Tobacco Rehydration Discs: Where To Find In The UK.

[mawnansmiff]

Hi folks, is anyone aware of a UK supplier for those little rehydration discs that seem to be very popular in the States?
I have hunted high and low but found nothing. I am after about half a dozen but would of course buy a boxful if necessary, I just need to keep some open tins as fresh as possible for the time it will take me to get through them. Not enough baccy involved here to warrent jarring. I have tried water soaked terracotta but with limited success. Any ideas folks?
Many thanks.
Regards,
Jay.

 

[ben88]

You can use pieces of unglazed clay pot. Works just as well.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Terracotta shards is my go-to, wondering why they haven't worked for you.... ?? I don't like the disks. Do you have a hygrometer?

 

[jpmcwjr]

You can use pieces of unglazed clay pot. Works just as well.

Is that not terracotta?

 

[mawnansmiff]

Thanks Ben but I did state...
"I have tried water soaked terracotta but with limited success."
10/10 for effort though :wink:
Regards,
Jay.

 

[cossackjack]

Check local Florists (if that's how they are called in they UK) or Forist Supply sources. They may have small hydration disks or florist blocks/foam, the latter may be cut down to an appropriate size.

Also, there are Hydrobeads made of a non-toxic hygroscopic polymer used by florists that may work for you.

 

[mawnansmiff]

Hi John, they have worked to a degree, perhaps I need to use a bigger chunk. As for a hygrometer I tend to use my fingers and eyes, too poor for all this modern technology :|
Regards,
Jay.

 

[beastinview]

The problem can be avoided for future tins with small mason jars: after opening the tin, empty into jar, and screw lid on tightly. There won't be any loss of moisture. This is my go-to method since I don't smoke as frequently as most here, and it can take me a while to even get through a 50g tin. My jarred tobacco doesn't dry out--more often I'm having to open the jars and dry it further to get it smokeable!
This also avoids the problem of mold, which can occasionally occur with those rehydration discs if one isn't careful.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Yes, bigger and more chunks! Just go outside and drop another pot on the stone walkway....
I am a big fan of actual measurements, such as a $10 hygrometer can provide. Some tobaccos feel dry on the outside, but contain too much moisture for a good smoke. Plus I am not trained through decades of touch to determine by feel what many tobaccos are in terms of moisture. If you're smoking but a few blends, you can tell pretty much how it'll smoke through feel and gauging how much moisture it's lost through opening tins, seepage out of bags and so forth.

 

[mawnansmiff]

"The problem can be avoided for future tins with small mason jars: after opening the tin, empty into jar, and screw lid on tightly."
Why oh why don't folks read the full post afore responding? Beast, I appreciate your input but I deliberately included...
"Not enough baccy involved here to warrant jarring."
Thing is that of late I have been on a baccy spending spree and have circa 30 tins open at the moment. 30 tins take a hell of a lot less space than 30 jars and knowing someone would suggest jarring I included the above so as to preclude the suggestion :roll:
Larger lumps of terracotta seems to be the answer here chaps.
John, I still have the remnants of my Nightcap, Early Morning Pipe & Squadron Leader (all lat blends of course) festering away in a jar until such time I might take to it...it may stay in the jar a while :wink:
Many thanks one and all.
Regards,
Jay.

 

[ben88]

Jay, have you heard of eBay?

Search for Tobacco moisture disk

 

[warren]

You want all of us to read and comprehend a post before responding? No more shooting from the lip after a quick scan of the OP? Heck, some do not read beyond the header before responding.
Jay, you wish for too much I'm afraid.

 

[yaddy306]

30 tins take a hell of a lot less space than 30 jars

Jay,

Don't jars come in different sizes in England? A 125mL jar doesn't take much more space than a tin.

 

[mawnansmiff]

Ben, yes I am aware of eBay, sadly all sales of the discs originate in China and I'll be bu##ered if I am doing business there.
"Heck, some do not read beyond the header before responding."
Warren, sadly this is so true :roll:
"A 125mL jar doesn't take much more space than a tin."
Yaddy, it would take up a lot more space in my baccy box where my tins fit perfectly, sat on edge and all in two rows.
I am/was looking specifically for a UK seller of the discs, nothing else.
Thanks for trying though but as I said earlier, a larger chunk of terracotta will have to suffice.
Regards,
Jay.

 

[jvnshr]

PM sent, sir.

 

[andrew]

Personally I just use a bit of toilet paper with some distilled water. I find if you tape it to the top of the jar it works wonderful, or tin, etc... I find the disks too expensive personally.

 

[jvnshr]

Personally I just use a bit of toilet paper with some distilled water.

I would use a small towel instead of a paper. I actually do that.

 

[mawnansmiff]

Andy, I should imagine that trick would work fine for a tin that had become 'biscuit' dry (have done the same in the past with RYO tobacco) but I am hoping my baccy doesn't reach that point hence me simply wanting to maintain the current moisture content.
Jvnshr, thanks for that tip, I shall follow it up.
In the meantime I shall continue with the soaked terracotta pieces, I just need to experiment to get the right size lump for the job.
I have wondered about soaking one of those little bags of crystals one gets with cameras etc but I need to do a bit more research into it first.
Many thanks again chaps ::
Regards,
Jay.

 

[jpmcwjr]

One more idea: A light spritzing with water from a spray bottle that puts out a fine mist. I've seen three different tobacco stores do this. And I've just done it, though I need a finer spray than a recycled Windex bottle provides.

 

[mawnansmiff]

I just read an interesting post on a three-year-old thread where matey had problems with his (mostly square) tins drying out faster than he could smoke them. He suggests at first opening, carefully remove the baccy & paper lining as a whole and set aside. Then cut a piece of clean polythene double the size of the tin. Lay one half of said polythene in the tin then replace the liner & baccy. The overhanging other half of the polythene is then folded over the contents afore replacing the lid.
I can certainly see the logic in this and will give it a try. Of course this method wouldn't work for ageing purposes but in my mind might add a couple of weeks to the 'life' of fresh baccy.
Am surprised at the simplicity of this and also that it hasn't been mentioned afore.
Regards,
Jay.