Hi all - only had about 5 super cedars left from my last batch of 100 - bought them about 3 years ago. Ordered a new batch of 100. Wondering if anyone is finding a difference in them. My first batch were much 'harder' - easy to score the middles, make a cross, and snap cleanly in half and then quarters. They were much more dense as well. The new batch is very soft - when I score, the knife cuts easily and deep, and they crumble into a mess when I try to snap them. Seems like they aren't pressed as densely as my earlier batch. The quarters burn much faster too, probably because of being less dense. Wondering if others are finding the same thing, or if I might have a 'bad' batch. I loved using these little things. I'm trying out freezing 5 at a time to harden them before cutting - I'll see if that helps. Cheers!
Mine are from last year, box of 72 I believe, green (no wrap) and I should have put them into an air tight container over the summer, since they've taken on some moisture from humidity. They break almost too easy, and are softer. But this is from my own fault.
Give them a call and see if they've made any changes. Possible batch that absorbed moisture as mine did. Very reputable company with a very nice product. Keep us posted....
Ok - mine were sealed and the new ones are sealed. The old ones didn't changes a bit during 3 years sitting in a box in the garage. I'm hoping that freezing them will at least stop them from falling apart - they still burn long enough to catch the kindling. I guess they probably don't sell them planning on folks wanting to cut them in quarters, although most of us do (I think). I'll report on how well the freezing helps. Cheers!
Will do - yes, great company and worth investigating - don't want to come off at at as bashing them - just a change in what I was used to and liked better. Will let you all know what I find. Cheers!
We've got some FHC branded ones in the swag shoppe if you want to support FHC at the same time. They still ship to you directly from the factory.
I bought a load of FHC branded ones for the first time last year. They are soft and crumbly like you describe. I snap them into quarters or even sixths while they are still wrapped without opening the cellophane. Then I pull them out one by one as I need them. Shaking out the crumbs at some point along the way.
Yep, I do the same - I score the puck while still in the wrapper then snap and break into quarters in a plastic bag. Always had some fine shavings, but these are just crumbling apart. Cheers!
I plan on updating the artwork/label on them tonight and getting it to Thomas. So any orders from now on should be with the new label.
Well, Thomas is on top of things - sent an e-mail explaining the above and had a response in less than an hour. See below. I had no idea you could specific what level of hardness you want - that's cool! Cheers! Jacques, When ordering please specify you prefer the harder ones. We try to press them just hard enough for customers that have a hard time breaking them. Please stay in contact as you get lower into the case and update us on condition. It is also a possibility that the last few came at end of production when the temp of material has cooled before pressing. Be assured we want your 100% satisfaction. Thank you, Thomas
I noticed the same thing last burning season with my SC's. Go to halve and quarter them, and they'd crumble. 4th year burning, I'm gonna rough it and not use commercial fire starters this year.
My first 100 denser no mess, second 100 were lighter and crumbly, third box I just received are like the first ones again. I found good use for the sprinkles though put them over hot coals for a fast lighting reload. If you order the go green ones all the sprinkles stay in the bottom of the box for less mess.
