Anyone try Savinelli balsa filter?

[KinnScience]

Thinking of getting a Savinelli Toscana. They have the balsa filter system. Wondered if anyone here has used it ... likes it ..... hates it... etc.

[Dedalus]

I haven't tried one personally, though I've read good reviews about the balsa filter...and I'm sure Dub will tell you that you can't go wrong here.

[Dgar]

I have a Savinelli and dont use the balsa filter, I think most folks pass on the filters.

No Harm in giving it a try, just to see what you think.

[morrissey1]

I got a Savinelli Solaria 699 as a Christmas gift and I really like it. I do use the balsa filter. It seems to me that it cools the smoke a little, maybe its my imagination. However be aware that Savinelli makes a 6mm and a 9mm stem for the filters. I spoke with a Savinelli rep, he claims the 6mm is for all other countries except Italy wereas they use the 9mm. My pipe was ordered locally and I recieved it to find that it had the Italian 9mm stem. No problem right? Wrong! The 9mm filters are very hard to find generically. They had to be ordered from Savinelli..And of course because I smoked the pipe before I noticed this, I was unable to exchange for a 6mm pipe. So if you havnt already made your purchase..Take note and I hope this helps!

[Requiem]

The balsa filter makes the pipe smoke cooler and deals with any small moisture problem. I find it better then the other filters (charcoal or whatever)... however, I also find it takes some of the nic away, so I have very limited experience with filters... Instead I have equiped almost all my pipes with the little plastic pieces, also from Savinelli, that are meant to be used in filter pipes instead of filters, and those plastic pieces are good at keeping the pipe at low temperature.

[DubintheDam]

As pre-mentioned, I do like filters...I also like non-filter pipes too...call me crazy! Sometimes I don't bother with the 6mm filter and just smoke my Sav's without filter or adapter.....works fine too...only real problem with the 6mm system is additional cost, you can get a deal online or ask your shop rep to do a deal on a 10 packs or so.

6mm filters absorb moisture, cools the smokes but still leaves most of the Nicotine and flavor in...9mm does reduce nico and flavor somewhat. The nice thing with the 6 mm is you can still flick out excessive moisture from the stem if you need to. This is less effective with 9mm, be they charcoal or balsa.

[beaupipe]

I'm a huge fan of the 6mm balsa filters. In fact, I've gotten so used to their effect (cooling and drying) that I use them for everything other than English/Balkans and unrubbed flakes. I especially like jamming the 6mm balsas into cobs where I think they do a way better job than Medico filters. Draw is great and they absorb a surprising amount of moisture. I can't imagine smoking without them now and they are very inexpensive if you're in a position to order from a US-based online retailer.

The best thing about them, however, is that when you run out of them, you have to order more and when you order more, you always end up getting a bunch of tobacco or a new pipe. Hey, free shipping is important.

[KinnScience]

Originally Posted by beaupipe

The best thing about them, however, is that when you run out of them, you have to order more and when you order more, you always end up getting a bunch of tobacco or a new pipe. Hey, free shipping is important.

I'm in touch with that emotion

[Hermit]

All five of my Savinellis have the balsa "filter."
It really isn't exactly a filter; the smoke passes
around rather than through the thing. I've tried
the adaptor and didn't notice a lot of difference.

[dmkerr]

Perhaps I'm missing something by not using filters. Then again, I don't notice my smokes being hot or overly moist. I guess I just smoke slowly and allow the tobacco to dry before smoking. Then again, I usually smoke tinned tobaccos (esp. new blends) in their "fresh" state and I still haven't had problems.

So I guess to me, a filter is just an unnecessary additional step.

Interesting article, though, in the recent Pipe Smokers mag about "system pipes" including the filtered ones.

[pro2625]

I like the balsa filters until I have to run a pipe cleaner through the pipe mid smoke....