generally trying to pivot to nine. And more specifically; what makes the White Elephant and Savinelli's so much more expensive than the Dr. Perl/Vauen variety? I do find that the Sav's draw better than the Elephants - I think as a result of the hole count - but having recently found the Vaeuns I think I'm just going to chuck that luxury in favor of the better deal. So, what say you? And, thanks in advance.

I did some obligatory search functioning before starting this thread but came down with my usual feeling of desperate curiosity so, please - for all you filtered types: What kind of filters are you using im ? Meerschaum or Charcoal? Or do you prefer the old Grabow/Medico paper tube style? Is anyone using those meerschaum puck things? I'm about to order more 6mm jobs but am generally trying to pivot to nine. And more specifically; what makes the White Elephant and Savinelli's so much more expensive than the Dr. Perl/Vauen variety? I do find that the Sav's draw better than the Elephants - I think as a result of the hole count - but having recently found the Vaeuns I think I'm just going to chuck that luxury in favor of the better deal. So, what say you? And, thanks in advance.

IMO, the Grabow made paper filters are the best paper filters out there for filtering gunk and moisture. I’ve found they also last longer than Medico.

For charcoal, the Germans have it best with Vauen, however the filters don’t work as well sealing outside of the Vauen brand.

Before any of you wiseguys start making fun of this guy, just hold off. We should let the filter people have their conversation. There is no need for name calling or emasculating the poor guy. We don't want anyone saying that we aren't friendly to the filter or aromatic guys. They can find a place here... somewhere.
Surely we have one other guy using filters here. Maybe Germans? Anyone from Germany here?

Anyways... I'm just trying to be helpful.

Im German, yes, and you can find more 9mm pipes here to use with filters than unfiltered.

But I refuse to smoke filtered pipes, don’t like to hassle around with soaky carbon or whatever filter. Good for me, there is a minority buying the unfiltered pipes here, you can find non- filtered estates for a fraction of the price.

Before any of you wiseguys start making fun of this guy, just hold off. We should let the filter people have their conversation. There is no need for name calling or emasculating the poor guy. We don't want anyone saying that we aren't friendly to the filter or aromatic guys. They can find a place here... somewhere.
Surely we have one other guy using filters here. Maybe Germans? Anyone from Germany here?

Anyways... I'm just trying to be helpful.

Thank you, we appreciate the space haha. I work in the trades so I know when I'm treading on this brand of thin ice. Thank you for the tolerance, we filthy filty's do our best to keep our spines straight. There's actually testosterone in the filter, if you can believe it.

IMO, the Grabow made paper filters are the best paper filters out there for filtering gunk and moisture. I’ve found they also last longer than Medico.

For charcoal, the Germans have it best with Vauen, however the filters don’t work as well sealing outside of the Vauen brand.

Thanks, yeah I also found that there is a slight diameter difference between the Savinellis and White Elephants. It's really only been an issue in the MM's, so far. I just went ahead and drilled out the stem and shank on those. I think on a Grabow too. This question seems to come up every month or two, in my opinion. There are many variables to consider. You can search the search bar above for many pros and cons. You indicate you are transitioning from 6mm to 9mm pipes. Do you smoke straights or bents ? Bents already have a restricted draw by virtue of the angle of stem bend. So in bent 'system' pipes the balsa might be better and charcoal will have a tight draw.

Why are you using a filter ?

Savinelli had two independent university studies done and the Balsa filters filter 77% of the tar and nicotine out of the smoke. Vauen's research and testing showed the charcoal filters filter about 90%.
So if you want the nicotine ... consider how much filtering you want.

I have recently switched from 6mm to 9mm as well although I do continue to rotate a few non-filter pipes. I use Savinelli 6mm charcoal and balsa in my Savinelli KS depending on the tobacco. If its a thick slow burning tobacco I use the balsa. If its more virginia flake I use the charcoal just to smooth out the flavor and tone down the bite.

The biggest charcoal filter producers are Vauen in Germany who invented the charcoal filter and Kopp in Munich. Both make filters for other companies. My recommendation is to try different types to find the ones you prefer. I used to use Vauen for the price until I tried Petersons. The vauen had a slight chemical taste to me and Peterson doesn't to me. So I pay a little more for the Petersons which I have found do not limit the tobacco flavor or taste (my opinion).

Sorry if this seems a 4 cent answer when I meant to give a 2 cent answer ... maybe not even worth that much. As in all things YMMV.

This question seems to come up every month or two...

I am certain that it does, I've frequented a few hobby type forums over the years and it tends to be the case that new guys either can't seem to use the search or, like myself(I like to think hah) are just looking for a fresh take or commentary on a specific facet of an age old topic. Anyway, Thanks for the well thought out response, I definitely learned something.

I started out with filtered pipes because I wanted to give up cigarettes and just kind of figured I should use a filter, y'know. Less tar and nicotine. I only smoke low nic blends and now that I have the rougher edges of the addiction tamped down and 'need' to smoke about 95% less, I find that i now like to use them because I smoke like a leaky drain pipe. On top of preferring sweeter aromatics. Never thought I'd be a vanilla guy, but there you have it. I am finally getting through my original batch of White Elephant charcoals so I appreciate the notes you had about the various brands. Im intrigued by the meer tubes as well, might give them a shot next.

I think I also like filters because it increases engagement with the pipes for me. I get obsessed with new projects and am never happy with the way things are and need to try every angle, tweak and modify. Already have corn cob chop shop going on.

I am certain that it does, I've frequented a few hobby type forums over the years and it tends to be the case that new guys either can't seem to use the search or, like myself(I like to think hah) are just looking for a fresh take or coverage of a specific facet of an age old topic. Anyway, Thanks for the well thought out response, I definitely learned something.

I originally started using filters because I wanted to give up cigarettes and just kind of figured I should use a filter, y'know. Less tar and nicotine. I only smoke low nic blends and now that I have the rougher edges of the addiction tamped down and 'need' to smoke about 95% less, I find that i now like to use them because i smoke like a leaky drain pipe. On top of preferring sweeter aromatics. Never thought I'd be a vanilla guy, but there you have it. I will definitely still be smoking my six mils, they're the bulk of my small collection at this point so I'm thinking I'll try the White Elephant meer tubes.

Same here but buy a descent non-filter and try to smoke it very slowly. The tendency with the filters is to occasionally inhale and therefore you never really kick the habit ! .02 ! I've got about 10 pipes, and they're a pretty even split of 6mm and filterless. The lone exception is a Stefano Santambrogio rhodesian, a 9mm. I bought an adapter for this one, but I prefer a filter on this one. I like the balsas far more than the charcoal; for my 6mm Savinellis, it's the other way around. The 6mm balsas are nice too, but I do enjoy the luxury of changing out the charcoal ones after each smoke. Receiving what is ostensibly a lifetime supply of 6mm charcoal filters from a friend was simply good fortune! Also, I find the job done by the 6mm adapters more favorable than their 9mm counterpart.