Putting a slight vacuum in Mason Jars

Woodsman

To put a light vacuum in a mason jar place the jar of tobacco without a lid in hot tap water maybe one third of the way up the side, don't use enough water to float the jar as that could dump over. Leave the jar in the water for a few minute which will heat the air in the jar. Screw the top on and when the air cools you'll have a light vacuum on the jar.  

motie2

@Woodsman -- A spectacular tip that, apparently, no one looked at or commented on. For those who cellar using mason jars, or other kinds of sealing containers, this is smart practice. I think, maybe warming the glass, maybe in a very low oven, before inserting the tobacco, and then sealing it would accomplish the same thing?

Woodsman

You could immerse the jar 1/3 of the way in hot tap water, let the glass heat up and cap it.

ghostsofpompeii

Now let me get this straight. The tobacco is already in the jar when you're doing this ... right? Of do you heat the jar, then pour in the pipe tobacco?

motie2

Either way works; I tried both. The water method is.... well.... riskier.

daveinlax

I just stuff the jars full and put on seal and lid and let nature do it's thing. I'm smoking PSBS that I jarred in 2007 and it's perfect.

SERENTIL

I've tried both as well... immersing full mason jar and empty mason jar.  as @motie2 stated, it is riskier that you may spill some tobacco which isn't a big deal as long as you've put the mason jar on the counter instead of leaving it in the water while filling.  One other point, mason jar will float easier when empty.

Woodsman

I fill them before and place them in a pan and slowly add hot water. Sorry I forgot to add that to the last message. Brain Fart.

xDutchx

Wouldn't heating the jar remove most of the oxygen necessary for fermentation and in turn aging? I always thought that was the purpose for the recommendation to wax seal mason jars, instead of heating them to achieve an airtight seal.

motie2

I suggest y'all put <<mason jar tobacco cellaring>> into "the Google."

rustedrailpipes

I'm enjoying this discussion. I'm just getting back into pipe smoking and so far some of the blends, brands don't seem to have the same profile I remember 7-10 years ago.

I'm looking forward to getting a box of jars and trying this out to see if aging them will make a difference and also try out some blends of my own.

motie2

@rustedrailpipes -- Welcome. I returned to pipe smoking last summer, and it's a different pipe smoking world from when I quit in the mid Eighties. Ask me -- or anyone here -- if you have any questions. We're a friendly group.

xDutchx

@rustedrailpipes, yep anything you need to know, just ask, and motie will tell you which search terms to Google. :^)

motie2

I am amazed how many folks don't think to put key words into Google when the seek answers to pipe smoking questions.....

rustedrailpipes

I'd rather get answers from fellow smokers than some of the answers I find on Google at times

Thanks for the welcome.

motie2

@rustedrailpipes -- Oh, I agree with you, but a little independent research never hurts.

Londy3

That is exactly what i was about to do.  Glad someone already tried it. Its pretty easy, i can my tomato sauce in boiling water like this and you can hear the lids seal as they cool.  I bet just very hot tap water would do the trick too. 

PappyJoe

The method that works for me is to turn the oven on to the lowest temp it has. Mine is 175F.  Put the jars by themselves and empty into the oven. Wait 5 minutes and remove the jars (you may want to use a towel or pot holder for this) and then fill with tobacco. Put the lid on and tighten the ring. After a few minutes you should hear the ring pop as the jar cools down to room temperature. 

I also discovered that rinsing the jars in hot water and then drying with a towel and immediately placing the tobacco into the dried jar and sealing will also create a light vacuum. 

motie2

@PappyJoe -- I like the simple elegance of your oven solution.....