Casing and RH

[Fisherman]

Table 1: Feel of Cured Tobacco Flyings in Relation to Relative Humidity[SUP]a[/SUP].

Feel of Cured Leaf	Relative Humidity (Percent)
High case	90 to 100
Medium to high case	85 to 90
Medium case	80 to 85
Low to medium case	75 to 80
Low case	70 to 75
Dry to low case	65 to 70
Dry	60 to 65
Dry to brittle	55 to 60
Brittle	50 to 55
Fragile	0 to 50

[SUP]a[/SUP] From Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 501 "Principles of Burley Tobacco Barn Operation".

http://www2.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/agr/agr14/agr14.htm

Would be nice for input about best case for storing and shredding leaf for others to use.

 

[DonH]

I would store in low case and bring it up to medium case for shredding.

 

[FmGrowit]

This guide is to judge hanging tobacco...not for baled tobacco. Relative humidity would suggest the moisture content in the air...not in the leaf. Leaf with a 15% moisture content would be low case. Leaf with a 30% moisture content would be in high case.

 

[deluxestogie]

Despite the origin of that document, there is no firm relationship between the case of the tobacco and the RH. Tobacco that is more hygroscopic (e.g. Maryland) will absorb more moisture than less hygroscopic leaf, when left in the same RH for the same length of time. How strongly the tobacco holds on to water is also an issue. Usually, stems, once hydrated, tend to dry much more slowly than the lamina. Another issue is that RH is temperature dependent, whereas percent-by-weight of water within a leaf is not--though its rate of change is.

If it's all burley, then that may be a reasonable table.

I agree with DonH. Store in low case.

Bob

 

[johnlee1933]

Despite the origin of that document, there is no firm relationship between the case of the tobacco and the RH. Tobacco that is more hygroscopic (e.g. Maryland) will absorb more moisture than less hygroscopic leaf, when left in the same RH for the same length of time. How strongly the tobacco holds on to water is also an issue. Usually, stems, once hydrated, tend to dry much more slowly than the lamina. Another issue is that RH is temperature dependent, whereas percent-by-weight of water within a leaf is not--though its rate of change is.I agree with DonH. Store in low case. Bob

AS do I. I now have about 10 pounds stored and it is all low or medium low case. I add water at time of use.

So far little or no loss to mold.

John

 

[Southern Planter]

Dumb question number four, what is "case".

 

[squeezyjohn]

"Case" is the term used to denote how much moisture is in a tobacco leaf either in storage or during the curing process - and therefore it's texture for handling the leaf.

Low case means low moisture and very dry ... a leaf in low case will shatter when you brush against it - it is very fragile

High case means full of moisture and pliable without any chance of breaking ... leaves in high case are susceptible to moulding though. This is the kind of case you want for shredding or twisting or for rolling a cigar wrapper.

Medium case is somewhere in between - tobacco in low to medium case burns fairly well.

 

[johnlee1933]

Dumb question number four, what is "case".

No Offense but the only dumb question is the one you haven't asked. If you don't know the answer and need the information it's not a dumb question.

John

 

[Knucklehead]

Good videos on RYOmagazine concerning moisture content and tobacco handling characteristics. http://www.ryomagazine.com/multimedia/tobacco.htm

 

[DonH]

"Case" is the term used to denote how much moisture is in a tobacco leaf either in storage or during the curing process - and therefore it's texture for handling the leaf.

Low case means low moisture and very dry ... a leaf in low case will shatter when you brush against it - it is very fragile

High case means full of moisture and pliable without any chance of breaking ... leaves in high case are susceptible to moulding though. This is the kind of case you want for shredding or twisting or for rolling a cigar wrapper.

Medium case is somewhere in between - tobacco in low to medium case burns fairly well.

Actually, you want to shred in medium case, because shredders can get gummed up if you put high case tobacco in them. But wrappers should be in high case for rolling cigars.

 

[DonH]

Actually, you want to shred in medium case, because shredders can get gummed up if you put high case tobacco in them. But wrappers should be in high case for rolling cigars.

I found this table here http://www2.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/agr/agr14/agr14.htm. They are referring I think to ambient humidity, not that of the leaf:

Table 1: Feel of Cured Tobacco Flyings in Relation to Relative Humidity[SUP]a[/SUP].

Feel of Cured Leaf	Relative Humidity (Percent)
High case	90 to 100
Medium to high case	85 to 90
Medium case	80 to 85
Low to medium case	75 to 80
Low case	70 to 75
Dry to low case	65 to 70
Dry	60 to 65
Dry to brittle	55 to 60
Brittle	50 to 55
Fragile	0 to 50

[SUP]a[/SUP] From Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 501 "Principles of Burley Tobacco Barn Operation".

 

[DonH]

Now I scroll back to the top and see that Fisherman has already posted the same table! Sorry about that.

 

[FmGrowit]

I feel like I'm having déjà vu all over again

 

[Fisherman]

Is good to see all the participation. That is what makes this site so good.

 

[ne3go]

What is the relation between leaf's moisture and RH?
If i have a very dry leaf (10-15% moisture) and put it in environment with 80% RH, will be in high case sometimes? Or do i have to spray it, or cover it with wet towel?
And if the leaf is in high case and put it in 70%RH, will become medium case after some time?

 

[DonH]

What is the relation between leaf's moisture and RH?
If i have a very dry leaf (10-15% moisture) and put it in environment with 80% RH, will be in high case sometimes? Or do i have to spray it, or cover it with wet towel?
And if the leaf is in high case and put it in 70%RH, will become medium case after some time?

I think the answer is yes. You wouldn't have to spray or cover with a wet towel if you just leave it out in high humidity.

 

[johnlee1933]

I think the answer is yes. You wouldn't have to spray or cover with a wet towel if you just leave it out in high humidity.

Agreed. Well said.

John

 

[deluxestogie]

I would clarify that low case does not shatter. "Out of case" will shatter. Low case can be squeezed with minimal cracking, but not crumbling. These terms are pretty arbitrary.

Bob

 

[ne3go]

I think it would be useful, if someone could record and post a youtube video, showing an example of how stretchy or crumble a leaf has to be to consider as "high-medium-low-out of" case.
Maybe with an example of filler, binder and wrapper leaf.

 

[Rickey60]

I think it would be useful, if someone could record and post a youtube video, showing an example of how stretchy or crumble a leaf has to be to consider as "high-medium-low-out of" case.
Maybe with an example of filler, binder and wrapper leaf.

I think that is a great idea. I would love to see what each case looked like myself.