Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Savinelli Balsa System

What is the Savinelli Balsa System?

The Savinelli Balsa System is an ingenious and easy to use filtering system for tobacco pipes. It was developed by Achille Savinelli and the Savinelli research team. They first conceived the idea of using nature's most absorbent wood to do two things:
  • It would absorb any moisture that might travel beyond the confines of the pipe bowl, and
  • It would have a cooling affect on the smoke as it traveled around this unique absorptive material.
         Image Source: savinelli.it

Extensive testing verified that no matter what type of tobacco one used or how "hot" one tried to smoke a pipe, tongue bite was dramatically reduced and moisture was trapped by the balsa filter instead of passing to the mouth. Further testing also showed that the Balsa insert had properties that retained tar and nicotine that might be present in some tobaccos. For example, both by the EURATOM Research Center of Ispra (Italy) and the CHEMICAL & ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY Inc. Research Center (USA) both conducted independent studies with very positive results: "..the filter has the ability to absorb 77% of the nicotine and 91% of the tar contained in tobacco without altering the flavour of same."

In order to accomodate the balsa filter, a new type of tenon (the part of mouthpiece that goes into the end of shank of the pipe) was developed. But at the same time, Achille Savinelli insisted that his customers have the freedom to use or not use the revolutionary system as they chose. So, a converter or adapter consisting of a simple tube was designed to be used when the smoker decided he did not want to use the new balsa system. The small tube is simply inserted into the end of the tenon instead of a balsa filter and the pipe smoked just like any other non-filtered pipe. (The small tube is necessary to reduce the size of the airway so the pipe doesn't burn too hotly.)

Savinelli Balsa Filters (6mm)

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