I would like to try los snus. Which of the two tools would be the best to use?
If you are just going to try it, go for a Prismaster. IMO, Icetools are way too expensive. The last thing you want is to be stuck with a $40 Icetool if you don’t like Los. Maybe if you really like it and see yourself using Los Snus a lot, the Icetool could be justified.
I like los, and had used prismasters for a while. I shelled out for a 5ml icetool, and loved it. for a while. I lost it and was out $40. For my money, the pris coming out of both is equally nice. Now I just bake by hand.
definatly the prismaster. Get two if you lose it no big deal. the icetool is pretty styling though.
Handbaking is best. The loose snus is like a moldable clay like consistency. I have used a Prismaster, I fond it too plug-like and uncomfortable, the Icetool is flashy-nice but a bit expensive, but makes like a long cylinder shape, Using ones hands is easiest, and free, and you can mold it, and make it whatever shape one wants. Might take a few tries to get it, but it’s not hard.
I’m really interested in using los because I think it will be more natural. Do the “cake” stay together? What I mean is, won’t I end up with a mouth full of tobacco crumbs? That’s why I was thinking of using a tool to compress the tobacco.
I always just put the pris in my lip and press down on my lip a bit, kinda forms it a little more to my lip and keeps it in place.
It “can”, but you can press it as hard or as soft as you want/need with your hands. I just my hands now. I don’t use loose all the time, but I prefer the hand. The “hard” part, is getting it in your mouth. I have been using a thumb or finger and pulling the side of my lip out, and putting it in like that, and it’s worked fine for me.
just like I do with a pouch, I just throw it on my tongue and use that to place it in my lip. usually works pretty well with little mess.
I hand bake and use an icetool. How well a pris stays together depends on the size of the pris and the length of time it stays in there. Start with a small pris and work up to the size which “fits” your mouth best. No matter how well baked or compacted, all los will fall apart little by little eventually, when it gets out of control i know its time for a new pris. The occasional crumb is not a bad thing and enhances the taste. I find the more I “play” with the pris in my mouth the shorter the life of that pris, so put it in and leave it alone if you want a longer lasting pris.
The prisemaster came with my loose starter kit. Its ok, but the pris it makes is rock hard, so I pretty much have to reform it with my hands anyway. It makes it easy to insert the snus into place, but I find that I still need some finger shaping done both from inside and out before I can leave it alone. Yes, at least for me, I get a lot of tobacco crumbs. I use my hanky to wipe them off my lips where they settle. Lös is still worth trying. It kicks like a mule though. Anyway, for just trying out, I wouldn’t waste money on either, especially not the pricey icetool.
I “might” get an Icetool if they were like $20 or less. I used a liquid portioning syringe, and cut off the end. I have been told by people with an Icetool, this is the same thing/shape, and they can be had for pennies at pharmacies.
xander, if you’re getting rocks out of your prismaster, rub a thin film of vegetable oil inside the barrel. THIN. You’ll be much happier.
@zonesix: thanks for the tip. I will try that. Will canola oil or olive oil be best? I’ll have to see what’s in the house.
I thank you gentlemen for all the advice. I will order some los plus a prismaster soon and will use olive oil to ensure my “tablet” is flexable.
I find the shape of the prismaster’s prillas uncomfortable and unworkable. I got the free General Icetool from Buysnus, which I rather like. If I hadn’t, or even if I lost this one, I probably wouldn’t get another unless there was some sort of deal like the one I got it through. Handbaking also works better than anything else for some lös. I can make a pris of Göteborgs Rapé that’ll last an hour and a half to two hours by hand. Icetool, no matter how much or how little I compress it, falls to pieces within 45 minutes.
@xander, I couldn’t tell you. I don’t keep healthy shit like that in the house. Someone greased mine up with some sort of “cooking oil”, could have been hash oil for all I know, and it worked wonders. My suspicion would be that any safe-for-consumption lubricant would work fine. I’d go for the most lubricating and flavorless thing in the house. Unfortunately in my house that would be *redacted by lawyers*
@shikitohno I agree. Handbaking results in a prilla worthy of a flight from Milwaukee to Seattle. Otherwise, I’m excusing myself to the plane’s lavatory. Airports and long flights are why I quit smoking. I hate inconvenience.
I watched bigblue’s video and learned to handbake it. That’s not hard at all, I don’t know why it seems to be such a significant milestone in one’s snus using careeer, or why I thought it would be hard. So, I made a few already and they held up pretty well. Gotlandssnus was the one that fell apart the quickest. It got very gritty on me. General and Skruf stuck together for as long as I wanted them. They were much better than the prisemaster makes.
I could never keep a prilla together long enough to enjoy lös. Pouches were okay, but didn’t satisfy my nic craving. Northerner has free shipping right now… maybe I will give it another shot.