Re: Tobacco Maintenance Day

I was really bored today and was looking for a project. It's way too hot to
get into the pipeshop and start working. I have cleaned and reamed all of
the pipes that I routinely smoke, about 12 of them. I decided that I would
perform some tobacco maintenance, my least favorite thing to do. Why? I
don't know but I just don't like to do this.
I have some bulk, and tined, tobaccos that I am going to move from long
termed storage into intermediate storage containers to get ready for
smoking. The tobaccos have been properly aged but they must first be
cleaned. I also rehydrate (spritz) them with distilled water at this stage
if necessary. Let me discuss tobacco cleaning with you a bit.
As you all know, tobacco has a very fine particulate powder (dust) that
coats the shreds and is also found at the bottom of an almost empty can. I
call this tobacco powder. It can be a fine as talc powder and as coarse as
ground coffee. I remove this particulate matter before smoking because I
think the tobaccos burn cooler, pack better, and I just don't want this fine
textured stuff in my pipe, mouth, or lungs period. Here's how I do it.
I use a Wal-Mart ($3.94) tea strainer, a big one. Also, I use a 9 inch
Pyrex pie dish to catch the tobacco powder (dust). Just fill the strainer
with tobacco and gently tap against the palm of the empty hand whilst being
over the pie dish to catch the powder. I also dig around in the strainer to
facilitate getting most of the powder and small pieces of tobacco through
the strainer. You will be surprised what comes out of the tobacco. I pitch
the tobacco powder at this point. You can then dump the cleaned tobacco
from the strainer into the pie dish and give it a spritz or two with
distilled water if the tobacco need rehydrating. Then it is ready for
storage, various containers, or smoking. Now, don't do this if you are
going to lose sleep over, and are concerned with , the loss of the tobacco
powder. I guess you could save it but I pitch mine. That is tobacco
maintenance. I have done this to my tobaccos, tinned and bulks, for years
and it just makes me feel better about smoking. Anybody else do something
like this?
Happy Smoking-a cleaner tobacco!
lj



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Relevant Pages

  • Re: Tobacco Maintenance Day
    ... Let me discuss tobacco cleaning with you a bit. ... > call this tobacco powder. ... I remove this particulate matter before smoking because I ... > I use a Wal-Mart tea strainer, ...
    (alt.smokers.pipes)
  • Re: Pipe Cleaners: Getting the Most From Them
    ... Sailorman Jack wrote: ... > When I use a pipe cleaner, like most of us, I use both ends. ... the worse once the bowl and tobacco therein went cold. ...
    (alt.smokers.pipes)