I long term cellar in original tins, mylar and jars with aluminum foil tape over the lid, but have used the swing top for open blends (Smaller and 2-3 oz. at a time) and have found that if you put the paper that came in the tin inside over the tobacco and throw in a mini 55% Boveda humidity pack on top, it will keep optimally for 1 year or more, even if the seal has a small leak.
Mason Jars With a Latch
- Thread starter MonarchistPiper
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I love these type of jars, they look cool and are convenient to open and close. What I do is store blends i'm smoking regularly in them while storing things that will take me longer to get through in regular mason jars. That way, even if there is a tiny bit of air getting in, I'll hopefully finish the blend before it does any real damage.
I agree with you and think they look great, too. They hearken back to an earlier time.
They would work great for what you described.
Not sure if this has been mentioned, but you can get silicone rings for them, which will not dry out and shrink, and have a lower durometer rating, which means they are springier (is that a word) and seal much better. In the end, it also comes down to how well made the jar is, and how well all the parts line up. Personally, I wouldn’t use them, but we do keep brown sugar in one, and it doesn’t dry out.
A bail jar
Very good tip, thanks. I think I'll pick some of these up.
May actually work. I found one of those jars with tobacco in my cellar and it had been down there for at least 2 years. The tobacco was fine. I would never endorse using this as a storage method, I use mason jars that are vacuum sealed. But, they do work.
I keep all of my tobacco in mason jars except for one which is in a Lane Limited branded ceramic container with latch and rubber gasket. It's very similar to what you posted.
The tobacco in that container dried out in about a month. I kept a 62% Boveda pack in the lid and it still dried out. It's a pretty container, but it's just not functional.
The tobacco in that container dried out in about a month. I kept a 62% Boveda pack in the lid and it still dried out. It's a pretty container, but it's just not functional.
They look nice, but I look at them as just an added expense. The added expense over screw tops may add up if you have a lot to jar.
In my experience, the tobacco will dry down slowly with bail jars. Depending on how often you open it.
I’ve had tobacco stuffed in them for 4-5 years and some gets really dry, while other doesn’t get quite as dry. Results vary.
Mason/Ball jars or Mylar is foolproof.
I’ve had tobacco stuffed in them for 4-5 years and some gets really dry, while other doesn’t get quite as dry. Results vary.
Mason/Ball jars or Mylar is foolproof.
Well, there are bail jars for looks and there are bail jars designed for canning. The ones you likely get in the US are mostly just for show. Ive had blends in real bail jars with fresh seals for nearly a year and no drying that I can tell.
They do introduce a few added variables but ball is not in the EU so I dont get them. Due to weright, const and breakage I think mylar is a good solution.
They do introduce a few added variables but ball is not in the EU so I dont get them. Due to weright, const and breakage I think mylar is a good solution.
You are exactly correct, Sigmund. The authentic bail jars were designed for food preservation. While maybe not as effective as mylar and other more up to date methods, they still performed pretty darn well.
FWIW I have been using the plastic leak-proof lids manufactured by Ball for blends in my rotation and they work well. Tobacco stays the same moistness with them and I’m going on month 2 trying it out. I think these are better thus far when compared to 2-piece lids since those will fail after so many uses. I would like to try proper bail top jars though. I have a couple without gaskets, so I’d need to buy those first.
try the older ball jars with a center clip that pulls the lid evenly and holds for years
Absolutely not. I have some StBernard Flake that's now pushing 6 years of age in one of these jars and it's as moist as the day it came out of the bag. In fact I have loads of blends in these jars with anywhere from 2-3 to 6-7 years of age and they are all perfectly moist.
If you’re not opening them frequently, the bail-top jars are perfectly fine. If you are using them every day, then they’re suboptimal over time as the wire loses its tension and the rubber dries out. You can indeed replace the rubber gasket (and the wire, for that matter).
Of course, if you’re loading it with moister tobacco (think Lane aromatics or something else with plenty of PG), you’re fine as well, as they’re made to stay moist for decades…
Of course, if you’re loading it with moister tobacco (think Lane aromatics or something else with plenty of PG), you’re fine as well, as they’re made to stay moist for decades…
