MOIST TOBACCO

Frequently, after opening a new tin or getting a resupply of my daily smoke, I find that the tobacco is too moist to provide a really good smoke. I discovered a long time ago that, for me, tobacco must be fairly dry to give me the experience I desire.
The best drying method I've employed is to merely leave the tobacco in my copper Rumidor without it's lid, for a few days. This is fine if I have plenty to smoke already prepared, but what to do if I want to smoke the newly acquired blend now?
One can spread out a suitable amount on a clean sheet of white computer paper and balance it on a lamp shade above the burning blub.
This works well and only takes a little while, unless the blend is particularly wet or you're one of those denizens of the dark that use 40 watt bulbs for illumination.
I recently tried the micro wave with exciting results.
Back in the old days of printing black and white photographs on high quality silver laden paper, I would use a microwave to dry prints.
( I picked up this little trick from Ansel Adams ) It was great. Nice flat prints in a jiffy and no curling edges. So I decided to adapt this little technique to our favorite too damp consumable.
I placed a bowl's worth of tobacco in a microwaveable bowl, set the time for what seemed like a prudent 5 seconds, shut the door and pressed start. Well, at about 2 seconds plus a bit, there issued from the radar range a very loud pop and snapping sound, the unit's internal fan went into panic overdrive and a pretty three inch flame danced in the midst of some very delicious smelling smoke that began to snake out around the edges of the micro wave's door. I snatched open the door, grabbed the stone cold bowl and tossed it's flaming contents into the sink to be doused and gain more moisture. I seemed to have forgotten that my elderly microwave oven is broken and remains permanently set on Thermonuclear Firestorm.
Not to be deterred and, by now, really needing a smoke, I retreated to my trusty and faithful shop environs. Since becoming a pipe maker and attaining a fairly serviceable shop, I have come of the opinion that nearly any problem can be solved by the right combination of machines, materials and the tools to be found therein.
An so the explanation of the accompanying photo to this week's blog. The fast, efficient tobacco dryer for the pipester that simply will not wait for his too wet tobacco to give up it's moisture according to the whims of the ambient temperature and relative humidity. For those of you that wish to employ this method, a varaition of a technique I first observed in Todd Johnson's old South Carolinia workshop, I suggest you monitor the progress of the drying tobacco by sniffing the contents of the clamped tin
for signs of a scent that is a tad too smokey for the blend's normal aroma. Adjust the heatgun settings and /or vary the nozzle to tin distance to allow drying without ignition.
Next week: Home dental care with your Dremel.

Tune of the week: In a Silent Way by Miles Davis

More on friends

I want to thank Todd Johnson and his brother Kirk and his assistants for their creativity, patience and perseverance in getting my new web site up and running.
Thanks guys! I love it, it looks great and I anticipate a great experience working with you all.

The Best Kept Secret in Pipe Making

No doubt some pipe makers will hope to see written here some tidbit that will enhance their pipes and some collectors might wish for the "real" story on fills or, the like.
What I feel is the best thing about pipe making and often seems like a secret is in the realm of experiences.
That is to say, the friends I (we) have made. It seems that virtually everyone I meet in my pipe making endeavors either is or is becoming my friend.What a marvelous thing that is.
Sure, I absolutely crave working a block on the shaping wheel, but truly, that is not on the same level as how great it feels to go to a show and see someone I haven't seen since last year.
Those of you that go to the shows know what I mean: those great characters, collectors, vendors and organizers that most of us only meet once or twice a year. Amongst the members of this fraternity it is almost a cliche to say that pipe people are the friendliest in the world. (cliches become such because of the truth they convey) My experience supports this statement 100‰.
The upcoming Chicagoland Pipe Expo is a fine example. I tell folks when I was a child, I had Christmas. As an adult, I have the Chicago show.
Where else in the world can you have a jammed bar full of people from all over the globe, both sexes, eighteen to 90+ in age range, dozens of religions, political philosophies, speaking several different languages - nearly all drunk- and not one fight, conflict, or even a harsh word?
Yes, I believe, if not the best kept secret in pipe making, the friends we all make is, for me, the best aspect of pipe making. I feel very, very fortunate to have found this in my life.
When I am up at 3:30am, rushing to finish that last piece before catching a plane in a couple of hours to get to a show, it is the thought of seeing you all again that makes it worthwhile.