Instead of a gauze would tinfoil not do the trick? That's what I use to do when I had no gauzes
DO NOT use Aluminum foil for a homemade screen - the Aluminum will off-gas when heated - resulting in you smoke being contaminated. I prefer to use Stainless or Ti screen for my pipe and skip the perc's in my water pipe (easier to clean out the ash) so I can go with a screen-less bowl and avoid heating anything other than glass and my Cannabis.
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