Make Your Own Pipe Filter

Using a block of balsa and an Xacto knife I made some Savenilli style pipe filters. They work well reducing tongue bite, providing cooler smoke yet not reducing draw too much. They're great for anyone that smokes fast or wet.

After first use portion of the filter was nearly charred from heat, had slightly expanded and changed colors. It's too early for me to claim the blast filter improves taste. More testing is needed

The filter should have grooves on the side as to not restrict draw. Copying Savenilli design is helpful.
Length of each filter is 40 mm.

Added photos of 6 mm and 9 mm filters.

Do you cut them in triangle shape like the Savenilli, or leave them square?

I cut the smaller 6 mm filters in triangles and the the 9 mm round or roundish.
While cutting them in squares is easier and less time consuming I try to copy the Savenelli filters.

I don't have any balsa block but I do have some 1/4" sheets so I may have to give this a try.

While I have a 100 count pack of balsa wood filters, I have been experimenting with something I read on a pipe forum, where you take a pipe filter cut in a 2 inch length and folded. It acts almost like a spring loaded filter, holding it in place.

I can't really tell any major differences between other type filters, except for it's clearly only good for one smoke before needing replaced.
I use a balsa wood for 3 smokes before tossing, which is more economical I think. Where is balsa wood sold?

I'm keen to try this. Am thinking a flat sheet of just the right thickness, lay a straight edge over it and slice some very long pieces at a time then cut to length. I love a new project. Great idea!

I bought the balsa on Amazon. I am sure Home Depot sells it too.

Most hobbie stores carry balsa its usually used in the construction of R/C airplanes.
sticks
triangles
sheets
blocks

Just an update: My Swiss army knife works better than the Xacto knife. It cuts the balsa easier.

When I was using the filters in mine, I found some square strips in a hobby shop that only needed cut to length. Not as crafty that way, but they worked.

I have an unfiltered MM Huck Finn whose stem inside diameter is too small for a filter, but cutting a Savinelli filter in half and trimming its thickness made it perfect.

Rem700 said:

Most hobbie stores carry balsa its usually used in the construction of R/C airplanes.
sticks
triangles
sheets
blocks

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Danger, Will Robinson!!!! RCAAD is worse than just about any AD we have

oc_in_fw said:

Danger, Will Robinson!!!! RCAAD is worse than just about any AD we have

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1/4 scale is bad don't even want to think about jets.

Rem700 said:

1/4 scale is bad don't even want to think about jets.

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I have a co-worker who just moved up to jets.