St. James Woods Help Please

[Slow Triathlete]

Okay everyone. This blend is frustrating me to no end. I cannot get a good bowl out of this stuff. I have tried 3 different ways of packing, I've packed it dry and wet, and I've packed it loose, tight, medium and I cannot keep this stuff burning. I've also tried it in 3 different shapes.

Any advice? It's driving me crazy!!!

[BigFrankMD]

I smoked some the other day, it was really wet at first. I sat a bowl out and went to the store forgetting about it. After about 3 hours I smoked it anyways. Try an extra amount of dry time on it. The bowl I smoked went fine. Little wet at 1/4 mark or so. I think its how wet they pack it in the tins. Smoked it in a cob if that helps.

[caskwith]

Take a bowful, put it in a small dish on a sheet of kitchen paper and microwave it for about 30 secs, check and iff needed mic for another 30 secs, should dry it out perfectly.

[Old_Salt]

Originally Posted by Slow Triathlete

Okay everyone. This blend is frustrating me to no end. I cannot get a good bowl out of this stuff. I have tried 3 different ways of packing, I've packed it dry and wet, and I've packed it loose, tight, medium and I cannot keep this stuff burning. I've also tried it in 3 different shapes.

Any advice? It's driving me crazy!!!

are you rubbing it out any? I rub the crap out of it, let it sit for about 20 min. then fill & tuck, fill & tuck then the smallest crumbs on top for
kindling. Usually takes about 3 matches to get a good even glow started.

[Mad Hatter]

It just might not be for you dude. I loved the name and really wanted to like it but no matter how much I dried it, I always wound up with a bowl of soup when I tried smoking it. No loss. There's plenty of other stuff out there to choose from. Good luck.

[EvanS]

I could never get it either Scott. Matter of fact I think I dumped what I had left on Mad Hatter Back in the day, he'd smoke anything

[Mad Hatter]

Originally Posted by EvanS

I could never get it either Scott. Matter of fact I think I dumped what I had left on Mad Hatter Back in the day, he'd smoke anything

Trying to start shit again, eh Evan?

[IHT]

i opened a tin of this a few months back and struggled as you have.
i fully rubbed out the tin in a large bowl, put it back in the tin...
now after months of sitting there (with the lid on), it's starting to fully dry out to be smokeable.

best smoke i've had in about a month was some St. James Woods i had a couple nights back.

[Slow Triathlete]

Originally Posted by caskwith

Take a bowful, put it in a small dish on a sheet of kitchen paper and microwave it for about 30 secs, check and iff needed mic for another 30 secs, should dry it out perfectly.

Unfortunately, 30 seconds was way too long. Now I'm trying to rehydrate the stuff. The irony is killing me!!

Stupid tobacco.

Ya'll are making me fear the tin i got cellared.














Well on the bright side its a big cellar and i may never get to this tin.

[Ultravox]

I've never had much trouble with this. The sample I received from Mad Hatter has been quite pleasant so far. It is fairly moist, so I blitz it in the microwave as Chris suggested but for 10 seconds or so then longer if necessary. I then rub it out fully, pack it loosely using the '2-3 step' method and enjoy.

[Nooner]

Originally Posted by IHT

i opened a tin of this a few months back and struggled as you have.
i fully rubbed out the tin in a large bowl, put it back in the tin...
now after months of sitting there (with the lid on), it's starting to fully dry out to be smokeable.

best smoke i've had in about a month was some St. James Woods i had a couple nights back.

I agree - like much of McClelland's stuff it doesn't hurt it at all to sit in an opened tin for months on end.

Originally Posted by Root

Ya'll are making me fear the tin i got cellared.

Well on the bright side its a big cellar and i may never get to this tin.

Yep - I think anything by McClelland with VA in it is a prime aging candidate, if the fear of the tin overwhelms ya feel free to drop me a line - might take a while to get back to ya, but I'm sure we could work something out!

[caskwith]

Originally Posted by Slow Triathlete

Unfortunately, 30 seconds was way too long. Now I'm trying to rehydrate the stuff. The irony is killing me!!

Stupid tobacco.

Apologies, my microwave is old and not very powerful, i should have mentioned this.

Originally Posted by Nooner

Yep - I think anything by McClelland with VA in it is a prime aging candidate, if the fear of the tin overwhelms ya feel free to drop me a line - might take a while to get back to ya, but I'm sure we could work something out!

Yup, may have to do that. Seeing my tin has 4 years on it.


Oh and Nooner nice to see you around again..

[Infin1ty]

Originally Posted by Slow Triathlete

Okay everyone. This blend is frustrating me to no end. I cannot get a good bowl out of this stuff. I have tried 3 different ways of packing, I've packed it dry and wet, and I've packed it loose, tight, medium and I cannot keep this stuff burning. I've also tried it in 3 different shapes.

Any advice? It's driving me crazy!!!

I've yet to try this blend, and I will tell you why. I just can't seem to bring myself to smoke a tobacco with the same name as this man...





Nah, seriously, I've just never tried the stuff.