Moisture Meter.

[Jbrewer2002]

So I read an article on smoking pipes the other day and I remember them talking about the perfect % of moisture to keep your pipe tobacco.
Proper Pipe Tobacco Humidification | Smokingpipes - https://www.smokingpipes.com/smokingpipesblog/single.cfm/post/proper-pipe-tobacco-humidification

I got to thinking (just out of curiosity as I’m not a fan of over complicating things but love the opportunity to learn) I have the meter in the picture below for measuring firewood. I noticed it says it can be used on tobacco. It has 4 settings for different types of wood but no mention in the manual about tobacco or any of the other materials it claimed to measure in the add. Does anyone have any experience in moisture measuring in different materials? This is simply an exercise to do some micro learning. Not necessarily to dial in my storage of tobacco lol.

 

[chilllucky]

Mike Zicka wrote up a study in the naspc newsletter maybe 5-6 years ago in which he used a harbor freight moisture meter to measure different tobaccos at various stages of drying.

it doesn't matter what number the display says. It won't be accurate for a material like tobacco. All that matters is that you find a level of moisture at which you enjoy your tobacco and make note of what the meter says. It won't be an actual, scientific, MC%, but I bet plus or minus 2 points will be a good guide for you to know if what you've got in hand is in the condition you prefer.

 

[anotherbob]

Experience is an incredible guide for this. I suggest to learn what moisture leaves you like get a tin crack it open leave it out for a week with the lid on and then smoke a bowl of it every day and see what point you find it most perfect or what range. And unless you wear gloves you'll feel and see if the tobacco is in that range pretty near instantly. If you like toys buy that thing, otherwise it's about as useless as a nuclear bomb when you need a screwdriver.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

I think @jpmcwjr may know a little about this!

 

[warren]

I go by feel. I find different blends have a moisture level for which it smokes best for me. A moisture meter would require my attention and, most likely, simply be a check I don't need. My fingers do very well, I like to keep my smoking simple, uncomplicated, as I'm a simple, uncomplicated kinda guy.

 

[Jbrewer2002]

Experience is an incredible guide for this. I suggest to learn what moisture leaves you like get a tin crack it open leave it out for a week with the lid on and then smoke a bowl of it every day and see what point you find it most perfect or what range. And unless you wear gloves you'll feel and see if the tobacco is in that range pretty near instantly. If you like toys buy that thing, otherwise it's about as useless as a nuclear bomb when you need a screwdriver.

As mentioned in my first post I already have the meter. I use it for firewood. I don’t have a problem with the moisture level of my tobacco. I’m not looking to fix anything. I’m simply curious about how a meter and tobacco works. This knowledge could potentially help someone that’s new to pipe smoking in the future.

 

[Jbrewer2002]

I go by feel. I find different blends have a moisture level for which it smokes best for me. A moisture meter would require my attention and, most likely, simply be a check I don't need. My fingers do very well, I like to keep my smoking simple, uncomplicated, as I'm a simple, uncomplicated kinda guy.

That’s what I have done also and works well. I know there are people out there that are not as good at judging things like that so a hard metric could potentially help someone out.

 

[warren]

This knowledge could potentially help someone that’s new to pipe smoking in the future.

How? Are there a recommended levels for blends? If so, I'm unaware of such. Moisture content is primarily a personal determination as each palate is different. Just as different smokers enjoy a blend moist, many enjoy the same blend almost "crackling" dry.

I suppose, through trial and error determine what level they like by feel, check the level and then use the meter for measuring and, then there would be the question, what to do to maintain the level over time. It all seems like such a time consumer. Time which should be spent smoking and enjoying.

I think maybe you are overthinking an response for a problem which doesn't really exist.

 

[Jbrewer2002]

How? Are there a recommended levels for blends? If so, I'm unaware of such. Moisture content is primarily a personal determination as each palate is different. Just as different smokers enjoy a blend moist, many enjoy the same blend almost "crackling" dry.

I suppose, through trial and error determine what level they like by feel, check the level and then use the meter for measuring and, then there would be the question, what to do to maintain the level over time. It all seems like such a time consumer. Time which should be spent smoking and enjoying.

I think maybe you are overthinking an response for a problem which doesn't really exist.

The article I posted above from SP mentions to store tobacco at somewhere around 25%. Then from there when your ready to smoke either smoke it out of the jar or dry it.

 

[AJL67]

The perfect moisture is whatever you like it at.

About a year a cigar buddy sent me one of those gadgets, stick it in the foot of the cigar and get the moisture level, i think i tried it once to see if my cigars were actually at 62% which is in the zone i prefer them, i think the gadget said 64 so good enough for me, haven't touched it since to be honest.

 

[warren]

I doubt many pipe smokers are as "anal", for want of a better descriptor, as Mr. Stanion. No doubt some are so, yet again, different strokes. Some member s here are very serious about such things. Me? I simply want my tobacco and pipe to provide a good to great smoking experience while delivering the nicotine. Other smokers demand more I know. Still others enjoy getting deep into smoking, ever trying to find a great blend, a perfect pipe and so forth. I enjoy the smoke, not the minutiae.

 

[anotherbob]

As mentioned in my first post I already have the meter. I use it for firewood. I don’t have a problem with the moisture level of my tobacco. I’m not looking to fix anything. I’m simply curious about how a meter and tobacco works. This knowledge could potentially help someone that’s new to pipe smoking in the future.

well if I already had one I'd certainly play with it and check out everything I could about all the tobacco I have. Then again I am really sad I lost my magnifying loop. Loved checking out different blends that way.

 

[anotherbob]

How? Are there a recommended levels for blends? If so, I'm unaware of such. Moisture content is primarily a personal determination as each palate is different. Just as different smokers enjoy a blend moist, many enjoy the same blend almost "crackling" dry.

I suppose, through trial and error determine what level they like by feel, check the level and then use the meter for measuring and, then there would be the question, what to do to maintain the level over time. It all seems like such a time consumer. Time which should be spent smoking and enjoying.

I think maybe you are overthinking an response for a problem which doesn't really exist.

I agree I don't see how someone would have trouble seeing if the level was what they prefer. There are so many basic tests one would have to be nearly insentient not to have a quick way to see if the tobacco was to their preference.
Though some smokers really love ritualizing the process and enjoy doing things in a precise manner (not my cup of tea or bowl of smoke but it be boring if they made more people like me).

 

[Lumbridge]

I used to be really anal like this with my whisky and tobacco/pipe hobbies. Then I realized that I wasn't enjoying those things when I was treating them like a controlled science experiment. I just go by feel and taste now - I prefer it that way.

 

[anotherbob]

I used to be really anal like this with my whisky and tobacco/pipe hobbies. Then I realized that I wasn't enjoying those things when I was treating them like a controlled science experiment. I just go by feel and taste now - I prefer it that way.

I sometimes feel like there is a rhythm to these things. You get anal and that helps you learn and find your way, then you just know and don't sweet it much. I used to pack my pipe step by step so carefully now I have trouble telling people the process it's so automatic. Lighting a bowl took so much attention and now I just do it. Sometimes you have to work to get the good stuff.

 

[Lumbridge]

I sometimes feel like there is a rhythm to these things. You get anal and that helps you learn and find your way, then you just know and don't sweet it much. I used to pack my pipe step by step so carefully now I have trouble telling people the process it's so automatic. Lighting a bowl took so much attention and now I just do it. Sometimes you have to work to get the good stuff.

Yeah, most of the elaborate packing techniques and whatnot seem to exist solely to help pipe neophytes get a feel for things. I still screw up a pack on a semi-regular basis, but now I get it right about 80% of the time just scooping/dumping the tobacco in there. It does become more and more automatic over time.

 

[anotherbob]

Yeah, most of the elaborate packing techniques and whatnot seem to exist solely to help pipe neophytes get a feel for things. I still screw up a pack on a semi-regular basis, but now I get it right about 80% of the time just scooping/dumping the tobacco in there. It does become more and more automatic over time.

only packing issue I get is the occasional bit of tobacco that covers the hole. Easy fix with the pick part of the pipe tool. Which just a few years ago I wouldn't believe someone who said what I did at the start of this post. (also jinxed myself I will have a extra bad pack in a day or two.)

 

[UB 40]

I can understand the spirit of research when such a toy would be within reach. Same way I am also checking temperatures when a thermometer is around, though I know if the weather is hot or cold or my weather app is telling me, what supposed to be.

 

[Jbrewer2002]

Se

I can understand the spirit of research when such a toy would be within reach. Same way I am also checking temperatures when a thermometer is around, though I know if the weather is hot or cold or my weather app is telling me, what supposed to be.

See, you get it

 

[ADKPiper]

I store tobacco in the clear humidors with a built in hydrometer.