Tongue bite and pipe filters 

Ironically, Virginias rarely give me tongue-bite. For me, it's burleys that bother me. It is my experience that every person's tongue is susceptible and primed for different things. Why? We are different. You need to experiment and find what works for you. What works for me, more than anything, is learning to pack according to my desired draw and cadence, and not the other way around. I choose how lightly/firmly I want to sip on my pipe. A light motion of air through the tobacco preserves the flavour the best. So, based on that rate and depth of puff, I pack my pipe accordingly. I start light, then tamp the tobacco down until I find that happy-spot, where the light draw sustains the ember and gives me the flavour from the leaf. If I packed too tight, based on my wanted draw, I unpack the pipe and start again. You mentioned cigars. Feel your cigar, feel the fluffiness of it, and how lightly it's packed. If the cigar matches you desired strength of draw, pack you pipe tobacco to mimic the consistency of a cigar. But never force the power of your draw or the rate of your cadence to match how the bowl is filled. Make how the bowl is packed serve you, not the other way round.

I used to be staunchly against filters. After acquiring a 9mm pipe, I tried using a filter and had a similar experience - a drier more flavorful smoke. I now only smoke 9mm filter pipes. Eddie Gray of the Pipe Nook is also a 9mm fan.

the 9mm filters I use are Big Ben ones, ceramic on both ends. most of my pipes are filtered pipes although I do now have a fair number that aren't. I prefer the filtered pipes in many ways but particularly because of the reduced chance of tongue bite, I haven't noticed any negative affects to taste in the way some non filter smokers claim is a problem with filters. A really nice brand of pipe to consider if you want some good quality filter pipes is Rattray's. They have some truly beautiful pipes at not too bad prices.

I only smoke filtered pipes now. I hated getting tongue bite too, even when being very careful with the drying of tobacco. In fact, I tried again recently without a filter with bone-dry virginia and it still bit me to death. I find the clean taste that you describe is the tar being removed from the airstream. You do perhaps lose a little bit of flavour, but most of that flavour is carried by the bitterness of the tar. You should also find that your mouth feels significantly cleaner after each smoke, due to the tar removal. When it comes to packing a filtered pipe, I take the stem off after I have packed and test the draw by inhaling through the tenon - if it is all good (and I pack with a little resistance too) I pop the stem on with the filter and start smoking. I will give you my recommendation when it comes to filters, having tried damn near every one of them. Vauen comes in at second place as they are well constructed, but for me, they restrict the draw like all of the other 9mm filters. First place goes to Blitz filters by a mile. Blitz have a slightly different air intake and I suspect that they carry slightly less charcoal - for me they are perfection, allowing enough taste to get through, combined with really decent airflow. They really are the perfect filter and some of my filtered pipes that I didn't care for smoke perfectly with them. Last but not least... I can now smoke any blend as quickly as I like without a hint of tongue bite. Virginias are now one of my favourite tobaccos!

Some very helpful observations, thank you very much for sharing them! I get some relief from balsa filters but it seems I need to find a 9mm filter pipe and try an activated charcoal filter for Virginia blends. I will also have to catch up on your content to see how you’re doing Simon.

Hello Simon: A well-done video! I concur completely with your observations about pipe filters. I use pipes, with the 9mm. charcoal ones, almost exclusively, now. Not to give you another reason to go out and buy more pipes, (...as if you need that), but, the ultimate smoke, in my opinion, is a 9mm. filtered meerschaum. I learned this from watching BremenPipeSmoker (Mark) videos. You might check out some of the German pipe shops, and see if anything suits your fancy. Or...contact Mark, for assistance. He's a great guy. Be Well, and enjoy the journey. Ed

Hi Simon You put a lot time and effort in to your video's my friend. Another great video. I donot use pipe filters at all.I Donot suffer from tounge bite. I did when i first smoke a pipe but it has been a long time since i have had it. I guess my tounge is just old and age been smoking a pipe for 38 39 years now. It is no fun to have it takes the enjoyment wight out of smoking a pipe. I hope all is well with you and your family. I hope you have a great week allway's take care Briar Blade Sweet Smokes

Informative video. Thanks. Try drinking coconut water. That’s the main thing that helped me when I kept burning my mouth lol

Thank you very much for the information

Hot steam is more dangerous to the skin than hot air of the same exact temperature. Water is a conductor, air is an insulator. A dryer smoke requires more time to cause tounge bite.

One more thing :) not all active coal filters are the same. I've tried many, and the Stanwell's are just great. You get a nice decrease of moisture build up and the taste still the same without the harshness of an unfiltered pipe.

Thanks for the tip about the Boots mouthwash Simon. I knew they did a dry mouth spray but not that too. I'd been put off buying the Biotene because of the outrageous price but if the Boots version works I'll definitely be trying that.

Hello Simon o/ I see absolutely no reason not to use a filter. For me there's no difference in taste, actually, there's an enormous increase since you don't have to worry with tongue bite or other little issues, not to mention the reduction of the heat that reaches your mouth. I don't know in the U.S or in the UK but if you're smoking european blends, almost all of them are probably made having the use of a filter in mind. And this thing about restricted airflow sounds very strange because we can always adjust our packing isn't? Have a nice day.

That Neerup is beautiful - if you’re ever tempted to sell then let me know 😁 As an aside, you can get 6mm Charcoal filters too, hard to get in the UK but it’s definitely possible

there is one thing i wanted to mention- filter which was ceramic on both sides might be a meerschaum one (this with the elephant on) . This company might be making active charcoal ones too but I am not sure. There are 6 mm meerschaum filters too, not really sure about 6 mm charcoal. Best regards Szymon

Hiya bruv Simon here from Dover. How much do you want for that pipe? The angled sitter. Love your work .kind regards ✌😎.Si.

Unlike you 90% of my pipes are filtered and my opinion is that in the long run there is not much difference at least with regards to tounge bite. The only pipe i find that is very difficult to get a tounge bite is the Falcon and thus i smoke this when the blend is "dangerous". Thanks to your question on the last video i tried Waves of Java suggestion which i have not tried before and it worked. I put a ice cube in my mouth and the bad tounge has been recovered instantly.Thanks Waves of Java.

those my filtered pipes take 6mm balzas and I'm using those filters twice or replacing them with adapter insert, I prefer unfiltered pipes

Never saw any improvement with filters myself, only the damned inconvenience of not being able to run a pipe cleaner with one in and the notable loss of flavor. But a lot of guys swear by them. If they work for you, go with it! I prescribe to the idea that a well-made pipe, with proper packing and cadence (and a quick run-through with a pipe cleaner when necessary) acts as its own filter. There's actually a lot of debate on what truly causes tongue bite, and I really do believe it is a Ph or alkalinity issue and not really due to moisture. Some blends (especially Virginias) I've tried have bit regardless of any pipe, technique, filter, or gimmick, and others always smoke cool, even when the tobacco is dripping wet. But as you know buddy, it's all so subjective. You really might have just done a temporary number on your tongue. Try taking a break for a day or two and drink plenty of cool water, see if that helps before you re-evaluate your whole approach to pipe smoking.

OK... once again from an elderly pipe smoking gentleman (who has, sadly, always tended to be a "wet-smoker"), I'm gonna "let the cat outta the bag" here on a LITTLE TRICK that I've used to solve the tongue bite problem for me... and, it just might work for you, so I'll give away this little "trick" to all my "pipe-smoking brethren" free of charge!... To be PERFECTLY HONEST, the COOLEST, DRIEST smoke that this ole dude ever experiences is in using BOTH a 9mm charcoal filter and a 6mm Savinelli balsa filter SIMULTANEOUSLY in a 9mm churchwarden stem (that is: use BOTH at the same time!)!... The balsa filter absorbs all the moisture, which not only eliminates tongue bite, but, also greatly extends the life of the charcoal filter to at least 2 bowls!... And the balsa filter can be rotated (between 3 or 4 fresh balsa filters), so each can completely air-dry... and, after a few uses, can also be rinsed in vodka, dried, and used over and over again as well!... So, here's the deal: I buy the replacement 9mm bent churchwarden stems (Chinese made) on Amazon... which, BTW, fit only SOME of my Danish, German, and Italian 9mm filtered pipes (ones that have a 0.40" O.D. tenon). Of course, after smoking a bowl, you need to push out the 6mm balsa filter with a LONG pipe cleaner (but that also serves to clean the churchwarden stem with each bowl anyway). Some folks might say, "But, doesn't 2 filters detract from the taste of the tobacco?"... Well , to that, all I can say is: "I can certainly still tell (and enjoy) the differences between all the various blends - Peterson EMP, Plum Pudding, Magnum Opus, Mississippi River, Nightcap, Artisan's Blend, Quiet Nights, etc., etc.... and this trick has GREATLY increased my enjoyment of "pipe smoking, and THAT"S what it's all about - right???? Pipe smoking is about your own "personal enjoyment", NOT copy-catting what someone else TELLS you to do!... Ya gotta do what works for you, so also take what this ole boy says with a grain of salt too - BUT... ya might wanna give the "DOUBLE-FILTER IN A CHURCHWARDEN STEM" a try - because ya just MIGHT like it a lot!... Blessings and happy puffing to you!👍

what is tongue bite, im new to pipe smoking., thx in advance.

Sorry if this question sounds dumb, but how do you know if your pipe opens up to remove/replace filter? I’m worried about breaking mines if I pull apart to hard.

Have you noticed a change in the body of the smoke using the filters?

Sorry to bother you, I am producing high-efficiency filtration system: "hermit crab" pipe filter cartridge. I just sent you a video link here, you can watch the video【 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-oL8EaTIe8QA.html 】 【Hermit crab brand】Due to its unique fiber structure and natural hydrophilicity, cotton paper offers many advantages in the manufacture of pipe filters, especially in terms of improving filtration efficiency and extending service life. The following points elaborate on the advantages of cotton paper over ordinary paper: 1：Excellent moisture absorption and permeability: Cotton paper is composed of natural cotton fibers, which have a rich microporous structure between these fibers, so that water or other liquids can be quickly absorbed and penetrate deep into the fibers, rather than just staying on the surface of the paper. This allows the cotton pipe filter to absorb the moisture and microscopic particles produced during the tobacco combustion process more effectively, thereby reducing moisture in the smoke and keeping the tobacco taste pure and dry. 2：Efficient adsorption of harmful substances: Due to the good permeability of cotton paper, it can better contact with harmful substances in the flue gas (such as some tar and nicotine), and effectively reduce the direct entry of these harmful substances into the human body through physical adsorption. In contrast, ordinary paper lacks sufficient permeability, and harmful substances are easy to stay on the surface of the paper, which cannot be effectively intercepted and adsorbed, so the filtration effect is greatly reduced. 3：Longer service life: The paper's strong moisture absorption and adsorption of harmful substances means it retains efficient filtration performance for a longer period of time, reducing the need for frequent replacement due to saturation of the filter element. This means that pipes with cotton filters are much less expensive to maintain and inconvenient to use, providing users with a longer-lasting, more economical solution. 4High temperature resistance: The ceramic material fired at high temperature has a very high melting point and thermal stability, even if it is used in a long-term high tempera