Thank you so much for this video.. I have a pouch of tobacco that belonged to my Great uncle (Supposedly, it's about 60 years old, according to my grandfather).. I have a feeling that it may be too far gone at this point, but if by some miracle this works. I will be the happiest man on earth.. At least until the tobacco runs out.
hey, this seems like a good method, but I have a question, along with tobacco, I personally smoke other herbs, such as mugwort, etc. one issue I have with other herbs is that they are generally not prepared with smoking in mind particularly, and are quite dry, harsh, and fast burning, would this method work for other smoking herbs, or just tobacco?
@yeah1104 I have no experience with other herbs, but I see no reason why the method wouldn't work. Anything that can absorb moisture should be able to benefit from this simple rehydration technique.
here in the uk it is very difficult to get real distilled water - we get this stuff called de Ironised - so will this work if I use boiled water and let it cool before I use it ?
@FlankerTanker use the ice from ur freezer insides (walls) and let it melt voila distilled water ;)
as for my comment on the video:
i moisten my tobacco by laying potato peels (fresh ones) ina zipbag with the tobacco for 1 night presto moist tobacco ready for usage 1 peel equals roughly 3 grams of moist tobacco do the math urself for larger amounts ;)
i use potato peels or orange peels whatever suits u not always potato peels near eat an orange would be kinda stupid to peel 1 potato for nothing XD always used it when my rolling tobacco dried out in my coat or something even stale ones that lied there for months still smokeable afterwards :D
@ELREYDELAMOTA13 I've never rehydrated a cigar in this way, but I see no reason why it wouldn't work. The tobacco in the cigar should absorb moisture in a way similar to pipe tobacco. Although it would take longer than this method, the more common method of rehydrating a cigar is to place it in a properly humidified (68% to 72%) humidor until the cigar has stabilized at the proper moisture level. This may take weeks or longer, but it avoids "shocking" the cigar, which is considered undesirable.
@ELREYDELAMOTA13 yes it does work it only took me a day or so i took a piece of paper towel and saturated it put it in a bag then put the cigar in a second bag then put that bag in the other bag only i put a couple holes in the cigar bag but i also flavored mine with spiced rum tastes great
@sillypotato9067 well it did rehydrate my cigar but to my disapointment the cigar had gone stale and tasted horrible.. next time ill think twice before rehydrating a cigar that is too dry..thanks for replying
@ELREYDELAMOTA13 yea thats the problem theres no real way to tell if its beyond repair usually ive learned its not really worth it just go out and buy a new cigar
@ELREYDELAMOTA13 well instead of using water use ur fav rum or other drink and whats funny that i just realized is that i know alot more than people think for a 16 yr old :D
I never heard of this method before. It seems to work somewhat better than those little ceramic elements. I am gonna give it a try tomorrow. Keep up the good work @the VSL :)
Outstanding video. I've been throwing in pieces of vegetable or fruit (apples, etc.) and a buddy of mine just spits into his tobacco tins. This is by far a much nicer method. Thank you!
@VSLDavid Thank you for your quick response. I apologize for not having been more explicit by asking who are the performers. They're outstanding, and I want to get the CD.
@VSLDavid Thank you for your quick response! I apologize for not having been more explicit, but the info I seek is to know who these performers are. They're wonderful, and I want to get the CD. Thanks!
Great music! Nice technique, I'm going to switch to this for a try. I usually just use a moistened paper towel in the ziplock bag of tobacco, let it sit for 24+ hours, check the moisture level, and you're done. It's worked great for me for years. But I like this method for rehydrating tinned tobacco as I see you did here in the video! Great stuff! Thanks, keep up the good work, love to watch your videos while having a bowl!
@PipeDreamsInc Great question, Bill! When tobacco is overly dry, it has a tendency to burn too easily and quickly. This produces an excessively hot smoke, which reduces the flavors and can create uncomfortable temperatures in the mouth. Less common, a pipe that is burning too hot can also lead to burnout or other damage. (continued...)
@PipeDreamsInc (pt. 2) Conversely, when tobacco is too moist, it burns poorly and the pipe goes out frequently. This often causes the smoker to puff harder and draw deeper, which is a sure-fire recipe for tongue bite. The excess moisture can also cause a pipe to gurgle (a bubbling sound caused by moisture buildup in the shank and/or stem). Excess moisture, just like excessive dryness, also diminishes the flavor or taste of the tobacco.
Perfect timing on this video, I had just noticed a few tins of my peterson tobacco had gone too dry. I wasn't sure how to correct it, and this method worked PERFECTLY. Simple and effective, thats how I like my solutions. Thanks!
Do you also have tips for KEEPING the tobacco in a good smoking condition as long as possible or at least tips for creating these circumstances, so tips that has to do with storage, special tins etc.?
Thanks for the tip David. I just found my stash of Northwoods I've been missing for a couple months. It was drier than a popcorn fart. After using this method, it smokes like new. I used tap water because its all I had, but I didn't detect any difference
Your idea with the wet towel is great. I'm still using my humidroles for getting the tobaccos rehydrated if necessary. Most of all I'm using clear water, sometimes I use even wine or other alcoholic drinks for a new aroma.
If a piece of fresh apple my change the taste try a small cube(s) of fresh potato - it's neutral and provides moisture only. A method used by oldtimers, yours seems to be much better .
i don't have the patience to smoke a bowl in one sitting, nor even half a bowl, so i usually leave the tobacco in the bowl over night after smoking and then resume the next day and so on. i'm pretty sure that leaving it like this drys the tobacco out, but strangely enough i've noticed that the tobacco in fact GAINS taste from leaving it in the bowl.
@FallIntoWinterr It's true that some blends can actually improve after smoking a partial bowl and letting it sit for a while. Unfortunately, not all blends behave so nicely. The tobacco probably does dry out a bit in the bowl, but moisture is also produced by combustion itself, so it's hard to estimate precisely how much dehydrating is going on. The bottom line is that there are several factors that contribute to the flavor of tobacco, and moisture content is only one of them.
Someone mentioned placing a piece of apple, or orange peel into the tobacco. The moisture from the fruit adds moisture to the tobacco. When the tobacco is moist the peel is removed. A senior farmer uses this method.
@TheChaz2011 Using orange peel or apple slice is a popular method among some folks. However, due to the potential for altering flavor and/or introduction of mold, I have preferred not to use those techniques. And since the indirect hydration of the towel method I demonstrated is so easy and effective, I've never had the need or desire to trying another option. But as I've always said, there is no "right or wrong" for the pipe hobby. There is only what works for you.
Nice video David. I've seen several methods of rehydrating dry tobacco, (some were just variation to this method) and I think this one is one of the best. Its very gentle and safe for tobacco (no risk of mold) and it doesnt change the flavor or taste. I've also heard about putting peace of apple into tobacco to rehydrate it, but it might have effect to its taste (wich I think might be interesting to try). Sure, there is risk of mold. Anyway I enjoy your channel! Greetins from Czech republic!
@GrizzPaul When tobacco is excessively dry, it will burn too hot and too quickly. This produces much less flavor in the smoke and also usually results in tongue bite or other unpleasant side effects. Conversely, tobacco that is too moist can create tongue bite when the smoker draws harder to keep it it lit. Excessive moisture also adversely affects the taste of the tobacco. Tobacco experts (which I am not) agree that tobacco has an optimum moisture level that provides the ideal smoke.
Thanks for the video, David. I have some Balkan Supreme that has gotten rather dry, so I just used this method. I've heard about it, but I have never tried it before. Watching your video pushed me to give it a go.
Great Video David, I have a question for you though. It isn't really related to the video but on those bail top jars behind you, did you boil them to clean them before you put the tobacco in them like you would for mason jars for cellaring?
@thegorrillaman1 I did not boil the jars. However, I did clean them thoroughly and allowed them to air dry completely before putting the tobacco in them. Some folks also wipe down the inside of storage containers with alcohol to sanitize and/or kill any bacteria that may inadvertently get into a jar.
I have done this and can account for the fact that it works very well. Thanks so very much for posting this Dave, we can never have to many tips out there.
@DamPipes Some prefer warm water, or warming the damp towel in a microwave, etc. Supposedly, the warm moisture is absorbed more rapidly by the tobacco. However, in my own experience, I haven't seen any noticeable difference. And since I prefer to keep the process as simple as possible, I use the water straight from the bottle at room temperature.
Thanks for the great vid. Found it very useful. Please keep making videos
throwryukens 2 days ago
Thank you so much for this video.. I have a pouch of tobacco that belonged to my Great uncle (Supposedly, it's about 60 years old, according to my grandfather).. I have a feeling that it may be too far gone at this point, but if by some miracle this works. I will be the happiest man on earth.. At least until the tobacco runs out.
Bhitch92 2 weeks ago
whats the name of the song? ^^
Geaxuce 2 weeks ago
@Geaxuce Concerto for Violin, Strings and Basso Continuo in A Minor by J. S. Bach
VSLDavid 2 weeks ago
Thanks for this vid.. I managed to revive some of my dried up Cope this way.
nawaljemal 3 weeks ago
Good cheap way to save tobacco. What percentage of moisture do you prefer for smoking?
ThePhx1911 3 weeks ago
just found your video and tried this method today, so happy it works!
Wilfslad 4 weeks ago
hey, this seems like a good method, but I have a question, along with tobacco, I personally smoke other herbs, such as mugwort, etc. one issue I have with other herbs is that they are generally not prepared with smoking in mind particularly, and are quite dry, harsh, and fast burning, would this method work for other smoking herbs, or just tobacco?
yeah1104 1 month ago
@yeah1104 I have no experience with other herbs, but I see no reason why the method wouldn't work. Anything that can absorb moisture should be able to benefit from this simple rehydration technique.
VSLDavid 1 month ago
thx for the vid man!
levnest15 2 months ago
Thanks for sharing! great video...so simple but yet very important
rmdoz00 2 months ago
great video.....thank you
Kurt1600www 3 months ago
here in the uk it is very difficult to get real distilled water - we get this stuff called de Ironised - so will this work if I use boiled water and let it cool before I use it ?
FlankerTanker 3 months ago
@FlankerTanker use the ice from ur freezer insides (walls) and let it melt voila distilled water ;)
as for my comment on the video:
i moisten my tobacco by laying potato peels (fresh ones) ina zipbag with the tobacco for 1 night presto moist tobacco ready for usage 1 peel equals roughly 3 grams of moist tobacco do the math urself for larger amounts ;)
mogholtj 3 months ago
@mogholtj - thanks for this I will give it a go - and the Potato idea seems great - thanks
FlankerTanker 3 months ago
@FlankerTanker no problem ! :D
i use potato peels or orange peels whatever suits u not always potato peels near eat an orange would be kinda stupid to peel 1 potato for nothing XD always used it when my rolling tobacco dried out in my coat or something even stale ones that lied there for months still smokeable afterwards :D
mogholtj 3 months ago
I'm gonna try this method
psy420shp 5 months ago
i know this is for pipe tobacco but could this also work on a dried up cigar? any info would be helpfull, thanks
ELREYDELAMOTA13 6 months ago
@ELREYDELAMOTA13 I've never rehydrated a cigar in this way, but I see no reason why it wouldn't work. The tobacco in the cigar should absorb moisture in a way similar to pipe tobacco. Although it would take longer than this method, the more common method of rehydrating a cigar is to place it in a properly humidified (68% to 72%) humidor until the cigar has stabilized at the proper moisture level. This may take weeks or longer, but it avoids "shocking" the cigar, which is considered undesirable.
VSLDavid 6 months ago
@VSLDavid
yeah ive read about that but ill give this a try with something cheap first and see how it goes , thanks for replying. nice vids btw.
ELREYDELAMOTA13 5 months ago
@ELREYDELAMOTA13 yes it does work it only took me a day or so i took a piece of paper towel and saturated it put it in a bag then put the cigar in a second bag then put that bag in the other bag only i put a couple holes in the cigar bag but i also flavored mine with spiced rum tastes great
sillypotato9067 5 months ago
@sillypotato9067 well it did rehydrate my cigar but to my disapointment the cigar had gone stale and tasted horrible.. next time ill think twice before rehydrating a cigar that is too dry..thanks for replying
ELREYDELAMOTA13 5 months ago
@ELREYDELAMOTA13 yea thats the problem theres no real way to tell if its beyond repair usually ive learned its not really worth it just go out and buy a new cigar
sillypotato9067 5 months ago
@sillypotato9067 yeah its a gamble.. by the way how did you get the rum flavor into the cigar? i might wana try that some day
ELREYDELAMOTA13 5 months ago
@sillypotato9067 yeah its a gamble.. by the way how did you get the rum flavor into the cigar? i might wana try that some day
ELREYDELAMOTA13 5 months ago
@ELREYDELAMOTA13 well instead of using water use ur fav rum or other drink and whats funny that i just realized is that i know alot more than people think for a 16 yr old :D
sillypotato9067 5 months ago
I never heard of this method before. It seems to work somewhat better than those little ceramic elements. I am gonna give it a try tomorrow. Keep up the good work @the VSL :)
Greetings from Germany !
Sebideluxe 11 months ago
Outstanding video. I've been throwing in pieces of vegetable or fruit (apples, etc.) and a buddy of mine just spits into his tobacco tins. This is by far a much nicer method. Thank you!
theOP4dotcom 11 months ago
@theOP4dotcom You're very welcome! I'm glad you found the video helpful. I hope the method will serve you well.
VSLDavid 11 months ago
A true connoisseur of tobacco
sillybilly972 11 months ago
What is the wonderful recording on period instruments that begins and ends this video? Thanks!
gerrypipe 1 year ago
@gerrypipe It is a piece composed by J. S. Bach: "Concerto for Violin, Strings and Basso Continuo in A Minor."
VSLDavid 1 year ago
@VSLDavid Thank you for your quick response. I apologize for not having been more explicit by asking who are the performers. They're outstanding, and I want to get the CD.
gerrypipe 1 year ago
@VSLDavid Thank you for your quick response! I apologize for not having been more explicit, but the info I seek is to know who these performers are. They're wonderful, and I want to get the CD. Thanks!
gerrypipe 1 year ago
@gerrypipe It's from a CD entitled, "A Portrait of Bach," which features various artists.
VSLDavid 1 year ago
@VSLDavid Thanks, David!
gerrypipe 1 year ago
This is the exact method that I use and it has always worked great!
Thanks for sharing this David!
-Matthew
bahumutx 1 year ago
Great music! Nice technique, I'm going to switch to this for a try. I usually just use a moistened paper towel in the ziplock bag of tobacco, let it sit for 24+ hours, check the moisture level, and you're done. It's worked great for me for years. But I like this method for rehydrating tinned tobacco as I see you did here in the video! Great stuff! Thanks, keep up the good work, love to watch your videos while having a bowl!
shueflylucky 1 year ago
What's the greatest problem with smoking a tobacco if it is too dry? Or too moist? Thanks.
Best,
Bill
PipeDreamsInc 1 year ago
@PipeDreamsInc Great question, Bill! When tobacco is overly dry, it has a tendency to burn too easily and quickly. This produces an excessively hot smoke, which reduces the flavors and can create uncomfortable temperatures in the mouth. Less common, a pipe that is burning too hot can also lead to burnout or other damage. (continued...)
VSLDavid 1 year ago
@PipeDreamsInc (pt. 2) Conversely, when tobacco is too moist, it burns poorly and the pipe goes out frequently. This often causes the smoker to puff harder and draw deeper, which is a sure-fire recipe for tongue bite. The excess moisture can also cause a pipe to gurgle (a bubbling sound caused by moisture buildup in the shank and/or stem). Excess moisture, just like excessive dryness, also diminishes the flavor or taste of the tobacco.
VSLDavid 1 year ago
Perfect timing on this video, I had just noticed a few tins of my peterson tobacco had gone too dry. I wasn't sure how to correct it, and this method worked PERFECTLY. Simple and effective, thats how I like my solutions. Thanks!
givensdroid 1 year ago
Hi David,
Do you also have tips for KEEPING the tobacco in a good smoking condition as long as possible or at least tips for creating these circumstances, so tips that has to do with storage, special tins etc.?
Cheers from Holland
Ruben aka alrik99
alarik99 1 year ago
where do you get your containers for your tobacco?
kungpw27 1 year ago
great tip....thanks dave!
mibgd 1 year ago
Very very good method .
Thanks for sharing !!!
PRPIPES 1 year ago
Another great tip to keep in mind, thanks :).
Properly storing and caring for various pipe tobacco blends and cigars has become a hobby all in itself for me lately!
TheMusicBucket 1 year ago
Thanks for the tip David. I just found my stash of Northwoods I've been missing for a couple months. It was drier than a popcorn fart. After using this method, it smokes like new. I used tap water because its all I had, but I didn't detect any difference
redneck4541 1 year ago
Excellent method, ol' boy, just excellent!
Sirchud68 1 year ago
Hello David,
thank you very much for sharing.
Your idea with the wet towel is great. I'm still using my humidroles for getting the tobaccos rehydrated if necessary. Most of all I'm using clear water, sometimes I use even wine or other alcoholic drinks for a new aroma.
Cheers
Lars
larshermanns 1 year ago
Is distilled water the preferred type to use? I see a lot of rehydration methods using it.
FTWbiology 1 year ago
@FTWbiology Yes. This is because it does not contain bacteria or other elements that could adversely affect the tobacco.
VSLDavid 1 year ago
@VSLDavid Oh okay. thanks :]
FTWbiology 1 year ago
@VSLDavid And I just realized that you literally just said the exact same thing in the video LOL
FTWbiology 1 year ago
Great method and splendid music selection.
Thanks!
pipethought 1 year ago
If a piece of fresh apple my change the taste try a small cube(s) of fresh potato - it's neutral and provides moisture only. A method used by oldtimers, yours seems to be much better .
MrJanuszp 1 year ago
good method,thanks.
Take care.
Olle
snuggan1 1 year ago
David!! what a wonderful method!!
Fantastic! I really needed it!
Cheers,
Harvey
hjrosasq 1 year ago
That beats the life out of what I have been doing. I usually wind up placing a peice of wet tissue in the tin. Fantastic, sir, and thank you!
ClandestinePipe 1 year ago
i don't have the patience to smoke a bowl in one sitting, nor even half a bowl, so i usually leave the tobacco in the bowl over night after smoking and then resume the next day and so on. i'm pretty sure that leaving it like this drys the tobacco out, but strangely enough i've noticed that the tobacco in fact GAINS taste from leaving it in the bowl.
FallIntoWinterr 1 year ago
@FallIntoWinterr It's true that some blends can actually improve after smoking a partial bowl and letting it sit for a while. Unfortunately, not all blends behave so nicely. The tobacco probably does dry out a bit in the bowl, but moisture is also produced by combustion itself, so it's hard to estimate precisely how much dehydrating is going on. The bottom line is that there are several factors that contribute to the flavor of tobacco, and moisture content is only one of them.
VSLDavid 1 year ago
Someone mentioned placing a piece of apple, or orange peel into the tobacco. The moisture from the fruit adds moisture to the tobacco. When the tobacco is moist the peel is removed. A senior farmer uses this method.
TheChaz2011 1 year ago
@TheChaz2011 Using orange peel or apple slice is a popular method among some folks. However, due to the potential for altering flavor and/or introduction of mold, I have preferred not to use those techniques. And since the indirect hydration of the towel method I demonstrated is so easy and effective, I've never had the need or desire to trying another option. But as I've always said, there is no "right or wrong" for the pipe hobby. There is only what works for you.
VSLDavid 1 year ago
Nice video David. I've seen several methods of rehydrating dry tobacco, (some were just variation to this method) and I think this one is one of the best. Its very gentle and safe for tobacco (no risk of mold) and it doesnt change the flavor or taste. I've also heard about putting peace of apple into tobacco to rehydrate it, but it might have effect to its taste (wich I think might be interesting to try). Sure, there is risk of mold. Anyway I enjoy your channel! Greetins from Czech republic!
Pepicek1986 1 year ago
David, but doesn't the tobacco don't taste the same ?
GrizzPaul 1 year ago
@GrizzPaul When tobacco is excessively dry, it will burn too hot and too quickly. This produces much less flavor in the smoke and also usually results in tongue bite or other unpleasant side effects. Conversely, tobacco that is too moist can create tongue bite when the smoker draws harder to keep it it lit. Excessive moisture also adversely affects the taste of the tobacco. Tobacco experts (which I am not) agree that tobacco has an optimum moisture level that provides the ideal smoke.
VSLDavid 1 year ago
Thanks for the video, David. I have some Balkan Supreme that has gotten rather dry, so I just used this method. I've heard about it, but I have never tried it before. Watching your video pushed me to give it a go.
As always, thank you for the video,
Steffen
Jthmeffy 1 year ago
Excellent tip David. I'm certainly going to utilize this.
Thanks,
Ron
EastEndPipes 1 year ago
Interesting video, David! :-)
oniichanrikku 1 year ago
great video pipe smoker
dunhillmanuk 1 year ago
Great Video David, I have a question for you though. It isn't really related to the video but on those bail top jars behind you, did you boil them to clean them before you put the tobacco in them like you would for mason jars for cellaring?
thegorrillaman1 1 year ago
@thegorrillaman1 I did not boil the jars. However, I did clean them thoroughly and allowed them to air dry completely before putting the tobacco in them. Some folks also wipe down the inside of storage containers with alcohol to sanitize and/or kill any bacteria that may inadvertently get into a jar.
VSLDavid 1 year ago
Another great video. This helped me out alot! Thanks, as always.
Ryussai 1 year ago
I have done this and can account for the fact that it works very well. Thanks so very much for posting this Dave, we can never have to many tips out there.
darfirst 1 year ago
Great tip David....It's wonderful that you'd throw this together for the pipe community. Much appreciated!!
Best
- Alex
vasypher 1 year ago
I will try this out today thanks!
maffers7087 1 year ago
Would you suggest warm water over DAM cold water?
DamPipes 1 year ago
@DamPipes Some prefer warm water, or warming the damp towel in a microwave, etc. Supposedly, the warm moisture is absorbed more rapidly by the tobacco. However, in my own experience, I haven't seen any noticeable difference. And since I prefer to keep the process as simple as possible, I use the water straight from the bottle at room temperature.
VSLDavid 1 year ago