First Bake

[Grim]

My first Los Snus came in on Wednesday and it was Gotlandsgul. From what i heard it was somewhat tricky to bake by hand and people recommended getting a prismaster or icetool. Well i got the cheap prismaster which works perfectly for 2 bucks.

Im getting an icetool for my b-day so i can be cool like 90% of the people on here although i dont see the need in a $50 steel tool when the $2 prismaster does the same thing. Oh well im not paying for it.

So i was curious about hand baking and watched zeros video and followed it with my gotlandsgul.

I started off as he did and actually got all the snus to stick together and form a pillow shape. Every time i tried to make it cylindrical it would crack. So i made the pris look like it did from my prismaster. A nice pillow shape that was not falling apart.

Put it in my lip and found out it was too big. LMAO. My wife started laughing at me as half of it was sticking out of my mouth. so i took it out. Threw the excess away and has a perfect pris in my lip by hand. Not bad for a first try, perfect minus the fact i used too much.

[Shrewd]

Not bad for a first shot. It took me a tin of Knox to get the hang of it. My first try resulted in an immediate abort. I'm by no means a los expert, I can make a decent pris, but I just don't los it that often (maybe once a day at night). I think there's definitely an art to it that takes practice. I don't own an icetool yet - I figured I shouldn't need a $50 tool to get my Vitamin N - and so far I've been right. I may buy one eventually, but it really would just be for the cool factor - not a necessity.

[Starcadia]

Re: First Bake

My first Los Snus came in on Wednesday and it was Gotlandsgul. From what i heard it was somewhat tricky to bake by hand and people recommended getting a prismaster or icetool. Well i got the cheap prismaster which works perfectly for 2 bucks.

Im getting an icetool for my b-day so i can be cool like 90% of the people on here although i dont see the need in a $50 steel tool when the $2 prismaster does the same thing. Oh well im not paying for it.

So i was curious about hand baking and watched zeros video and followed it with my gotlandsgul.

I started off as he did and actually got all the snus to stick together and form a pillow shape. Every time i tried to make it cylindrical it would crack. So i made the pris look like it did from my prismaster. A nice pillow shape that was not falling apart.

Put it in my lip and found out it was too big. LMAO. My wife started laughing at me as half of it was sticking out of my mouth. so i took it out. Threw the excess away and has a perfect pris in my lip by hand. Not bad for a first try, perfect minus the fact i used too much.

LOL. Great story. You were bold to start with Gotlands Yellow.

I started a couple weeks ago with General loose, and it was easy. For the last two weeks I've been experimenting with different loose and it's been really fun. You do actually get quite good at it after awhile, not just making a perfect pillow and inserting it, but also keeping it tame up there in the lip. It is ultimately challenging, more or less, and every snus seems to have its own personality, not only with taste but with the experience. It's fun!

I still don't foresee getting a tool for it, though. It's almost like handling vinyl for me, in that hand-shaping is very involved and tactile. It's also a lot like getting good at rolling cigarettes or making a good joint.

But I admit I really enjoy a snus that is easy to bake and that tastes good. I've been an increasing fan of Ettan, which is currently competing with Grov for my favorite loose. I get to step back and watch the battle unfold.

[Grim]

Im no pro but have been dipping copenhagen Fine cut for years. That took some practice which may have given me a head start. I did get a huge brown spot from baking in my hand from the juice but used a napkin after i was done baking. Snus tools do a fast job and just as good. I guess for a down to earth experience this is the way to go but i just use a tool and get it over and done with. Espeically if im fishing and such since my hands will be filthy.

I agree with the comparing it to hand rolled stuff. when i smoked pot i was VERY proud of my blunt rolling skills. I had friends ask me how i did it and made it look so good. I loved those days. But alas, me and maryjane had to part ways due to my frequent panic attacks and so went my skills.

I could rool blunts you could put in a frame and appreciate for years. I guess hand baking as good as zero did in that vid takes just as much practice.

[Starcadia]

I recently had one of those rare fortune cookie fortunes that I kept. Said something about how those who hurry are unable to do so with dignity. Reminded me of smelling the roses, but different. Imagine those people who run to board a subway train when they could walk and catch the one that is coming in a few minutes. That's another thing I like about hand baking. If it were more complicated, I might use a tool.

I'm also still rebelling against cigarettes, which were much more immediate, and therefore ultimately less fulfilling.

[Grim]

true... like i use to use in my signatures....

Nothing is as easy to learn as experience and nothing so hard to apply.