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snuff bottle for dry fine snuffs

S

First of all forgive me for not supplying pictures. I recently adapted a small brown glass vial from Chinese ginseng “elixir” The vial is about 1/2" x 2.5" and narrows to a neck with an opening approximately 3/8". The vial was capped with a rubber and aluminum top that is meant to be pierced with a small plastic straw and the contents sipped. There is no way to re-use the existing cap. To convert the otherwise perfect glass vial to serve as a snuff bottle a cork may be obtained. But that would be too easy for me, and I still found the mouth of the vial too large for tapping out a mound on the back of my hand. My invention is a not entirely original. I took inspiration from those German porcelain snuff bottles with a dispenser cap. To make a dispenser cap for a vial you will need a small thin piece of leather approximately 2" x1/2". With a new razor blade shive the two ends of the strip.This is done by making a diagonal cut staring 1/2" from the end on the rough side of the leather. “Aim” the blade for the very end of the piece and a wedge-shaped end results. It may take a bit of practice, but it’s not very hard to get the hang of it. Spread a few drops of hide glue over the entire rough side of the leather strip. Take a 1" roofing nail and tightly wind the leather around the shank of the nail. The glue sets up quickly and it will hold fast in a minute or two. Test fit the stopper and remove a bit of it’s length if it’s too tight for the bottle. Let glue dry for several hours or overnight. Transfer snuff to bottle. Place nail/stopper assembly in bottle top. Wiggle loose the nail. The glue will not hold the nail permanently. The leather should stay in place. A neat hole the diameter of the nail remains, perfect for dispensing those fine dry grinds. Tap out a dose one the back of your hand, thumb nail, or onto your finger if you just have to pinch your snuff. Replace nail when done.

S

Thank you snuffgrinder for your input. Zinc is not especially reactive, that’s why they coat steel nails with it - so they won’t rust. What’s more, zinc is essential to good health for everyone, but especially for men. A few extra molecules of zinc should do me no harm. But if you know of a specific reaction with the zinc, please speak up. I could spray some clear polyurethane on the nail. I failed to mention that I have clipped the nail so it doesn’t protrude far beyond the leather bushing. This stopper works exceedingly well, growing progressively tighter as the nail is inserted. I have confidence that thus sealed, a full vial would stray fresh for a very long time. Furthermore, the long, narrow aspect of a vial or tube minimizes the ratio of snuff to air as long as the vial is held in the vertical , when compared to a traditional hinged lid box. Since air is the enemy of freshness, I consider the vial as a more logical design for snuff storage. When snuff is dispensed through a small hole, very little fresh air, if any enters the bottle.