I was wondering if anyone else has tried this. I had a small amount of pipe tobacco that I tried to make into snuff over the last couple nights using a coffee grinder. I ground it as fine as I could then let it dry 24 hours, then ground again. The results were, to be conservative, horrendous. I could only get what I would describe as a course grind. When I tried a small pinch there wasn’t much to it at first. It never did burn but the drain on the back of my throat nearly made me lose my dinner. The aroma came next. It wasn’t necessarily bad but definately “unique” is the best way I can describe it. Kind of woodsy but in a not quite pleasant, musty way. It stayed strong for several hours and caused my sinuses to swell terribly. I may try again at some point with a different blend but now I’m kinda gunshy.
Which tobacco did You take for it? I usually buy for this sweet fruity tobaccos. And I get great results. Exsept once, when I took latakia… Try to dry the tobacco leaves for half an hour or more on the sun before grinding them, it will be a lot easier. Also use an electric grinder.
I buy just plain pipe tobacco and it comes out wonderfully. Even the cheap “Smoker’s Pride Plain” comes out fairly well. I haven’t tried a coffee grinder either. I just a rock tumbler and steel bearings to grind mine up. After sifting it, it comes out a nice medium grind, and the scent is quite good according to my preferences.
I always run my home grinds through a sieve and rehydrate for snuffing. Don’t forget to add some alkalizing salts. Be careful with rehydrating cigarette tobacco. Mold can be a problem. I store most of my home grinds relatively dry and rehydrate as necessary for snuffing. Generally pipe tobacco smells like it smells. Toasting before grinding has worked well for some. I personally avoid “aromatic” or flavored cavendish pipe tobacco so I couldn’t say how those would work. Google snuffhouse + (X) to look for threads. There are quite a few.
I second the toasting idea. My techinique, easily put- pan “fry”(no grease of coarse) untill faint whisps of smoke, remove immediatly from pan to cool, thick plate.
This also drys it out considerably and it is then much easier to grind.
I was using Samuel Gawith Cob Plug. I’m going to try again using a different blend, I’m just not sure which one yet. I doubt very seriously that I’ll be able to toast them inside without strong protest from the wife. The only reason I’m doing this is that snuff is very scarce in my area and ordering online just invites displeasure and question from the wife. The only thing I have been able to find is the various Scotch snuffs and they are pretty inexpensive. A 31.6g tin is less than $4US. I’m beginning to find them enjoyable to some degree but I haven’t yet gotten to the point that I can take them all day everyday, but I’m still trying though. They burn more than anything else I have tried (though not unbearably) thus far and they drain onto the back of my throat uncomfortably but the nicotine that I want is definately there. I’ve only been taking snuff regularly for about a month so I’m still experimenting and learning. I hope my Mr. Snuff order arrives soon.