| Author |
Message |
    
Thomas Tkach
Member
Username: Thomas_tkach
Post Number: 15
Registered: 07-2009
| | Posted on Sunday, November 01, 2009 - 02:53 pm: | |
From surfing the web and particularly the archives of this site, I've found that most prefer tobacco quite a bit dryer than it is sold. I think from some limited personal experience I agree. But I have a problem--I live in coastal SC, and even now the humidity level is 60%, higher than I believe most prefer their tobacco. This means there is no leaving a bit of tobacco out on a paper towel to dry before I smoke it, as this might even make it more moist. I have a large digital temperature and humidity recorder (which I trust to be an accurate device) that I use to check my cigar humidor and it sits in my room telling me the relative humidity there is higher than I think will do the tobacco blends much good. Does anyone know of another way to dehumidify tobacco to an appropriate level? Am I wrong as to the amount of humidity that proper drying requires? |
Dan Bryant
Member
Username: Bryantm3
Post Number: 78
Registered: 03-2009
| | Posted on Monday, November 02, 2009 - 12:21 am: | |
i don't know if the humidity in the air has anything to do with tobacco drying out; as long as the humidity is below 100%, the air can collect more water vapor and shouldn't deposit any on your tobacco. i'd also like to say that i love coastal SC and i'd love to be there right now, especially in this cold snap we're having in north GA.
back on topic, i would turn your oven on at about 200, and once it gets hot, turn it off, and put your tobacco on a plate inside the oven, and check it often. that should dry it out well.
Dan |
Gene Szymanski
Member
Username: Lt_taz
Post Number: 54
Registered: 02-2005
| | Posted on Monday, November 02, 2009 - 06:05 pm: | |
Mr. Bryant, Very simply moisture will go from a higher concentration to a lower concentration, ie if tobacco has a moisture level of 60% and the air is at 40%, moisture will go from the tobacco to the air, the converse is also true if the tobacco is at a 40% humidity level and the air is at 60% moisture will go from the air to the tobacco. |
Thomas Tkach
Member
Username: Thomas_tkach
Post Number: 16
Registered: 07-2009
| | Posted on Monday, November 02, 2009 - 09:32 pm: | |
Gene, that is my understanding of how things work, hence my hesitance to leave tobacco out to be made wet, rather than dried.
Dan, I'll trade with you, we've been too warm for my taste here in the low country! I may have to try the oven trick, are there any second opinions or other tips?
Thanks for the responses. |
David Hughes
Member
Username: Six_dollar_dave
Post Number: 1
Registered: 10-2009
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 03, 2009 - 09:20 am: | |
I use the microwave. For most of my baccies, about 8 seconds does it. Of course, the time depends on the mosture level of the tobacco and the power of the microwave. |
Eugene Ruiz
Member
Username: Gazpacho
Post Number: 1
Registered: 11-2009
| | Posted on Friday, November 06, 2009 - 01:15 pm: | |
Try placing some tobacco in a large tupperware style container, then place a small dish of uncooked rice in the container, then seal them in for a few hour or a few days. Rice is cheap, and does a good job of absorbing moisture. It is frequently added to salt shakers to keep the salt from absorbing moisture and clumping. |
Thomas Tkach
Member
Username: Thomas_tkach
Post Number: 18
Registered: 07-2009
| | Posted on Friday, November 06, 2009 - 05:40 pm: | |
I'd thought of that, Eugene, but wasn't sure if it would impart or detract flavor. Perhaps I could use rice in some sort of dehumidification device similar to the little button pouch humidifiers. I've heard some warn against putting tobacco in the microwave because it supposedly changes its character. I haven't had the time or initiative to fiddle with the oven yet. I'd probably forget I left it on and just heat it up for nothing. Barring any unforseen cons, I think that is the method I'll use.
Also, humidity was down at about 40% earlier, so I just opened up a few overly moist pouches. Please tell me fall is finally here! |
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