I use 69% for my cigars. I don't use them for my pipe tobacco though. If its too wet which, it almost always is; I microwave it for a few seconds. Mold has never been an issue. Round about what side of Kentucky are you in?
How dry is "too dry"?
- Thread starter RatchetT
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fMf Piper
Guest
That is good to know. I am finding much of my pipe tobacco is too moist for my taste, so I may have to try the microwave method. I am in Central KY near Frankfort, and you?
Oh okay, I'm South Central near Bowling Green. But yeah, you should definitely try it; quickest way I've found. Be careful though, do like 10 seconds and check it, then let it cool it. Gets crisper when it cools and it only takes like 2 minutes to cool crispier. 10 is almost always the sweet spot unless is goopy as all hell then 15-20.
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fMf Piper
Guest
I get out to Bowling Green a couple times a year for work, very nice area. I am definitely going to try the microwave before my next bowl. I think 10 seconds will be perfect based on what you've said. Thank you!
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First off, Welcome to the forums.
Secondly, having been where you have been, here is what I can offer you:
Over time you will likely find that you enjoy different tobaccos and blends at different humidity levels; therefore, you may discover there is not one perfect-fits-all humidity level, nor, any single perfect pouch.
I have pouches like you which suck a tobacco down to dried Brillo; and, for the tobaccos I like to smoke that way, this would be the correct pouch to use in that case.
On the other hand, Wifey found me these very inexpensive real old school plaid-cloth tobacco pouches on Amazon a few years back that were lined with what looked and felt to me just like that translucent tan rubber they used to make bed-wetter kids wear way back in the day.
Well those pouches keep the tobaccos I like to smoke at a higher humidity level very moist for a very long time; and if I throw in one of those metal moisture-discs that you add distilled water to... even longer.
So... When you figure out what tobacco you like to smoke at what humidity level, you need to "pair" it to the right pouch; and, if you need to use a humidity disc with it or not. - aka Moisture Button for Tobacco Pouch.
Thankfully, the non-leather pouches come in many, many different types and are pretty inexpensive; whereas an unlined leather pouch is going to act like a leather pad for rubbing-out and drying tobacco on - which could be great for the tabaks you might like to smoke bone dry.
Hope this is helpful to you. - Sherm Natman
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fMf Piper
Guest
This sounds right up my alley. I really like the look of leather, but I am more about the functionality and usability that the asthetics. I will have to see what I can find that is similar to your description.
A lot depends on the relative humidity where you live. Here on the Oregon coast it is so humid that it's really not possible to get your tobacco too dry regardless of how long you leave it out. I've found that extended drying (air exposure) will lead to a loss of flavor, especially with aromatics, but it won't ever be too dry to smoke well. I have a waxed canvas pipe bag that I've stored tobacco in for months here and it's still not too dry.
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fMf Piper
Guest
I am originally from Washington State, but left before beginning my cigar and pipe smoking journey. Here in KY, the summer humidy is extremely high, but it can get pretty dry in the winter. I am not going to lie, but I have silently coveted that waxed canvas pipe roll that comes with that inexpensive starter Whitlucks ebony pipe sold on Amazon. I am going to have to search for a good lined leather, or non-leather pipe roll/tobacco pouch.
Yep, I bought the Whitluck's kit just for the waxed canvas pipe roll. It was worth it. The pipe that comes with it is made of ebony wood and is really heavy, but it's smokable.
I also bought another little pipe case/tobacco pouch from Amazon made by FireDog. That one is pretty nice as well. The tobacco pouch on the FireDog is lined, but not sealed, but the lining keeps the tobacco pretty moist.
I’ve had good luck with the Firedog 2 pipe pouch on Amazon for a starter, but honestly I carry 2-4 ziplock snack baggies with with a few bowls each stuffed in the lined pouch. I’m still trying different blends and home mixes throughout the day-I don’t think I’m gonna find an “all day , every day” blend like I though I would when I started.
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fMf Piper
Guest
That is a pretty nice looking, economical pouch. However, I agree, as an unpretentious smoker, if a snack baggy works, that works for me! I am all about using what I have at hand before buying something new.
It's a matter of how it smokes. If it crackles when lighting and smokes very hot it's too dry. I wet a small square of paper towel and seal it up with the tobacco for a day and it's fine.
I have a couple of roll up pipe/tobacco carriers, one leather, one waxed canvas --- I just use a sandwich bag for the tobacco and put it in the pouch, works just fine and . . . if I want to take some of two blends . . . two bags! Just use an appropriate amount, roll 'em up, get the excess air out, seal and put in the pouch.
Double bag it. Put tobacco in small Ziploc and carry in that leather.
You'll probably need to experiment a bit to find the right degree of tobacco dryness that suits your tastes. Clearly it can be too dry -- e.g., it turns to dust when you handle it. OTOH cigar humidity will be too moist. Tobacco pouches are not really designed for long term storage, more like a days worth of tobacco. Back in the 70's conventional wisdom held that one should put a slice of orange or apply peel in the pouch to keep the tobacco moist -- it worked, too well in fact.
Do you like any flake tobaccos? Perhaps those would hold up a little longer for you in that pouch.
My first pouch of SWR was completely dry, dry to the bone. I thought that just was how it came, smoked just fine. Didn't know it had some kind of topping until I bought a fresh tub.
I do not like my tobacco too dry. I live in a desert. Moisture rules. I prefer that the leaf have some flexibility and that the oils in it have some life in them.
With time, for the moment I still get a better aroma when my tobacco has a touch of humidity. I could say, I don't like it crunchy, very dry, dry, if I like it somewhat supple and soft. But you can only detect that with your fingertips and your nose. Although who knows, I'm really talking about tobaccos that are no more than 5 or 6 years old. I can't comment on tobaccos older than that. In the end these oils will degrade, and it will be a matter of very personal taste.