Is this Mold on Kendall Plug?

[hoosierpipeguy]

Well there you have it, another article adding on to the dangers of smoking cigarettes and tobacco products. I'm convinced now. I've smoked numerous tins of tobacco that had significantly more white stuff on it than in the OP photos. Haven't died yet, perhaps though I should be updating my will.
If people don't wish to smoke tobacco with alleged mold on it, their choice. I just find it humorous how smoking pipe tobacco is overthought so much and so much consideration for mold is given, for health reasons, when smoking a tobacco product.

 

[erhardt85]

I promise I'm not going to continue beating a dead horse forever, but there is a distinct difference between the dangers of smoking tobacco and the unique dangers of smoking potentially mold infested tobacco. I don't think they mean merely shaving a couple years off when they say deadly. Nor do I think it's a conspiracy against us or something. I guess the thing keeping me here is the lack of any reward of significance to offset the added risk. Maybe it I had something aging for 20+ years and one flake had a few spots of mold I would remove it and smoke the rest, but for something newer I just toss the jar/tin. I guess theres a fundamental difference in the thought process here. Nothing personal. On a side note that dark plug looks disgusting with that mold.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

erhardt, I can't dispute your reasoning. I grew up in a rural area, did a fair amount of farming, we had a huge garden... point is, I'm not that squeemish about a little mold. I also now own a Restoration/Construction company and see how much mold many people breath in every day from their own homes and do nothing about it. When was the last time you had your ductwork vacuumed and cleaned?

 

[erhardt85]

For the first time in 40 years very recently had the ducts cleaned. I completely understand you @Hoosierpipeguy. The chances of something going horribly wrong are pretty low. We are bathing in an ocean of mold every day. I appreciate the added context. Maybe I'm just a little paranoid haha.

 

[jpmcwjr]

The interesting thing about the piece above is it's sponsored by a company that sells "mold solutions".

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Actually, we don't sell mold solutions. We work more at keeping the moisture out so mold doesn't form to begin with. I've just seen enough of what goes on through our construction experience.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I just know that if the tobacco looks moldy and smells off, I'm not anxious about smoking it. But, if an aged tin has some crystals on it, and it smells good, I'll smoke it. I heard a comedian talk about how in his day, people didn't die from peanut allergies. They just had unexplained deaths. Maybe we just don't hear about people dying from smoking a moldy tin of an aged Virginia flake, because it happens with an unexplained death? I'm not going to talk someone into smoking a tin of something that their gut instinct is that it is moldy. I'm also not going to dissuade someone from smoking what their guts says will be yummy. Mold, crystals, sugars, or some chemical reaction that is yet explained, you really just have to do what your gut says. Mine says that I should probably have my ducts cleaned. I had no idea that was a thing. ::

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Michael, over 90% of the roofs I see are not anywhere close to being ventilated properly. So you end up with an attic full of humid, stagnant air which is a breeding ground for all kinds of organisms.

 

[64alex]

I let the thread run as it unfolded very interesting and amusing.

Now this is the update on the molded Kendall plug. First of all the retailer demonstrated to be up to its good reputation as they recognized the mold and a replacement plug was sent which I should receive in few days.
About the molded plug. I suspect the mold might come not from the baccy itself but probably from being stored close to some wet area. If you see the pics of the plug at the beginning of the thread the mold is actually in two adjacent sides of the plug and being the production date of August of last year it is reasonable it might be stored close to something wet which developed the mold on the plug. If it is so the plug might be salvageable. So based on this:

1. I cut a thick flake out of the molded area in order to remove the mold and now I have a plug with no apparent mold.

2. I will leave the plug open in the air 1 or 2 weeks in order to dry a little bit on the outside to inhibit any residual invisible mold.

3. After that I am thinking prior to jarring the plug putting it in a ziplock/vacuum bag for maybe 6 months checking for any mold growth.

4. If everything will be fine I will jar it and keep untouched likely for many years given the replacement plug will give me plenty of baccy for a long time.

5. If everything will go as I hope I might end up with a nice plug in few years from now.
What do you think of this plan? Any suggestions?

 

[sparroa]

I would not risk it, myself.
Is that a chance you want to take for a plug that is already going to be replaced?

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

If I understand it correctly, you are getting a replacement from the vendor but you're going to keep the "molded" plug, cut off a small area and smoke the rest?

 

[64alex]

[you're going to keep the "molded" plug, cut off a small area and smoke the rest?]
Not exactly, I am curious to see in 5-10 years if once cut the visible mold it will come back or not. I think that if the mold is coming from the tobacco itself it will likely resurface, if it was just because it was stored hitting a wet surface it won't resurface once cut the surface mold. At the rate I am smoking (1-2 bowls a week) I will probably never come to smoke this one even if I want, I have enough baccy for the next 30 years. I am curious to figure out the source of the mold if from the baccy or from the storage environment. of course I will keep separate from all the other baccy. It is just an experiment.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Did your Kendall Plug come in a plastic zip lock?

 

[bluto]

I have Kendal flake with crystals , but no mold

 

[64alex]

[Did your Kendall Plug come in a plastic zip lock?]
Yes

 

[64alex]

[I have Kendal flake with crystals , but no mold]
Can you post a pic of the crystals? I'd like to compare with the mold.

 

[mawnansmiff]

Putting aside the mould issue for a moment, that is the oddest looking Kendal Plug I've ever seen.
My Kendal Plugs are much more solid looking, your looks to my eye more like a 'crumble cake', very loosely pressed.
Regards,
Jay.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Given that it was sealed in a zip lock bag, how does having it stored next to a wet area cause the mold?

 

[64alex]

[My Kendal Plugs are much more solid looking, your looks to my eye more like a 'crumble cake', very loosely pressed.
Regards, Jay.]
It's indeed very solid. It looks like a crumble cake from the very magnified images but if you look at the first images at normal magnification is very solid. I have other SG plugs and it is as solid as the others.

 

[64alex]

[Given that it was sealed in a zip lock bag, how does having it stored next to a wet area cause the mold?]
Not sure if it was packed so at the factory, it might have been put on the bag at a later time. It does not look like a factory bag.