Thread: Anyone use a filtered pipe?

Normally, I smoke my pipe several times a week. When I am getting really crazy, I smoke it once a day.

I really do understand the risks I am taking - filter or not. But I enjoy it. I love looking at a well made pipe, I like the tactile feel of the bowl in my hand, I like the warmth of the bowl and I like the little cloud of smoke it makes. I have quit every damn thing somebody tells me is bad for me. I gave up food that I love, I drink in such moderation it's ridiculous, I wear every safety restraint and protective gear I'm told to wear and I just don't feel like giving up my pipe, which in the grand scheme of things, I barley smoke.

Having stated my case for why I smoke a pipe, I will return to filters. I only have one filtered pipe. It is a Savinelli Bing's Favorite with the triangular Balsa filter. I like what it does, but if you are smoking a blend that might smoke wet, the filter swells up and chokes off the pipe. Also, I have been known to periodically rung a pipe cleaner through the stem while smoking. If I do this with the Savinelli, it pushes the filter into the shank and it is murder getting it out.

I have a Big Ben pipe that uses 9mm filters and I quite like it. The filters, having paper, absorbe the moisture from some aromatic blends I smoke and keeps the pipe from "gurgling". I don't seem to find any differences in the flavour of the smoke. It just seems cooler and drier. I like it and I am looking to buy another one like it.
I also have a Chacom that uses those metal filters that only serve to cool down the smoke but it seems to work poorly so I stoped using it altogether. I also have a Savinelli that has no filters and smokes very smooth and cool. It is the best pipe I have, so I use it for finer blends and generaly don't take it to work (to smoke a few puffs during my coffee break).
But regarding the pipe filters: I like them a lot! It works and I sure am glad that they retain moisture and keep that black stuff out of my mouth!