So this year I truly plan on building a cozy can for making some pipe blends. Instead of using a hot water thermostats to control the temp could I use something like an InkBird PID that combines the temp and set temp into one device?
Modifications to the Cozy Can
- Thread starter manfisher
- Start date
The Cozy Can was an attempt to define the absolute minimum requirement for a home flue-cure chamber. [Flue-curing by hobby growers had never been attempted.] Although I would suggest a container larger than a trash can, and one that is rectangular, for space efficiency, the Cozy Can is definitely ripe for improvements. Any controller (preferably one that remembers its settings if the power should momentarily blink off) that can be set for the desired temp range will work.
Another option:
fairtradetobacco.com
Bob
Another option:
Foolproof Kiln Controller
For wiring-challenged kiln builders BNQ-T9 A number of folks have expressed concern about properly wiring a temp controller for their kiln. While a bit more expensive than a digital controller that you have to wire, this one is foolproof. For controlling a kiln heat source, such as a...
Bob
vktr
Well-Known Member
What about a Reptile Heating Pad, something like this on Amazon: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B08XWTLVPV?ref=emc_s_m_5_i_atc&th=1 . Will this work as a thermostat? Still need a broken refrigerator or dishwasher, mine refuse to die after 20+ years 
Thanks Bob. The more and more research I do on this forum about flue curing, fermenting, etc. the more confused I get by it. Does flue curing actually change the flavor of the leaf or simply speed up the natural curing process?The Cozy Can was an attempt to define the absolute minimum requirement for a home flue-cure chamber. [Flue-curing by hobby growers had never been attempted.] Although I would suggest a container larger than a trash can, and one that is rectangular, for space efficiency, the Cozy Can is definitely ripe for improvements. Any controller (preferably one that remembers its settings if the power should momentarily blink off) that can be set for the desired temp range will work.
Another option:
Foolproof Kiln Controller
For wiring-challenged kiln builders BNQ-T9 A number of folks have expressed concern about properly wiring a temp controller for their kiln. While a bit more expensive than a digital controller that you have to wire, this one is foolproof. For controlling a kiln heat source, such as a...
Bob
Flue-curing rapidly yellows the leaf (preserving its sugars), then promptly kills the leaf (and its oxidizing enzymes) to prevent any further curing or aging. That what makes bright leaf more acidic than other types of tobacco, and is typically the major ingredient in cigarette blends. It's also important in many pipe blends.
fairtradetobacco.com
Bob
Curing, Fermentation, Aging, Kilning? Basic Definitions
Curing Tobacco When you begin with leaf from the field (primed or stalk-cut), and then allow it to convert from a living leaf to a dead leaf (of yellow or brown), you have cured the leaf. Often in this forum, we refer to this as "color-curing". There are a number of methods for color-curing...
Bob
The_Non_Compliant_One
Member
This is baffling.
Why not simply purchase an electric smoker? Ya know, one for smoking meat. Nearly completely temp controlled. AND you could smoke your tobacco as well
Why not simply purchase an electric smoker? Ya know, one for smoking meat. Nearly completely temp controlled. AND you could smoke your tobacco as well
Juxtaposer-
Well-Known Member
Being a consumer of whole leaf and not even a grower, I am planning on going even further with minimalist concepts of kilning. Simply put, tobacco in a sealed jar placed in a warm spot. Most of my tobacco has been kept in a cabinet above the refrigerator for years. All of it is black! For a more serious attempt I have a couple jars in a cabinet outside that are being warmed with the summer heat. It has already been a month so I expect to be testing the effects soon. Summer being almost over, I have already built a small styrofoam box around the exposed warm pipe on top of my water heater. Temperatures are not expected to go over 100’ F. I understand that typical kilns with whole leaf requires certain temperatures and humidity for important reasons, however with tobacco sealed in a jar, those reasons may not apply. Temperatures for the prevention of mold may not be needed because the environment in the jar may not have enough oxygen for mold to grow. I suspect this because most tobacco I put in jars tend to create a vacuum. The tobacco theoretically using up the oxygen. Now using a vacuum sealer for jars I am even more confident with this as a mold prevention method. Humidity I see as the wetter the better but this does lead to the question, how important is oxygen in kilning. I don’t know of oxygen sensors being put on kilns and some kilns seem fairly airtight. I understand the development of ammonia but I it does itself break down and may not need to entirely escape away or be removed. Moving forward with this I will be able to report, however I do not plan on having any control samples to compare. If anything this will be just a low temperature stoving. Any ideas regarding the function of oxygen in kilning would be appreciated.
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The intrinsic "aging" enzymes within the tobacco lamina are an oxidase and a peroxidase. No oxygen, then no fermentation or aging.
Bob