Vacuum sealing jars experiment,pictures.
 

Not sure if this has any practical use as the vacuum pressure isnt much,but I heard on the web about it so I gave it a try. This is for DRY goods only,nothing WET!

Took a regular food jar.Punched a 1/16th inch or slightly larger hole in lid.Then heated lid under hot water to make the seal inside pliable.Quickly dried and put lid on jar.A small piece of electrical tape,bent UP so hole isnt covered.
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...o/spuds/v1.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...o/spuds/v2.jpg


Carefully place Handi-vac over area while not closing hole up with the tape and apply vacuum.When lid is depressed slide off sealer closing hole with tape,while vacuum still being applied by handi-vac.
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...o/spuds/v3.jpg


These pics show an extra piece of tape now placed on lids. I also did it on a mason jar.Note tape being sucked into hole indicating vacuum.
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...s/100_3941.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...s/100_3938.jpg


This is a proof of concept experiment.Would definitely be better with a stronger vacuum source.Handi-vac is not a strong vacuum.But it did make a decent seal,about half of canning seal I would say.
Also using foil backed duct tape would be a better seal,wouldnt suck into hole so much.

Also proof of concept that you can use regular food jars and reseal them with dry product inside,ie,gallon pickle jars would make a nice vacuum jar.This is a biggie in my opinion.

Re: Vacuum sealing jars experiment,pictures.
 

You could use this end piece off the handi-vac and it has a nice tube to connect tubing to it and then to a mityvac or your foodsaver vacuum tubing.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...o/spuds/v4.jpg

Re: Vacuum sealing jars experiment,pictures.
 

Though maybe the pumpNseal with its very high vacuum would be best on reusing regular food jars.Lots of folks here swear by em,must be a reason!

32.00 USD shipped.

Re: Vacuum sealing jars experiment,pictures.
 

So the piece of tape is the seal for the vacuum ? Seems like air would seep in around that and the pressure in the jar would equalize over time.

Re: Vacuum sealing jars experiment,pictures.
 

Not sure Andy,just saw somewhere where they said it worked. Maybe thats why the foil backed tape is a better idea? Hey,the pumpNseal uses the same principle.Plus you could silicon dab,or wax seal over it too. I really dont think making a good seal is a deal killer.Also think a pinhole is a much better size,but handi-vac couldnt deal with that,pumpNseal is supposed to work that way.

That said,tomorrow or friday I will be sealing up some CLEAN pickle jars with pasta in them by heating the lid to refresh the seal and an 02 absorber.Im really an absorber man myself,but if I didnt have em,this is an option.Actually the mason jar took a nice seal with a decent vacuum.Wouldnt be bad at all for spices,tea or coffee.And its resealable.

Re: Vacuum sealing jars experiment,pictures.
 

Why would this be better than just heating the jars and letting them cool, causing vacuum?

Re: Vacuum sealing jars experiment,pictures.
 

Hmmm...the seal has already popped so they electrical tape as Andy feared is a dud.

Heating the jars does work but probably isnt the best thing for a lot of products you would pack.

Tape alone,for sure,is a dud. :wink:

Re: Vacuum sealing jars experiment,pictures.
 

Bought the PumpNSeal for 32.95 delivered.
http://www.pump-n-seal.com/index.html

Re: Vacuum sealing jars experiment,pictures.
 

The seals that come with the pump-n-seal are a little flat piece of rubber held in place over the hole in the lid by a piece of tape. The action of the pump handle in one direction lifts the rubber and sucks the air out of the jar; when the pump handle moves in the opposite direction, the rubber collapses back onto the lid. As the partial vacuum builds, external air pressure forces the pliable rubber into the hole and keeps it in place. The system works really well so long as the lids and jars are clean.

Also, if the contents of the jar are powdery (like flour or spices), don't over-fill the jar or dust will float up and muck up the seal between the flexible rubber seal and the lid. I've had jars sealed for well over a year now with no problem. I don't know exactly what portion of the air in the jar is actually pumped out; and that would certainly be interesting to know.

Re: Vacuum sealing jars experiment,pictures.
 

Draws 28.9 inches HG,pretty danged good!
http://www.pump-n-seal.com/comparison.htm

I will let you know my experiences with it when it arrives.

Re: Vacuum sealing jars experiment,pictures.
 

UPDATE

Found my grocery jar still has a vacuum,it wasnt the tape that failed,it was the Kerr lid.

PumpNseal claims Kerr lids must be boiled to make the seal pliable enough to make a good seal.Their tests also had Kerr lids popping off in a day or so.So BOIL those Kerr lids before dry vacuum packing.

Ball lids will seal WITHOUT being boiled.

Good little tidbit on lids and why Im going with ball from now on.