I’ve had brands debate glass versus paper before they could say what the tip is for.
A crutch, also called a filter tip or tip, is the formed paper or other insert at the mouth end of a pre-rolled cone; it holds the opening, stops fill from being drawn through, and sets how the empty seats in a tray—pick the job first, then diameter and material.
Read this and you’ll know what you are specifying, before you shop 6mm versus 8mm.
Diameter choose: https://ace-rolling.com/should-you-pick-a-6mm-or-8mm-crutch-filter-tip/. Paper versus glass: https://ace-rolling.com/paper-tip-or-glass-tip-how-do-you-choose-for-cones/. This page is the definition.
What Job Does the Crutch Actually Do in the Empty Cone?
I start with function, because “filter” makes people think of a cigarette filter.
The crutch is a structural mouthpiece: it keeps the cone open, gives the fingers something to hold, and blocks loose fill from being pulled through; it is not a health filter, and I will not write it as one.
I correct the word in briefs. If a buyer writes “filter” and means a cellulose cigarette filter, that is a different product. Most pre-roll crutches in our programs are rolled paper tips. Say paper tip if that is what you want.
How Does the Crutch Change Filling and Tray Seat?
This is why I care as a converting plant.
A loose or off-center crutch makes the empty wobble in the tray and fill unevenly; a firm, centered tip is one of the first things I want receiving to touch on an inbound carton.
Incoming QC: https://ace-rolling.com/what-should-you-verify-on-a-bulk-cone-shipment/. Tip diameter by size: https://ace-rolling.com/what-tip-diameter-fits-each-pre-rolled-cone-size/. The crutch is the handle the machine holds.
| Crutch problem | What I see on the line | First check |
|---|---|---|
| Loose tip | Wobble, uneven fill | Seat and glue |
| Off-center | Tray miss | Forming |
| Too long on a short body | No cavity left | Tip length |
What Materials Count as a Crutch in a Private-Label Brief?
I list the common ones so the RFQ stops saying “fancy tip.”
Paper tips are the default converting route; glass, wood, and ceramic show up as premium add-ons with different MOQ and pack rules—write the material, then the diameter, then whether it is printed.
Printed tips are a separate artwork freeze. Glass-tip private label is a different article. Do not mix “crutch” and “glass tip” as if they were one SKU.
How Long Should the Crutch Be Relative to the Cone?
Buyers skip length and then hate the sample.
Longer crutches eat cavity, which matters most on 70mm and 53mm bodies; lock tip length with cone length, or the shorty will look like a mouthpiece with a hat.
53mm: https://ace-rolling.com/when-does-a-53mm-shorty-cone-actually-fit/. 70mm: https://ace-rolling.com/are-70mm-mini-pre-rolled-cones-worth-stocking/. On 109mm a standard tip looks normal. On a stub it can look absurd.
What Should You Freeze About the Crutch Before You Scale?
I want this on the scale PO.
Freeze material, diameter, length, print file, and how receiving will check seat; a “we might try glass later” note is not a spec, and it will not ride along on a paper-tip lot.
Scale freeze list: https://ace-rolling.com/what-must-you-lock-before-scaling-custom-cone-orders/. Empty cones still quote about USD $0.04–$0.06 wholesale with MOQ; tip material can move that conversation.
| Freeze on the tip line | Why it cannot wait |
|---|---|
| المادة | Paper and glass are two products |
| القطر | Tray seat and mouth feel |
| Length | Eats cavity on short bodies |
| Print file | A later “maybe” is a second lot |
How Do You Brief the Crutch to Ace Rolling?
I want four words, then numbers.
Write paper or other material, diameter, length, printed or blank; I will pair it to the cone drawing and tell you if the tip will swallow a short body.
Cones: https://ace-rolling.com/pre-rolled-cones/. Quote: https://ace-rolling.com/contect/.
الأسئلة الشائعة
What is a crutch filter tip in a pre-roll?
What is a crutch filter tip in a pre-roll? It is the formed insert at the mouth end that holds the opening, gives a grip, and stops loose fill from being pulled through. It is a structure, not a medical filter. Most Ace programs use paper tips unless you brief another material.
Is a crutch the same thing as a cigarette filter?
No. A cigarette filter is a different product. A pre-roll crutch is usually rolled paper, sometimes glass or wood. If you write filter and mean cellulose, say so. I will not assume that from the word crutch. Spec the job first, then the material.
Why does tip seat matter before grams?
Because a loose or off-center crutch makes the empty wobble in the tray. Uneven fill then looks like a gram problem. Touch tip seat on inbound QC before you chase density. The machine holds the tip, not the crown. Fix the mouth end first.
What tip specs must be on the RFQ?
Material, diameter, length, and printed or blank. Diameter choose is a later article. Length matters most on 70mm and 53mm bodies, where a long crutch can eat the cavity. Do not write only standard tip. I need those four lines on the RFQ.
Can I change from paper to glass after the volume PO?
Not on the same lot. Glass is a different add-on with different pack and MOQ. Freeze the tip before you scale. A maybe-glass-later note is how two products land in one carton. Change material on a new PO, not mid-run.
Does Ace Rolling supply crutches with empty cones?
Yes, paper tips are the common route on empty cone programs that quote about USD $0.04–$0.06 wholesale with MOQ. Glass, wood, or ceramic are separate conversations. Send material, diameter, and length with the cone drawing so the tip matches the body.
Ready to Spec the Mouth End Before the Diameter Debate?
Send material, diameter, and tip length, and I’ll pair it to the cone.
- Pre-rolled cones: https://ace-rolling.com/pre-rolled-cones/
- OEM/ODM programs: https://ace-rolling.com/oem-odm-rolling-paper-manufacturer/
- Quote: https://ace-rolling.com/contect/
