Opening Tobacco Tins

[wizhunter]

Now i know it's said on forums that no question is dumb but i feel this one is. I have 4 Tins of Tobacco, 3 Old Round Sealed Dunhill Tins and 1 new sealed Peterson Tobacco Tin. Now i am at an age where strength isn't an asset. I think they call it Vacuum Sealed and i can't open any of them. I don't want to prise them open in case i damage the tin. I don't have any jars i can move the tobacco too if i do damage them. I nearly sprained my wrist earlier trying to twist the lid off lol. Do any of you guys have any methods for opening sealed Tins. I would appreciate any tips.

 

[ziv]

I've had to pry open some tins, used the "spoon" part of the Czech tool to do that.

Why are you afraid of damaging the tin?

 

[Shore]

Hi, take a Czech tool or small flathead screwdriver and insert it into one of the divots located on the side of the tin under the lid, and gently rotate it. It'll break that seal (you'll hear the vacuum swoosh) and keep the tin lid in shape so you can screw the lid down after opening it...

 

[Brendan]

Gently, slowly, prying the lid where the indents are, either with a coin or a pipe tool. Ideally breaking the vacuum seal in a few steps if that makes any sense.

 

[proteus]

Also a coin will do the trick to pop the seal.

 

[Hutch Piper]

You won’t damage the tin. Just use your pipe tool or a screw driver. You’ll here a hiss type of sound and then you are good to go to lift the lid off the tin.

 

[judcole]

Those tins were designed to be opened with aid of something. When I was a young fella, I would stick a quarter in one of the little notches and twist. (State Express used to have a big old British penny taped to the bottom to assist with that.) Now I use a flathead screwdriver.

 

[wizhunter]

Many Thanks for all the replies guys. Also @ziv I don't want to damage the tin because i haven't anything else to put the Tobacco in yet. If i remember correctly you can't get Mason Jars in the UK but i will look for something similar.

 

[BingBong]

Many Thanks for all the replies guys. Also @ziv I don't want to damage the tin because i haven't anything else to put the Tobacco in yet. If i remember correctly you can't get Mason Jars in the UK but i will look for something similar.

Kilner jars; there are screw top and basket/rubber seal types. All good hardware stores.

 

[JoeW]

My very first visit to this forum was in search of the answer to that same question. My favorite answer: "Put down your purse and use both hands."

 

[HeadMisfit]

It's actually easy. Take your favorite pair of toe nail clippers. Insert the unsharpened end of the part you push down on under the lid rim in one of the slots and apply down wards pressure.

 

[FLDRD]

It's actually easy. Take your favorite pair of toe nail clippers. Insert the unsharpened end of the part you push down on under the lid rim in one of the slots and apply down wards pressure.

Gee, I've got so many that it's hard to choose my favorite.
Oh, wait; that's pipes.......................

 

[lukasstrifeson]

Many Thanks for all the replies guys. Also @ziv I don't want to damage the tin because i haven't anything else to put the Tobacco in yet. If i remember correctly you can't get Mason Jars in the UK but i will look for something similar.

I don't know if you can buy some hydration packs where you are (Boveda here in the US) but that and some Tupperware or Icebox should serve well as a makeshift humidor.

 

[wizhunter]

Quick Update:- I haven't tried opening the tins again because i have bought some Mason Jars from Amazon. Arrive tomorrow as i have Prime. Thanks for the help though guys i appreciate it.

 

[bullet08]

Det cord.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

Just an old fashioned bottle/can opener, very gently applied, no ice packs for the wrist required.

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

 

[prairiedruid]

Shotgun works well but if you prefer unleaded I use the screwdriver on my swiss army knife to pop the seal.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Once the tin is opened,the vacuum tight seal can't be restored. So no reason to worry about damaging the tin by using a tool to pry the lid off. Unless you're in an ultra dry environment, the tobacco should be fine for a few months at least. I purposefully open tins I'm going to smoke 3 days to a week before I'm going to start smoking them. This allows the tobacco to stabilize and dry out to where it is smokeable.

If you're in an ultra dry embodiment, drop the tin into a zip lock. That should keep it adequately moist for several months. If you're going to smoke it over a long period of time, use a jar or mylar zip lock to store it. It's not rocket science.

 

[Briarcutter]

A quarter usually works. Don't try to unscrew it, just pry it off. There should be a indent just below the lid for this purpose. I've opened up hundreds of tins with a quarter some you do need a wide screwdriver for though. Square and rectangle I can usually just pry off with my fingers.