Savvy Sailors.

[Nieuwe Pijproker]

I read that flake tobacco was the result of seafaring smokers that had problems with their tobacco drying out 'pon the high seas. Certainly moisture retentive stuff. My question being, how long done one dry it? And indeed how? Just exposure to air, I'm assuming. Though the air in England, in November, in my parky flat (I eschew central heating), is rather on the damp side... I'd be grateful for some advice from the seasoned flakemongers amongst you.

 

[Coreios]

You can do it several ways. How long depends on how moist it is. You can press it between paper towels and leave it. You can just leave the lid open for a while. I microwave mine for like 10 secs. Whatever you do, do it until it's pretty dry but not crumbling.

 

[Nieuwe Pijproker]

You can do it several ways. How long depends on how moist it is. You can press it between paper towels and leave it. You can just leave the lid open for a while. I microwave mine for like 10 secs. Whatever you do, do it until it's pretty dry but no

You can do it several ways. How long depends on how moist it is. You can press it between paper towels and leave it. You can just leave the lid open for a while. I microwave mine for like 10 secs. Whatever you do, do it until it's pretty dry but not crumbling.

Thanks for the information. It's Kendal Dark Flake that I have. And looks rather rubbery.

 

[Chasing Embers]

You could always just cube cut it or fully rub it out.

 

[Coreios]

Chasing Embers is right. I rarely microwave tobaccos. Cream Brulee is one, because theres no other way to dry it other than leaving it for a few years in the desert and theres a chance the desert will grow grass. If you rub it out not to dust but like reallllly well it should burn.

 

[Nieuwe Pijproker]

Chasing Embers is right. I rarely microwave tobaccos. Cream Brulee is one, because theres no other way to dry it other than leaving it for a few years in the desert and theres a chance the desert will grow grass. If you rub it out not to dust but like reallllly well it should burn.

Indeed, mate. Microwaving is not something that I'd consider doing. Neither is (ha!) putting it in a food processor; as I've also been advised to do on here. Thanks for the advice.

 

[jaingorenard]

I'm definitely in the minority on this forum, but I tend not to dry my tobacco very much. I've never had a problem with either dry or moist tobacco - my technique must change between the two, but it's largely subconscious. I'll rub out a flake onto a plate (paper sucks some moisture, and if it's topped will likely take some of the topping too) and load the pipe pretty immediately, unless I forget about it.

By the way, I'm pretty sure this video has been shared on here before, but this is a video of some chaps making a 'Perique' of tobacco (not the Perique variety) as apparently sailors did in the past:

 

[Nieuwe Pijproker]

Many thanks, my man.

 

[pappymac]

I read that flake tobacco was the result of seafaring smokers that had problems with their tobacco drying out 'pon the high seas. Certainly moisture retentive stuff. My question being, how long done one dry it? And indeed how? Just exposure to air, I'm assuming. Though the air in England, in November, in my parky flat (I eschew central heating), is rather on the damp side... I'd be grateful for some advice from the seasoned flakemongers amongst you.

I've never read or heard the story about seafaring smokers having problems with their tobacco drying out on the high seas. Do you remember where you read it?

I remember hearing that plug and rope tobacco were common on ships because they took up less space to store back in the days of iron men and wooden ships.

 

[Nieuwe Pijproker]

I've never read or heard the story about seafaring smokers having problems with their tobacco drying out on the high seas. Do you remember where you read it?

I remember hearing that plug and rope tobacco were common on ships because they took up less space to store back in the days of iron men and wooden ships.

No, but a quick search revealed that it's on here: blackpowderpiper - https://pipesmagazine.com/forums/members/blackpowderpiper.19200/

 

[El Capitán]

I've never read or heard the story about seafaring smokers having problems with their tobacco drying out on the high seas. Do you remember where you read it?

I remember hearing that plug and rope tobacco were common on ships because they took up less space to store back in the days of iron men and wooden ships.

 

[bullet08]

Same. Heard about plugs and ropes. But usually, flakes will dry in couple of hours. If it's very humid, might take longer. Putting on a paper plate works for me. It's rather humid here most of the year, but had lack of rain recently. But if you are not going to fold and stuff, already suggested cube cut, or rubbing out works okay. And cuts down on the drying time. Main difference I experienced between flake and rubbed tobacco is that taste is more uniform in rubbed out.

 

[jpmcwjr]

I've never read or heard the story about seafaring smokers having problems with their tobacco drying out on the high seas. Do you remember where you read it?

I'd be real interested in a cite of a site, too.

I remember hearing that plug and rope tobacco were common on ships because they took up less space to store back in the days of iron men and wooden ships.

That's true, and both forms are less likely to acquire moisture or dry out.

 

[warren]

The old salts chewed the same stuff. Probably more than less when working.

 

[sardonicus87]

I'm definitely in the minority on this forum, but I tend not to dry my tobacco very much. I've never had a problem with either dry or moist tobacco - my technique must change between the two, but it's largely subconscious. I'll rub out a flake onto a plate (paper sucks some moisture, and if it's topped will likely take some of the topping too) and load the pipe pretty immediately, unless I forget about it.

I'm the same way... however it is in the tin, is basically how it is going into the pipe (except flakes/coins/plugs, I always rub them out). I unconsciously just draw lighter/slower when it's wetter. I set my tobacco on the mat (rubbing out if it's a flake), then I set up the coffee pot and wipe out the bowl of my meer. However long that takes is however long the tobacco gets to dry, which is maybe 5 minutes at most.

Very rarely do I go out of my way to purposely dry tobacco before smoking it. I haven't run into any issues doing things this way, regardless of whether or not I am using my meer or any of my briars or clays.

 

[kcghost]

Drying out on the High Seas seems like a strange place for that to happen. I generally keep mine in a 65% humidity if possible.

 

[Streeper541]

When I was onboard ship I dried my flakes (and other tobacco) on the top shelf of my locker in my berthing area (which was below decks). The Chief Quartermaster did the same thing. (His stateroom was above the waterline) Neither of us had any issues.

Crack the lid or open the tub entirely and air it out. Most flakes are just fine with 20-30 minutes of air.

 

[Gimlet]

I've never dried any tobacco. With flakes and plugs it's all in the rubbing out. I just rub out according to how the tobacco feels in my fingers and pack according to the pipe being used.

When I buy loose flake I store in a jar, usually with a hydration sachet in it. For daily use I'll transfer an ounce or so to a non-fastening folding leather pouch where it'll dry out soon enough on its own - which is why I only load with about an ounce at a time.

It must be said though, I don't live in a humid climate.

As to the seafaring origins of plug tobacco, I've also read that it was packed in plug form to save space and maintain quality over long voyages. This was particularly the case with ships of the British and Dutch empires, when voyages several months long that went halfway round the world were common, so it makes sense.

 

[Buffalo]

I've never read or heard the story about seafaring smokers having problems with their tobacco drying out on the high seas. Do you remember where you read it?

I remember hearing that plug and rope tobacco were common on ships because they took up less space to store back in the days of iron men and wooden ships.

The same here. From my research, the navy flake tradition came from either a) individual seaman soaking their tobacco ration with some of their daily grog ration or b) from plugs and twists being packed into kegs, then rum poured over to help preserve the tobacco on seafaring voyages. I've never heard anything about sailors tobacco drying out at sea to be the reason for it, but who knows? I wasn't around back then so I have no first hand knowledge.

 

[Gimlet]

Seafarers in the past used alcohol and salt to preserve all sorts of things, as lightweight air-tight packaging was difficult to achieve.
It's not at all unlikely that rum and other spirits were used to preserve bulk stores of tobacco, not that sailors used drops of their grog ration to rehydrate their own tobacco, which was also rationed and which they presumably wished to make last, and which was probably carried in nothing more than a cloth or leather pouch.