Question about canning jars

Hi there! I just recently bought several pounds of tobacco and was jarring it last night, and when I opened another pack of ball jars and grabbed one, it felt really slick and almost like they had a thin oil film them. Is it possible that the glass surface is so smooth that it gives the perception of being "oily"? I am concerned that maybe it could be left over fluids from processing the jars or something. I have spent alot of money on premium tobacco and don't like the though of it absorbing oils.

I usually wash them before I use them

The thing is, I've already jarred around ten pounds of good tobacco in those jars. That's why I am really hoping it is just the smooth glass giving the feeling of being slick, otherwise I've just contaminated hundreds of dollars worth of tobacco.

I’ve never washed a jar in my life. I’m smoking stuff I jarred in 2009. The jars are sterile as anything that tobacco has touched so far.

I've been canning using Ball jars my whole life. Never washed a jar ever. Same thing when I store anything in them. Herbs, spices tabacco....
Never had a problem with them.

I use them too. I wash some and others I use just having blown any dust out of them. I don't think they're all made the same. Some have a film, some have a funny smell, others come out clean and perfect. If you didn't notice the problem before, you're probably fine.

Kevin Powers said:

Hi there! I just recently bought several pounds of tobacco and was jarring it last night, and when I opened another pack of ball jars and grabbed one, it felt really slick and almost like they had a thin oil film them. Is it possible that the glass surface is so smooth that it gives the perception of being "oily"? I am concerned that maybe it could be left over fluids from processing the jars or something. I have spent alot of money on premium tobacco and don't like the though of it absorbing oils.

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Wash them buddy. I think they have some kind of thin petroleum base spray on them to keep them from getting dusty in storage in the warehouses. Whenever I buy a case I wash them as I need them when I take them out of the tray.

FWIW, I always wash them in the dishwasher before using. FTRPLT

When in doubt ask.
Ball says their jars are not sterile from the factory. It's also possible that dust, dirt etc can get on them during transportation. As they are manufactured overseas where processes are fluid. It's possible they could be contaminated from machinery cleaning or lack of maintenance.
Therefore they recommend they always be sanitizeed in the dishwasher before use.

So I will have to change my ways.
Thanks for the question. Nice to have a clear answer from manufacturer.

Kevin Powers said:

The thing is, I've already jarred around ten pounds of good tobacco in those jars. That's why I am really hoping it is just the smooth glass giving the feeling of being slick, otherwise I've just contaminated hundreds of dollars worth of tobacco.

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Ok, from a psych nurse:
1) Take some deep breaths, perhaps put on some calming music for a few minutes.
2) Buy several quart size bottle of 91% Isopropyl Alcohol, from most any CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreen's or WAL-MART. (Or two 16oz. bottles). Must be 91%, not 70%
2) Gather together as many large containers with form fitting lids as you can, doesn't matter what they're made of ,they just have to be clean - enough to hold the tobacco you are storing. Or one giant container if you only have one type tobacco.
3) Dump out the tobacco in the suspect jars into above containers and secure with the aforementioned lids
4) Take the suspicious jars you just emptied of tobacco, and remove as much loose tobacco as you can and fill them halfway with the 91% Isopropyl Alcohol . Depending on how many tobacco jars you have you might need 4 quarts Isopropyl Alcohol. If you run short you can dilute the alcohol with a little water.
5) Secure the jars' lids and shake them vigorously for 2 or 3 minutes. Don't worry about the rubber gaskets, the alcohol evaporates quickly leaving no residual
6) Get a very, very clean towel(s)to put the now clean jars on and place it on a very clean surface.
7) Dump out the alcohol, shaking the jars vigorously upside down
8) Place each tobacco jar upside down on towel, wait 12 hours
9) Take the now almost sterile tobacco jars and fill them with the tobacco from the storage containers and seal and store

There you have it, guaranteed clean tobacco jars. Have an adult drink afterwards or any drink.