deluxestogie's Trash Can Cozy Flue-cure Chamber

[Bex]

I have figured out how to format my responses...a beginning. I use No Script, so I need to have it off to respond. One hurdle over....

 

[Bex]

Now I'm being a bit of a PIA, I guess. I'm searching ebay UK for thermostats - we don't have 'proper' water heaters over here, so this is getting a bit confusing, and most 'water heater thermostats' are listed in the US. The link for the thermostat in this post doesn't ship internationally. I am looking here:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_o...tat&_nkw=85C+water+heater+thermostat&_sacat=0

Can anyone advise which one would be appropriate??

And how does the thermostat know what the temperature is, if it is entirely outside the can? If I am using a freezer, do I need one of these thermostats with the probe that would go into the freezer to get the inside temp??

 

[cigarchris]

Hi Bex, welcome to the forum. I have used a Ranco ETC-111000 controller in my cozy can, and I think you would have great ease and success with it. You should be able to find it online for ~$50, got mine from Amazon. It handles 110-240V for its line voltage, so Ireland being at 230V I believe? (like England?) it will work fine. You can wire on whatever end is needed for your crockpot (sounds like a 5-15 if it's made for usa), and the above mentioned transformer would also need to be in line still, but you could just wire that in too. There are some videos on youtube and pics out on the web of how to wire it.
Also, there are quite a few people on here from UK, and I'm sure some of them air cure their leaf. You probably just had too much humidity that first day and I bet just running a small dehumidifier would have helped tremendously. I color cure at ~65% relative humidity, that seems to be the best level to keep it from molding without drying out.

 

[Bex]

I have used a Ranco ETC-111000 controller in my cozy can, and I think you would have great ease and success with it.

I had looked at that, as well. Part of my 'thought process', convoluted as it is, is that the Cozy Can was able to use an outside thermostat, as it was actually taking the temp from the metal of the can itself. Otherwise, I couldn't figure out how the thermostat knew when to go on and off. I am going to try to use a freezer, so that the outside of the freezer will not indicate what the inside temperature it. It has been another long day of searching (and purchasing). I'm assuming either I need to drill out a hole in the side of the freezer for the entire thermostat, or else find one with a probe. Funnily enough, they do not seem to offer 110v thermostats with probes that will go from 90-170F (or 30-80C). My crockpot is from the US, and would have needed the 110v (my intention was to run it off of my transformer). However, they do sell thermostats in 220V with the probe (basically because water heaters over here operate differently, I imagine). So, I ended up getting the 220V thermostat. Which, of course, meant I also had to buy a 220V crockpot. Geesh!! Thus far, my purchases are way more expensive than a few years worth of tobacco!! Of course, it is the principle of the matter, but thus far I have purchased a polytunnel (a cheap one with the green mesh). Then, because my tunnel is up on a hill, and my water supply (a spring) can be iffy in summer (so I use barrels of rainwater), I bought a small pump to get the water up to the tunnel. Then I needed special 40mm hose for the pump. Now a crockpot and a thermostat. I'm sure there will be more!! In the meantime, Chris, how does your Cozy Can (or is it can cozy) working out?? Any tips? I am hoping to get this sorted in the next couple of weeks, with my 'purchases' and all of my 'homework' done. I have spent the better part of the day reading through this forum. It's great!!

 

[Jitterbugdude]

If you pro rate your costs over a few years time you will find that your tobacco is actually cheaper than it was before. Now you will be able to smoke all of your harvest because (in theory) none of it will mold ( or is it mould?).

 

[deluxestogie]

Cozy Can Contentment

This is from my second run this year.

With our knowledge that flue-curing was performed in log sheds, without instrumentation, I think all of us home flue-cure pioneers are recognizing that the outcome is mostly dependent on the nature of the leaf that goes in, and the eye and judgment of the operator.

Bob

 

[Bex]

I am going to try this with my current crop - I have purchased some 'equipment' and have loads of questions, photos, etc. but my first stupid question is how to do manage your attachments so that you can place your photo in your post where you want it?? I would like to start a thread on my 'adventure' thanks to my hero, Deluxestogie, but can't even post my photos properly - hopefully I'll have better luck with my tobacco.

And your leaves look terrific, by the way. If I can get my thread/photos going, I'll be sure to have my 1991 Geo Tracker in the background.....

 

[Brown Thumb]

Nice leaf, looks real bright too.

 

[deluxestogie]

Bex,
See the very first link here: http://fairtradetobacco.com/threads/3868-Key-threads-in-the-FTT-forum

Bob

 

[cigarchris]

Bex, sorry I didn't respond to your last post till now, missed it somehow. My attempts this year are, so far, mediocre like last year. The only type I'm flue-curing this year is Prilep. In my ever-present desire to not smoke cigarettes, I decided to focus on cigar varieties this year, and the only reason I'm growing Prilep is because I haven't done an Oriental before. Last year I did VA Bright Leaf and Big Gem, and for flue-curing I got about 20% bright, 40% dark (still okay for cigar/pipe usage), and 40% green (worthless to me). I speculated that it was humidity that wasn't cooperating (too much), but now, in hindsight, I fear that I was trying to follow a "recipe" too much, instead of relying on trial/error, visual inspection, instinct, etc.. Brown Thumb's flue-cure thread has also been enormously helpful, even though he has a (MUCH) larger, (MUCH) fancier chamber, and of course, the guru, Bob. It is SO crucial that your leaf be uniformly colored/mature before going in to the cooker. Last year I was waiting for leaves to ripen (even over-ripen slightly) and picking based on stalk position. For example, I would pick the lowest two or three leaves from each plant, even if the color was yellow-tipped in some, and dark green in others, and of course (big surprise!), they didn't yellow evenly in the can. Some were yellow in two days, others needed four. That was/is my single biggest mistake, but hey, that was my first year growing/flue-curing, so I didn't feel bad. The errors are how you learn and have value all the same. I would LOVE to be able to successfully cure all my leaf every year, but I'm having so much fun with this, and I can always buy what I can't grow.

You should find that each year you're spending less on materials. Mine so far are: building raised beds and some quality soil to fill them, seed trays, small pots, grow lights, garden stakes, a roll of Agribon, potting soil will be a yearly expense usually, seed filters, wire for hanging, plastic bags and containers for storage, and of course, the Cozy Can. Not much considering how much fun it's all been, and the tobacco generated.

 

[Bex]

I will eventually start my own thread, as I don't want to hijack this excellent one too much with my personal stuff. I will say, however, that until I read about the cozy can (or can cozy?) my efforts were quite iffy, and my understanding of the temperatures and 'schedule' pretty nil. Hopefully, with all the great info in this post, and a bit of help from my fairy godmother, I'll have a better result this year. By the way, I have little desire to stop smoking - but a desire to stop smoking commercial cigarettes - I think that's where the health problem lies. Since I have begun to use tobacco leaf, whatever 'symptoms' I have had have pretty much disappeared...!!

 

[Bex]

A question for all you manly electricians out there.....I am in the process of setting my 'system' up, but I notice that the electrical socket for the crockpot will not be long enough for it to hang outside my freezer kiln. Will there be an issue of having this plugged in, INSIDE the freezer, due to the humidity?? Should I extend this cord so that the electrical connection is outside?? I see that on the cozy can, all electrics are outside....??? Thanks.

 

[leverhead]

If you're using an extension cord, try to use a cord that will make a strait line when the connection is made. Then tape it up well with electrical tape to seal the plug connection and don't let it lay where you might get a puddle of water. The biggest problem I've had with extension cords is corrosion in the plug/socket, it increases the resistance of the contact and makes it warm/hot.

 

[Bex]

Thanks for the reply! The cord that comes with the crockpot is not very long, and will not extend out of the freezer, so I would have to bring the extension cord into the freezer, and plug the crockpot in, inside the freezer. As the freezer has a rubber seal around the door (and chest freezer) I plan to bring the cord over the top, and through the rubber seal on the door, rather than drilling through the freezer wall itself. I was just wondering if actually plugging this in, inside the freezer where there will be humidity, will be a problem. I imagine it may be safer for me to remove the crockpot plug, extend the electrical cord so it reaches outside the freezer (and plugs in out there), and then insulate the wiring that's actually in the freezer itself, perhaps? I've been scouring the photos on the forum - on the curing chambers, and sometimes see the plugs actually inside the chamber itself, and was wondering if this was an issue (particularly with a curing kiln, where the humidity would be higher than flue curing.....)

 

[cigarchris]

My cozy can has its connection inside, in the bottom, sometimes laying in a puddle for a few hours before I can wipe it up. Hasn't hurt it yet in two seasons, and if the receptacle gets corroded, I can just replace it for a couple bucks.

What controller did you end up going with?

 

[Brown Thumb]

Cut the wires add a longer piece and soder them together and seal with heat shrink tubing.
you are just asking for trouble. Resistance can lead to fire.

 

[leverhead]

...and sometimes see the plugs actually inside the chamber itself, and was wondering if this was an issue (particularly with a curing kiln, where the humidity would be higher than flue curing.....)

Actually, the first few days of flue-curing have higher humidity. Kilning runs a longer time though.

Cut the wires add a longer piece and soder them together and seal with heat shrink tubing.
you are just asking for trouble. Resistance can lead to fire.

Soldering would be better.

 

[Bex]

Soldering would be better.

Funny!! OK, got it. Will put all my connections outside the freezer for safety....
I had some difficulties getting all my gear together - my original crockpot was 110v (I'm American living in Ireland). But as I was using a freezer, I needed a thermostat with a probe to hang in the freezer. It seemed impossible to find a 110v one, so I ended up with a 220v (cheap one) that goes from 30C-110C. Perhaps not really accurate, but hopefully ok:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/30-110-Cels...be-/181227076593?ssPageName=ADME:L:OU:IE:3160
And then, of course, I had to buy another crockpot as well.

This is a year of expermentation - I have a load of plants (for me) that are still far from maturity. The growing season over here is twitchy, at best. I'm envious of you guys with loads of land basking in the warm sunlight. Doesn't happen over here. I'm thinking that the polytunnel I put up (especially for this) will allow my plants to grow until maybe November. So, I still have a few months to study the forum....

 

[deluxestogie]

Let's see. Electrical connection...water...seems to ring a bell as a potential issue. If you can open the guts of the Crockpot, just replace the cord with a longer one.

For both my kiln and my Cozy Can, all electrical connections are outside. On occasion, I've ended up with water dripping or collecting in unexpected places. Having all electrical connections outside the tobacco compartment allows me to sleep at night.

Bob

 

[Bex]

That's what I thought....thanks! Right now I am busy converting all the temps to Celsius - my head hurts. I must say, however, how much I truly appreciate this forum, and this thread in particular. Tons of info, great photos, responses, etc. Really cool....Thank you.