The Great Mylar Discussion

[jaytex1969]

As I continue unpacking boxes from my recent move, I find myself getting more organized than ever.

I have found and corralled upwards of 10 pounds of bulk requiring long term storage solutions.

I have maybe the equivalent of 20 flats worth of jarred tobacco already taking up real estate.

The transition to mylar is growing in appeal.

Those of you that use mylar, please educate the rest of us.

What hardware do you prefer?

What is your technique?

Break it on down for the rest of us. How do you size, organize, label? Give us the works.

Also, tell us what DOESN'T work. Share your shortcut failures and other harebrained schemes.

I know some of you live for this stuff, so, let us have it!


Thanks.

 

[ashdigger]

Uh, what doesn’t work as a stand alone is Mylar, UNLESS you have a really good seal.

I fiddled around with Mylar, gave up, and back on glass with metal lids or glass with silicone gasket and bail I remain.

BUT good luck on your Mylar journey.

 

[AJL67]

All i can add is use 9+ mil bags and people here use an iron to heat seal, since i don’t have an iron i bought a $30 heat sealer on Amazon. ?

 

[Chasing Embers]

I like being able to inspect tobacco for mold. Jars for me.

 

[sablebrush52]

I've jarred and used Mylar and both work fine for me.
I buy the heavy grade .7 mil food grade metalized mylar, and I bought a styling iron which makes heat sealing a breeze.
I'm not doing anything other than packing and heat sealing. Some use a dessicant to combat mold formation. I don't do that with jars, so I don't see the need for Mylar.
I just pack firmly, squeeze out the air and seal. Some use a vacuum sealer, which is a good idea if you have concerns about air contaminants or want to retard any sort of "aging".

 

[AJL67]

I've jarred and used Mylar and both work fine for me.
I buy the heavy grade .7 mil food grade metalized mylar, and I bought a styling iron which makes heat sealing a breeze.
I'm not doing anything other than packing and heat sealing. Some use a dessicant to combat mold formation. I don't do that with jars, so I don't see the need for Mylar.
I just pack firmly, squeeze out the air and seal. Some use a vacuum sealer, which is a good idea if you have concerns about air contaminants or want to retard any sort of "aging".

Wouldn't a dessicant pack dry out the tobacco? I always get them with the bags but never use them for fear of them drying the tobacco out, but if that's not the case maybe I'll start using them.

 

[sablebrush52]

Dry out? Doubt it unless you're using a large number. Dry down a bit? Sure, though not much. That's the point of the metalized mylar. There's no moisture loss. Honestly, I'm sure that there's a reason for using them that I just don't know. I do tend to reduce moisture before jarring and encasing in Mylar as a hedge against mold. So far it's worked.

 

[litup]

When it comes to storage of tobacco tins and bags, I don't think sealing in Mylar bags is saving me any room or making tobacco storage easier. I use them to seal the 8 ounce Esoterica bags and for some bulk blends, but I prefer jars for opened tins and the original packaging for unopened tins.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I've jarred and used Mylar and both work fine for me.
I buy the heavy grade .7 mil food grade metalized mylar, and I bought a styling iron which makes heat sealing a breeze.
I'm not doing anything other than packing and heat sealing. Some use a dessicant to combat mold formation. I don't do that with jars, so I don't see the need for Mylar.
I just pack firmly, squeeze out the air and seal. Some use a vacuum sealer, which is a good idea if you have concerns about air contaminants or want to retard any sort of "aging".

This. I have LOTS of recent experience. If I had it all to do over, I would ONLY use .7 mylar. LIghter, doesn't break and takes up less space. I use a clothes iron to seal mine. To be fair, I cannot attest to how effective mylar will be over a really long haul, 10 years plus. However, I see no reason to doubt the efficacy of mylar.

 

[FurCoat]

This. I have LOTS of recent experience. If I had it all to do over, I would ONLY use .7 mylar. LIghter, doesn't break and takes up less space. I use a clothes iron to seal mine. To be fair, I cannot attest to how effective mylar will be over a really long haul, 10 years plus. However, I see no reason to doubt the efficacy of mylar.

Mylar is good for keeping food fresh for 25+ years so it stands to reason that our tob should be safe. Let's hope so because I have hundreds of pounds of food in mylar not to mention 6 64qt tubs packed with mylared tobacco.

 

[AJL67]

Mylar is good for keeping food fresh for 25+ years so it stands to reason that our tob should be safe. Let's hope so because I have hundreds of pounds of food in mylar not to mention 6 64qt tubs packed with mylared tobacco.

Do you ever pick a random Mylar to spot check?

 

[jaytex1969]

I like being able to inspect tobacco for mold.

Do you ever pick a random Mylar to spot check?

All of the mylar I have, I took in trade. Most of it is silver.

I do have one or two smaller units that are silver on one side and clear on the other.

Are these still mylar? Do they last as long? Differences?

 

[shanez]

No issues so far:

Tobacco Mylar Storage - One Man's Method :: Pipe Tobacco Discussion

Not sure if my method is any good or not but I thought I'd post it to give others here some ideas. I don't smoke a lot so it takes me some time to get through a tin but I like to take advantage of sales. When SPC Please Pudding SR is on sale at buy 2 get 1 free, I buy 4 and get 2 free. Here's...

www.pipesmagazine.com

Yet Another Mylar Bag Thread w/Pics! :: Pipe Tobacco Discussion

Just for those that are curious: Here's what $65 gets you: A bx delivered with 100 8'x12" 5mil bags and 100 500cc oxy absorbers: The bags can be written on nicely with a sharpie and it doesn't smear when dry (only takes a couple seconds to dry) and I use the sealer on my 15 year old...

www.pipesmagazine.com

 

[sablebrush52]

All of the mylar I have, I took in trade. Most of it is silver.

I do have one or two smaller units that are silver on one side and clear on the other.

Are these still mylar? Do they last as long? Differences?



View attachment 159162

Mylar is not impermeable on its own. The metaled coating increases its impermeability. .7 mil Mylar is a laminate of seven layers, each with an aluminum coating. Gas exchange is basically zero.

The units with a clear side will not keep your contents from drying out.

 

[jaytex1969]

Thanks, @sablebrush52 and all other respondents. Thanks, @shanez , for the redirect. Those threads are the kind of info I was looking for.

So, for those using the heavier bags, tell us about your successes and failures with various sealing techniques.

What works?

 

[sablebrush52]

Thanks, @sablebrush52 and all other respondents. Thanks, @shanez , for the redirect. Those threads are the kind of info I was looking for.

So, for those using the heavier bags, tell us about your successes and failures with various sealing techniques.

What works?



View attachment 159175

No failures. It's pretty simple. Fill up a bag, spreading out the gusseting if it's gusseted. Push together the seal running along the top, leaving a little gap so you can squeeze out the remaining air, then close the seal. I use a hair styling iron, a Kipozi Pro Nano-Titanium, to heat seal the top of the bag, 10 seconds of pressure. Done and dusted.

 

[aquadoc]

So vaccum seal aromatics and simple seal VA and VaPers?

 

[FurCoat]

Do you ever pick a random Mylar to spot check?

I haven't to date

 

[trouttimes]

I am converting to Mylar for much of my cellar before I move and I think it is saving weight and space. I agree with everything Sable said on how and what to use. I have opened several bags I sealed as a test years ago. I am happy to report that after 4 or 5 years the blends were as good as the day I put them in the bags. I used the all silver .7 and a plain iron from WallyWorld. I seal both sides and mark with a sharpie. Not fancy but it works for me. Much lighter than jars and packs in tubs much better.

 

[rossmycroftholmes]

I like being able to inspect tobacco for mold. Jars for me.

That is a very good point! I use Food saver vac seal bags or killer jars.