Professional snusers! Help me!

[Lord Spencer]

Using my icetool again, and since I'v used my friend's before and this one I own now I have encountered a weird problem.
I'm using a 3mm, usually at 2 clicks. I pack it pretty tight (so i think) and here is where the problem arises. I go to put it in my mouth, and usually it falls apart when I try to do so. Either it will sort of split in two, or it will just disintegrate. I KNOW I'm packing it pretty tight, and I followed that video on youtube with that guy we always see from the snus website. Any ideas on how I can alter my technique to keep my pris more tight and firm? I like to use this stuff at home, but even then it just falls apart after about 30 minutes. I barely poke it with my tongue at all. Ideas?

[precious007]

but even then it just falls apart after about 30 minutes.

I am not much an icetool user....... but I think this is pretty normal........................ it won't stay tight every single time...

just saying out of my experience.

that's why I prefer to use my hand............ and make a nice oval shaped prilla.

[Hanske]

First of all, don't ask for professional snusers when you want to ask for help with your icetool I have never used one. Just try with your hands, and touch it as little as possible when it's under your lip. If your snus is dry, put a piece of apple or pear in it, and let it stay in the fridge for a few hours.

[TommyGunBC]

I found if you pack it too tight when compacting it with a prismaster it will break up , so probably same thing with the icetool , just pack it in there lightly and don't over compress it .

I really don't use los all that much ,but when I do I've found it much easier to hand bake the prilla , icetools and pris masters are a waste of money to me and pretty useless

[precious007]

and also be careful when you push the prilla out........... do it gently ... you don't want to fracture it...............

[Monkey]

Pack it loosely.

If you compress it too much you will not get the flavor as much and you will have a mess in your mouth.

Pull back as many clicks as you want anf gently stab it into the los. Once it is full...press down gently to make sure there is no air in the pris.

If any juice comes out you packed it too tight.

Insert and enjoy.

[Roo]

Are you saying the prilla is OK until 30 minutes later? If so that doesn't sound abnormal to me, depending on the grind of the snus. I usually dump a pris after 30 minutes, or if I want to ise it longer, after 20-30 min I stick my fingers under my lip and rearrange things a little, pinching it or shaping it again, shoving it further up, whatever. In any case don't pack it too tight with the icetool, you don't want it rock hard or anything. Try packing it really loose to see what sort of difference it makes. There will be more flavor that way, and it might keep longer -- it sounds to me like you're packing it too tight. And to the icetool haters: I understand your sentiments, but it's been a really long time since I bragged about getting a free icetool Having said that, after using it now a thousand times, $35-$40 doesn't seem like much to pay given that a perfect prilla takes about 5 seconds with zero mess.

[Rattlesnake]

My Icetool must have come pre-trained, I have never had that problem.

[internope]

Using my icetool again, and since I'v used my friend's before and this one I own now I have encountered a weird problem.
I'm using a 3mm, usually at 2 clicks. I pack it pretty tight (so i think) and here is where the problem arises. I go to put it in my mouth, and usually it falls apart when I try to do so. Either it will sort of split in two, or it will just disintegrate.

Are you putting the prilla in your hand and then inserting it, or just injecting under you lip with the tool?
I usually take just use one click and shove the icetool under my lip to the right or left and push it in. I often get an hour or more out of it, but it will fall apart more quickly if I poke at it too much with my tongue.

[Lord Spencer]

Putting the icetool right under my lip internope. But yeah thanks everyone this seems like really solid advice. I guess packing it a bit less tight will do it, since I was pretty much packing as tight as possible to "get it to stay together". Thanks for the tips. I'll let you know in an hour what the turnout is

[Lord Spencer]

*UPDATE*
K, I think one of my biggest problems is packing it thoroughly, and making sure its not over tight but not overly loose. It's going take some time but I think I can get it now thanks to everyone's advice. Thannkyou all.

[squeezyjohn]

Getting it in there either with the icetool or your hand is one thing, but it's not really in place yet with just that. You need to give it a good smoosh up with your tongue to make sure it's properly in place and in contact with lots of your upper lip for a good løs effect. You also can't do this if it's packed too tight.

Don't be scared to poke around when it goes in - just leave it alone once it's nicely moulded to your upper lip.

Cheers

Squeezy

[Monkey]

What los are you using?

[Lord Spencer]

Monkey I am using Gotenborgs Rape Los, Ettan Los, General Original Los, and Ode's Extra Stark Los

[Monkey]

I can only comment on General and Ettan as those I have had recently. The others a it has been at least a year..almost two on the Odens.

General and Ettan will crack if compressed too much. I am really not a fan of them I like a coarser grind (but I do dig a can of Ettan los every now and again) and the smoke flavoring gives me heartburn wicked bad. They are good snus to get used to los though because to me they hit the middle ground with grind, moisture and bakeability (is that a word?).

I am primarily a hand baker.....more of a pinch and place....I work it for maybe two or three seconds to get all of the stray bits in place. With an Icetool all you want to do is shape the snus. Think of it as a form or cookie cutter and not a pneumatic piston. Once in there the light compression will take care of the raggedy ends of the pris. It really is not done until it hits the moisture in your mouth. That is where the final form takes place and if it is too tight the pressure from your lip will break it or the moisture will only get to the outer layer and slowly slough it off into a crumbly mudslide.

Another point may be your lip. I have a well formed pocket on either side of my frenulum where I place my snus. At first I had all sorts of issues trying to get los to stay or portions to feel comfortable. With time and patience the snus created a "pocket" that it sits in. The pressure in your lip may be cracking it even though your hands or tool did not.

If you like a firmer pris or your pocket is not formed yet you may want to try a v2 brand los...the Phantoms hold up like a champ.

Like all things it takes practice and I find los becomes a personal thing....once you find what works best for you it will become second nature.

When I first started with los I thought dropping a pris on my tongue and flipping it over and putting it back without using my fingers would be impossible. Now I can do it without a mess ( most of the time). There is a thread on here called flip and stick or something. Once you become comfortable it is amazing how los can hold up.