New Storage Means

[madox07]

Since the hot weather is coming, again, I am having storage issues. No, mason jars are not readily available where I live, therefore had to improvise every year during the summer so that my tobacco won't dry. I tried everything at my disposal from using those humidifier coins, to using various recipients with more or less success, in as far as preserving the tobacco from drying for a while - but in spite of all the efforts the hot summer days while A/C is not on permanently does raise certain difficulty. This year I have opted for rubber sealed jars, the closest I could get to mason jars in my neck of the woods(pic on the left, next to old pharmacy jars that I have previously used on the right). What do you guys think?

 

[jpmcwjr]

Should help, if not do the trick.
In an arid climate, having a/c on or off won't make a large difference (in storing tobacco in sealed containers— though human discomfort may be involved. Also, not talking extremes in storage temps.)

 

[panamacharlie]

I have been using similar jars, but with a white silicon or plastic ring, for the past two years, and haven't had any problems.

 

[woodsroad]

If the jars are well-made (rims and lid are flat and mate evenly), then these jars should work just fine. The rubber gaskets will deteriorate over time, so you may want to search out the silicone type to replace them.

 

[anthonyrosenthal74]

Just out of curiosity, Madox, where do you live that you can't find mason jars? Most grocery stores will have them, and I'm certain you could find them at a farmers market as well. And they're easily found shopping online if that's easier. Here's some at Amazon... https://www.amazon.com/Ball-Mouth-16-Ounce-Glass-12-Count/dp/B071KTNCSC/ref=sr_1_4?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1525547267&sr=1-4&keywords=Ball+Mason+Jar+Wide+Mouth&dpID=51q%252BWO1ThHL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

 

[woodsroad]

Anthony, outside of the US and Canada, Mason jars (or Ball jars, or Kerr jars or...) can be difficult to impossible to find. I guess that they don't have the same traditions of home canning as we North Americans do.

 

[seacaptain]

I guess that they don't have the same traditions of home canning as we North Americans do.

True. They could probably get them on ebay though, but I bet shipping would be a lot.

 

[cortezattic]

The OP is in Timișoara, Romania. I wonder if a light smear of olive oil would help to keep the gaskets supple.

 

[woodsroad]

Olive oil degrades. It oxidizes and is also a good place for fungus to grow. Soap makers have to use an anti-oxidant when they make soap with olive oil, or else the soap will develop orange mold.
Silicone grease might be a better choice, but I don't know how that might interact with rubber.
I think that rubber just degrades over time, but I'm no expert.

 

[madox07]

woodsroad we do have canning traditions, although we use a jar similar to that it the picture. The classic 720ml jar is pretty good for pickles and other vegetables of the sort, but the lid is sort of a one time use. Once you open the jar, the inner circle pops and it is no longer air tight - unlike mason jars that have long fillet necks and which once tightly screwed do not let any air in.

 

[madox07]

And yes ... ordering from ebay is difficulty. Firstly the glass jars may break by the time they get to Romania, and shipping costs more than the jars themselves.

 

[jitterbugdude]

Why not just order some Mylar bags from MylarPro? I'm sure they ship internationally.

 

[robcapp]

If you have any for long term storage (not intending to be opens regularly) put the tobacco in the jars, and then wrap electrical tape firmly around the jars - at the place where the lid meets the jar.

 

[robcapp]

If you have any for long term storage (not intending to be opens regularly) put the tobacco in the jars, and then wrap electrical tape firmly around the jars - at the place where the lid meets the jar.

 

[jamban]

Madox, the jar in the photo that you use for canning (screw top, black lid) is perfectly good for storing tobacco. You don't have to worry about the pop in the lid, as that indicates a vacuum seal. It is still perfectly airtight if the jars and lids are well made.
Anyway, if your tobacco is well stored and alive, you will get the pop in the lid when you reopen the jar years later. ;{D
If you can find wide-mouthed versions, even better. But these work fine. Try to buy cartons of new jars direct from the factory if possible.
And yes, of course in Europe you have a tradition of canning.

 

[panamacharlie]

My wife re-uses spaghetti sauce jars and pickle jars many times for canning. I have kept tobacco in pickle jars for several years with no problems, the seals remain good.

 

[woodsroad]

I'm glad to stand corrected!