Dipper's Guide to Snus

[bottledwater]

here is a very short faq based on what i have experienced. these were the questions i had when i just switched over, maybe it will help someone. i think it belongs in this thread, if not someone move it.

i personally started with loose snus, but if i were to live again, i would start with portions, which are much easier to manage. portions will allow you to get used to the mild burn and also let your upper lip get used to having something under it, so start with portions, or don't, its a personal choice.

1. how do i use snus?
A. make a pris (there is a video in this thread: http://www.snuson.com/viewtopic.php?t=677) or buy portions. if the pris is too loose, it may fall apart. try to make tight a pris the first few times and get used to it. put it under your upper lip, a bit off center. the farther it is from the center, the more wet it will get. more wet means more flavor but it also means a bigger chance of mud mouth.

1a. what is mud mouth?
A. if the pris falls apart in your mouth, it will go everywhere. it will feel like there is mud in your mouth.

1b. how much nicotine is in a pris?
A. about 8 cigarettes worth.

2. how long do i leave it in?
A. 1-1.5 hours is typical, you can leave it in for longer if it is a large pris or if you want to.

3. do i need to get it wet?
A. the pris shouldn't be tampered with once it is in. try to keep it from getting wet, and try to not play with it. you will be getting nicotine even if it is dry, so don't worry about that.

4. what happens if it gets too wet?
A. it may collapse and give you mudmouth, however the pris can tolerate a decent amount of moisture. if you are using portions, you can get it as wet as you like, but be aware that the more wet it gets, the faster it will be finished, and also that it will give off a much stronger flavor/burn.

5. what happens if i play with it?
A. if you play with it and it is a bit wet, it may fall apart and give you mud mouth. if you play with it and it is dry, it may still fall apart, so try not to disturb it. the pris is really meant to be put in and completely forgotten about.

6. ok, its in, now what?
A. leave it in peace. don't play with it, dont get it too wet and just let it sit there. when you put the pris in, it will have its own shape that you gave it (a cylinder or something similar), this shape will change after about 10-15 minutes as the pris reshapes itself to the contour of your gums. once it has settled, it will start to give out flavor and juices. tiny pieces of snus may come off of the pris, if this happens, don't worry, nothing will happen if you swallow a tiny bit of snus. unlike dip, you can swallow the juices. it may hurt a tiny bit but you will get used to it, and the burn is nothing like a dip burn. whereas the dip burn will stick around for a good 10-15 mins, the snus burn will go away after a 1 or 2 seconds, and is much milder.

some pointers about the burn: it may give you the hiccups. have a bottle of water handy just in case the burn gets too much. drinking a gulp will make the burn go away pretty fast. the first few times that you snus, you may become a bit alarmed by the burn since it feels similar to a dip burn and dip burn is pretty bad, however the snus burn will go away fast and its not as bad, so don't worry.

[Snusdog]

bottledwater thanks for adding the post. Good stuff.


dog 8)

[LaZeR]

bottledwater thanks for adding the post. Good stuff.


dog 8)

+1. Good write bottledwater. For some reason I'm horny as hell after reading that though

[Snusdog]

From another thread

Topic: Lower lipping snus

Tristik, welcome to the forum! I am an ex-dipper too, skoal fine cut wintergreen and cope snuff. I hilbilly los, both upper and lower deck, and don't really have any problems, I just take a nice tight pinch and pack it in there tight. If it gets too muddy, I just spit it out and start over, but I normally don't keep it in for more than an hour. I also put it in the back, more in the cheek like chew instead of in the lip. The Offroad wintergreen longcut and Grov los work best for me. Offroad wintergreen LC is not really like American wintergreen, but it's good, I actually prefer it now.

Confession time, I use snus just like I used to use dip, I don't put it in the fridge and I spit, so I guess I am a stubborn "American D-bag" just like you. I am an uncultured Swamp Yankee, northern version of a redneck. It's all good, as long as you enjoy it.

And this

Gambino, you asked if you will be able to "gut" the snus like cope. There will be far less gutting and juicing no matter where you put it, and whatever you might swallow is not nausea-inducing or harmful at all. If you can stomach chew spit no problem, hell even bull sperm couldn't shake you (disclaimer: I have never intentionally swallowed Cope spit or bull sperm) You have nothing to worry about. There are no rules to snus whatsoever. If you flopped your lower lip over a crude slap of Ettan in a Swedish bar you might get funny looks, but assuming you won't be in that scenario anytime soon (and even better if you were), no concerns brother. When I'm done with this Odens ES los I'm gonna throw a wad deeown undah and see how it goes. Done it before but this thread makes me want it again. Cheers and welcome to snus!

And by the way, screw what your buddies would think about portions. Give them a try. I like los better when it's practical, but during most of my day it is not. Oh and try some Odens ES los. It's like the Good Lord pooped in your lip.

And this

When I'm done with this Odens ES los I'm gonna throw a wad deeown undah and see how it goes.

Results are in: Overall WIN. Much better than the Cope I used to enjoy with a good bud who moved to LA. It slides around a lot more than what you're used to, which might require some fingers-in-the-mouth to fix it, and I'd forgotten how much I have to spit in the lower lip, but after 1 minute that subsides. Now enjoying my beer spit-free with a los was of los in the lower. Sorry to say it with your pre-conditions and all, but upper really is the way to go. This works fine though, and probably more so for those who are used to dip. I've only used it on occasion.

I've given said friend some snus before and he went straight lower with it, no problems. Also, the dude who first told me about snus was insistent upon lower-decking it. He always did, and it worked fine for him. Then again, I would go over to his desk at work to find a 16 oz. coffee cup filled with frothy snus spit, looked like a GD mocha-no-whip or some shit. Used to give him shit for that. He moved too.

As for gum recession, yeah, a little in my experience. Not much. I already had a minor problem to begin with, but nothing noticeable to anyone else. Nothing compared to dip my friend. You're gonna love it.

[bondzai]

I don't know about the purity laws but geez I don't think there is any poison in Swedish Match Longhorn Straight lol... Yeah it would be nice to grind it up finer and put it in a portion... I like sweetness... maybe why I liked Triumph. Right now I have in a portion of Roda Lacket. I bought ten cans of roda lacket so will be doing it for a while... they sent me a mystery can of Gotesborg Rape and I liked it as well. I guess if I could get the hang of using loose in a way that I could 'get it out of my mouth quickly without having to wash my mouth out with water'... I would do los. I hate having to deal with washing out my teeth. I also like squeezing the portions to get the juice.

[Snusdog]

I guess if I could get the hang of using loose in a way that I could 'get it out of my mouth quickly without having to wash my mouth out with water'... I would do los.

bondzai, when you figure that one out please let us know. I have no answer. Rinsing just seems to be part of the los package.

[Snusdog]

From another Post

Topic: Los is Slower than Portions

Los takes longer to develop. About the time you would be finishing a portion, los is just kicking in. The key is patience.

However, this is not a universal law. A whole lot depends on how tightly the pris is baked. Since newbies tend to try for pris perfection, they tend to bake things tighter. The result is a slower flavor release (it takes saliva longer to penetrate a tighter pris). Also remember that a portion is loose unpacked snus in a bag that is often moistened with tobacco flavored water. Saliva gets to and mixes with it faster.

On the other hand, a looser bake or placing the pris in the mouth where it gets more saliva will cause quicker taste release. Thus its not a law but more of a tendency.

That said this is one of the things I love about los. There are so many things that you can do to adjust and fine tune los for the exact need of the moment. I can bake loose, big, and place further back in the mouth for quicker flavor and nic. I can bake smaller, tighter, and place forward in the mouth for a longer lasting more economical snoose (or any countless combinations of the above). It’s like the difference between an automatic and manual focus camera. Anyway…

The reason I think that this point is important is that when someone tries los and says they cannot taste it, very often (not always but often) it is due to the bake**. The problem is solved with just a little patience, giving the snus time to develop.

In time they will learn to adjust their bakes. But it is good to know both ends of the spectrum. It's good to know how to go long and let the snus develop. It's good to know how to pinch and toss and have the snus kick in at once.


dog 8)


**Note: the problem may also be that their tastes have not recovered yet from cigarettes/dip or that they are using one of the milder brands (Ettan, General, Prima, Roda). In this case, give it time. Usually your taste will begin to adjust in about 2-3 weeks. You might also want to try a stronger flavored brand such as Knox, Phantom Blue, or Gotlands

[texasmade]

I guess if I could get the hang of using loose in a way that I could 'get it out of my mouth quickly without having to wash my mouth out with water'... I would do los.

bondzai, when you figure that one out please let us know. I have no answer. Rinsing just seems to be part of the los package.

the tongue roll....i never have to rinse my mouth out after removing a pris

[Snusdog]

I guess if I could get the hang of using loose in a way that I could 'get it out of my mouth quickly without having to wash my mouth out with water'... I would do los.

bondzai, when you figure that one out please let us know. I have no answer. Rinsing just seems to be part of the los package.

the tongue roll....i never have to rinse my mouth out after removing a pris

:?: Ok what the hell is the tongue roll

(he asked with mild trepidation and a due sense of foreboding)

.

[texasmade]

once you get the snus in, you push it and pack it with your tongue, then lift it onto your tongue and roll it between your tongue and roof of your mouth. basically pack it some and coat it lighlty in saliva.

[Snusdog]

once you get the snus in, you push it and pack it with your tongue, then lift it onto your tongue and roll it between your tongue and roof of your mouth. basically pack it some and coat it lighlty in saliva.

No no no.... B wants to know how to get it OUT without having to use water to rinse. It sounds like you are talking about putting the pris in (unless I'm mistaken)

However, your point is nonetheless a very good one. I think as most folks get the hang of los, they will learn to use their tongue more and more to set the pris and get it into place with less hassle

[LaZeR]

once you get the snus in, you push it and pack it with your tongue, then lift it onto your tongue and roll it between your tongue and roof of your mouth. basically pack it some and coat it lighlty in saliva.

I tried this and swallowed the whole damn pris. ops:

[texasmade]

once you get the snus in, you push it and pack it with your tongue, then lift it onto your tongue and roll it between your tongue and roof of your mouth. basically pack it some and coat it lighlty in saliva.

I tried this and swallowed the whole damn pris. ops:

its something you have to work with. start with small amounts and work your way up...

hmmm basically tongue baking with the end being the polishing

[Snusdog]

From another thread:

Topic: How to use a Prismaster

1. Double check and make sure that the Pmaster is facing the right way (with the plunger end going into the can). Prismasters are easy to get turned around.

2. Insert the tool and while keeping you thumb on the little slide mechanism, press the Pmaster down hard in the can (repeat this step a few times keeping your thumb firmly against the slide) This should compress the tobacco

3. Remove the Pmaster and hold the tobacco end securely against your thumb

4. Push outwards hard on the slide- like you are trying to eject the pris (you should actually see a little juice on the thumb that is blocking the end of the tool). Again this is to compress the tobacco

5. Pop the pris out and enjoy.

Edit:
The key is to keep the pris small at first (about 2/3 the size of a regular portion) and work up from there.

When using a Prismaster, just don't load it to capacity- put your thumb on the slide and keep it about 2/3 of the way down when you are loading it. Pack it in good and compress it on the lid of the can by putting the open end of the prismaster on the lid and pressing down on the slide.

You can adjust the size of the pris in this way and find what works best for you.

dog 8)

.

[Snusdog]

From another thread:

Topic: How to- The pinch and toss method

In addition to a tool, I think it will help to learn to hand bake and to pinch and toss. The reason is that between these two techniques and a tool you should be able to handle any varying degree of moisture, grind, and need.

To Pinch and toss

1. Get a pinch with three fingers (not real big- start smaller than what seems right)

2. Gently squeeze the pinch between your fingers and press it against the tobacco in the can- or you can use the lid.). Don’t spend a lot of time. This should be fast. You aren’t baking. You are just compressing the wad a bit.

{Note: if you set the pinch down on the lid at this point, it should look somewhat rough and triangular- don't set it down. I'm just saying what it would look like if you did.}

3. Next, with the pinch still in your fingers,knock off the excess tobacco from around the compressed lump,

4. Finally, put the tobacco firmly in place in your mouth (I think this is one of the most important steps in the process. When you put the tobacco in, really stick it up in there firmly).

5. Give it a good poke/shove with the tongue.

6. Let it set up with out playing with it too much untill it does

7. Enjoy