| |
|
|
Share/Bookmark this Topic:
|
| Message |
Author |
by toekuttr
on Sun Jan 27, 2008 2:01 pm |
|
what type of acid do you use? any citric would leave a taste, lactic as well. it would make it mellower as it lowers th ph, also lowers the available nicotine. ammonia does the opposite 
I certainly hope noone does this, but if they do its much safer to infuse, as ammonia is a low level toxin.  it was actually a joke, (tic) you use vinegar  |
|
|
toekuttr
Puffer
Joined: Jan 20, 2008
Posts: 60
Location: Md
|
| |
Back to top |
|
|
| |
|
by toekuttr
on Sun Jan 27, 2008 2:11 pm |
|
| alist, I noticed you also use filters after the acid bath, which would also strip away some casing/toppins, I imagine, how much flavor is left? |
|
|
toekuttr
Puffer
Joined: Jan 20, 2008
Posts: 60
Location: Md
|
| |
Back to top |
| |
|
by alist
on Sun Jan 27, 2008 5:05 pm |
|
toekuttr wrote: what type of acid do you use?
Fresh squeezed lemon juice, with a few drops in distilled water. I placed screen, bought at the hardware store, over a large plastic Tupperware type dish. I spread a thin layer of tobacco on the screen, then placed the lemon juice/distilled water mix into a spray bottle then soaked the tobacco with it. It took awhile to dry. After drying, I rehydrated by placing a small plastic cup of distilled water into the tobacco, all of which was sealed in a plastic container. It didn't taste like lemon and was considerably milder in both taste and nicotine hit. I did this primarily for the Smoker's Outlet Ultralight, which seemed more like a light to me than an ultralight. I treated the Top light tobacco as well.
toekuttr wrote:
it would make it mellower as it lowers th ph, also lowers the available nicotine.
Precisely!
toekuttr wrote:
I certainly hope noone does this, but if they do its much safer to infuse, as ammonia is a low level toxin. it was actually a joke, (tic)
Isn't that how Marlboro Red became famous? I understood it was because the tobacco was treated with ammonia, which serves to 'freebase' the nicotine in the tobacco.
toekuttr wrote:
you use vinegar
While I do love it in my potsticker sauce, I wouldn't dream of treating any tobaccos with vinegar! |
|
|
alist
Puffer
Joined: Sep 01, 2007
Posts: 73
|
| |
Back to top |
| |
|
by toekuttr
on Sun Jan 27, 2008 5:14 pm |
|
yeah, I m thinking vinegar may leave a taste, but I would think lemon juice would too. I ve never heard of anyone doing this before, but, in theory it should work, and I guess you proved it. I guess that leaves me to test out the ammonia theory.  Happy smoking! |
|
|
toekuttr
Puffer
Joined: Jan 20, 2008
Posts: 60
Location: Md
|
| |
Back to top |
| |
|
by alist
on Sun Jan 27, 2008 5:21 pm |
|
toekuttr wrote: alist, I noticed you also use filters after the acid bath, which would also strip away some casing/toppins,
Actually, I did the acid rinse only once, but that was before I started playing around with secondary filters. Rinses of any sort are far more work than necessary and shouldn't even be necessary if the right tobacco is chosen. Given that I was then (and still am) in the 'try any and every tobacco that is light or ultralight" phase, I have since passed on both of the tobaccos which I did treat.
toekuttr wrote:
I imagine, how much flavor is left?
I don't treat any tobaccos with acidic rinses presently, although I might if I end up growing my own. Presently, People's True Taste Ultralight in either a Zig-Zag or Gambler light tube, with the Friend Holder Air Blend filter (set on maximal air intake) is THE PERFECT ultralight for me. It's probably a step or two lighter than a premade ultralight. My goal from the beginning was to create the perfect ultralight. I only dabble in matching & creating blends for premade smokers as a sideline, but only because stuffing your own is so cheap. |
|
|
alist
Puffer
Joined: Sep 01, 2007
Posts: 73
|
| |
Back to top |
| |
|
by alist
on Sun Jan 27, 2008 5:23 pm |
|
toekuttr wrote: yeah, I m thinking vinegar may leave a taste, but I would think lemon juice would too. I ve never heard of anyone doing this before, but, in theory it should work, and I guess you proved it. I guess that leaves me to test out the ammonia theory. Happy smoking!
HA! Why don't you get some D & R Cockstrong (or God forbid, American Spirit), treat it with ammonia, shove it in a filterless tube, then enjoy the heart palpitations? |
|
|
alist
Puffer
Joined: Sep 01, 2007
Posts: 73
|
| |
Back to top |
| |
|
by toekuttr
on Sun Jan 27, 2008 7:44 pm |
|
| No thanks, I ll stick w/ D&R w/out the ammonia! I dont find CS to be that powerful nicotinically (is that a word?), but I do like the flavor. I ve heard AS has lot of free nic, but its a Va baccy, so thats surprising, I havent tried it yet. You mentioned "tar guards", do they also lighten the flavor? I like strong flavor but I also like breathing. And I do like menthols but smoke less mentholated cigs as D&R's selections taste so good, as well as some others. I ve read that the Canoe is a one of the tastiest budget tobaccos around. And I agree, why would anyone smoke more Gambler?! Once is more than enough for me! Good baccy to quit w/ though, youd be dreading another! No offense to Gambler fans intended, just MHO. |
|
|
toekuttr
Puffer
Joined: Jan 20, 2008
Posts: 60
Location: Md
|
| |
Back to top |
| |
|
by alist
on Sun Jan 27, 2008 9:28 pm |
|
toekuttr wrote: I dont find CS to be that powerful nicotinically (is that a word?), but I do like the flavor.
You know, I haven't even tried CS. I just find the name to be humorous. The only full flavor tobacco I have ordered is D & R WInterGold. It's WAAAAAAYYYY too strong for me, but DAMN it's a good Virginia! I haven't yet figured out how to blend it down with lighter tobaccos, yet keep that Virginia/Wintergreen kick.
toekuttr wrote:
You mentioned "tar guards", do they also lighten the flavor?
Before I answer that, I want to be sure we are clear on our terms so as to limit any possible confusion. "TarGard" is a brand name of a company that sells tar traps. A tar trap removes tar, but not nicotine. TarGard sells both disposable tar traps, which aren't necessarily disposable (I clean and reuse mine), but also sell permanent tar traps. The main tar traps I have used are the TarGard Mini Disposable Cigarette Filter. They are sold in packs of 20 at CVS for $2.99. The package claims one filter is good for 4-7 cigarettes. That is either true or not true, depending on what tobacco you stuff and what tubes you use. With high tar cigarettes you won't reach 4 cigs before you must either clean and reuse or dispose of the filter. They DO lighten flavor, but only slightly, in my opinion. They leave the smoke tasting cleaner and more pure, if that makes any sense at all.
TarGard also has permanent filters, as does Friend Holder. (TheLadySmokes.com notes the Friend Holder permanent filter has a tighter draw, not that I would buy from there. Alternative Smoke Shop is so much cheaper!) These permanent models are also tar traps, which lower tar, but not nicotine. I would spend 3 bucks and try the disposables to see what you think, before purchasing any permanent, non-disposables. Even then, you would still have no guarantee that a permanent model would remove a similar amount of tar or flavor than the disposables.
The other consideration is cleaning method. If you plan to reuse the disposables or permanent tar traps, the tar does build up and so must be cleaned from the device. I don't know how many cigs you can smoke through a permanent tar trap before cleaning. If it's 10, but you smoke 30 a day, then you obviously will need to keep more than one permanent filter on hand. I also have no idea what the manufacturers of the permanent tar traps recommend to be used for cleaning the permanent tar traps. For the disposables, I straightened out a paper clip, then slid it through the clear tube to pop the inner part out. Next, I twisted paper towels into strands, which were inserted into the clear tube, then twisted the tube around the paper towel to remove as much built up tar as possible. Finally, I soaked all parts in 90% alcohol for a few hours. Don't even waste your time with 50% alcohol.
toekuttr wrote:
And I do like menthols but smoke less mentholated cigs as D&R's selections taste so good, as well as some others.
For me, the menthols are all WAAAYYY too strong, even the menthol lights. I love Wingate Light, but there is just no way I could smoke it daily. In the spring, however, once things warm up, I am sure I will invest in two pounds of the People's True Taste Menthol Ultralight to smoke for at least a month.
toekuttr wrote:
I ve read that the Canoe is a one of the tastiest budget tobaccos around.
That one I haven't tried yet.
toekuttr wrote:
And I agree, why would anyone smoke more Gambler?!
My thing is, at the end of the day, after smoking a pack and a half, I don't want to feel as if I have smoked all day. Gambler ultralight leaves this horrid, nasty, disgusting aftertaste. It is as if my mouth and lungs are coated in something after smoking Gambler for a day. There are far too many ultralights on the market that do not do this. So why would I EVER mess with Gambler? On the other hand, my sister smokes generic Goldcrest Lights 100s and she thought the Gambler ultralight was phenomenal. But then, Goldcrest (even the ultralights) leave that same coated feeling that Gambler does. No doubt this left her feeling right at home.
toekuttr wrote:
Once is more than enough for me! Good baccy to quit w/ though, youd be dreading another!
If Gambler was my only choice, I would so quit cold turkey without looking back. |
|
|
alist
Puffer
Joined: Sep 01, 2007
Posts: 73
|
| |
Back to top |
| |
|
by toekuttr
on Sun Jan 27, 2008 11:37 pm |
|
| I appreciate the feedback, the traps look interesting because I wouldn t want to reduce nicotine. I saw some, I think they were Davidoffs (not sure), I m sure theyre pricier but they looked good. The Friend holder looks cool too, I think. BTW the only light tobacs I ve liked are Windsail Silver and Bali light hzwr, all others have an undesireable aftertaste, but to each their own. Actually I also find the Rowland light very flavorful, but too chocolatey for everyday smoking. |
|
|
toekuttr
Puffer
Joined: Jan 20, 2008
Posts: 60
Location: Md
|
| |
Back to top |
| |
|
by toekuttr
on Mon Jan 28, 2008 11:15 am |
|
| Alist, you may like Wingate gold, as thats a straight Va menthol, I havent tried it but I hear its very mild. I think I ll order a Tar guard per your reccomendation, its only about $10.00. I appreciate the help! If you do any more acid baths, I m thinking a lactic acid dilute may be even more neutral in taste, available in food grade at homebrew stores. |
|
|
toekuttr
Puffer
Joined: Jan 20, 2008
Posts: 60
Location: Md
|
| |
Back to top |
| |
All times are GMT - 5 Hours
|
|
