Canning supplies WTH?

[Buckmark]

So we did some canning this weekend and the wife asked if i went out could i pickup some lids, sure no problem right? WRONG canning supplies, most importantly lids are hard to find, i went to 6 places today with no luck, some had jars with lids and bands but no lids to be found, we haven't canned in a year so had not really been paying attention but really, canning stuff is gone also 
I'm sitting here locating and buying a few hundred regulars and wide mouths (nothing off brand either), i feel like im buying ammo 
I feel like we have more than enough jars but starting to question that and make pick up 50-100 more....
This is what makes people buy all the TP 

[7mmfan]

Yep. I discovered this about 2 weeks ago. Found the kids with bands at Walmart, but only a few. I'm with you, lots of jars and rings, hurting on life. May start buying some more jars intermittently to prepare for next fall. Going to do more canning for sure.

[3nails]

 Wide mouth lids are harder to find than 9mm ammo. Almost like someone is buying it all up so we can't be prepared......

[Stein]

Amazon has Ball lids, $15.08 for a box of 12.  Maybe set up a trade 1:1 for some .223?   

Seems like everything is in short supply, lots of money flowing around and production challenges in addition to fear.

[Angry Perch]

I tried to find large lids a few weeks ago. No luck. Saw them at QFC a couple days ago and grabbed a handful.

[treefarmer]

You can buy 6 dozen limit at uline.com   It’s their brand but they seem to work fine

[treefarmer]

Lids I mean

[KFhunter]

Wrong season + panic



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[Fl0und3rz]

+covid excuse for everyone to NOT be working.

Been a shortage since before last harvest.

[Stein]

You can buy 6 dozen limit at uline.com   It’s their brand but they seem to work fine

I have used all different brands and they seem to pretty much do the same thing.

[Southpole]

There’s been a lid shortage since last summer along with the seed shortage.

[NRA4LIFE]

We bought about 25 boxes last summer just to make sure we had enough for humpy season this year.  Winco was my go to junkie.  McLendons too.

[Buckmark]

So apparently my wife has a dealer  , she came home with 5 boxes lids/bands and 4 cases of jars (which you all know have lids and bands. 
Oh and she is not super greedy, said she left 2 boxes of lids/bands for someone else.. i was like yeah thats the right thing to do 

She checked online and said no way she was paying those prices, i reminded her thats what she said about ammo months ago 

[brew]

Bought 6 cases 2 weeks ago at sunbirds in chehalis.  Don't remember if they had just lids but had a butt ton of jars with lids/rings.  Both regular and wide mouth

[huntingfool7]

Amazon has Ball lids, $15.08 for a box of 12.  Maybe set up a trade 1:1 for some .223?   

Seems like everything is in short supply, lots of money flowing around and production challenges in addition to fear.

That's like buying primers.

[ctwiggs1]

Just have to check ALL sources.  I bought 10 doz at wal mart when everyone else was up charging or didn’t have stock.  They’re like reloading and ammo - just need to surf the web daily looking for new stock.

[Bigshooter]

Amazon has lids most of the times I have checked.  I bought 12 dozen ball lids the other day.

[Angry Perch]

Has anyone had issues with off brand lids?

[206]

Amazon has lids most of the times I have checked.  I bought 12 dozen ball lids the other day.

Bought 6 packs of Ball lids last fall on amazon.  They arrived in what I called fake ball cartons (no bar code) and the lids did not have the ball stamp on them.  Did not use them for canning fish.

[Buckmark]

Has anyone had issues with off brand lids?

Have not tried any but i would be nervous, no reason other than id hate to waste product due to saving a few bucks.
Someone did post above about uline lids and having no issues so with 2 recommendations i might try those for like jams etc but im still sticking to ball or kerr lids only for meat

[Buckmark]

Amazon has lids most of the times I have checked.  I bought 12 dozen ball lids the other day.

Bought 6 packs of Ball lids last fall on amazon.  They arrived in what I called fake ball cartons (no bar code) and the lids did not have the ball stamp on them.  Did not use them for canning fish.

When looking yesterday i was wondering about fake lids in fake packaging, i would check for a high seller rating and check all the pictures. I wont pay a buck a lid though unless it comes to that.

[Buckmark]

Cleaned out some of my moms canning stuff awhile ago and remembered we had it in a box, so last night went thru it and found some NIB ball lids that have to be from the 70's (blue/white and yellow box) also found 2 boxes of these solid lids from Anchor Hocking, got to be from the 70's or late 60's, check out the price 

Also remembered i had some old, like real old lids from who knows when that we pulled up in crab pots in Alaska, they have glass inserts that say genuine ball lids 

[Rob]

I found a bunch of those porcelain lids all over the Puget Sound and Green River while diving/bottle hunting.

I never realized exactly how they worked.  Good to know!

[Skyvalhunter]

It the top part of those lids Lead?

[Buckmark]

It the top part of those lids Lead?

Zinc, i licked it to make sure 

[Buckmark]

Most will be milk glass inserts instead of porcelain, although the original name of the insert was the "Boyds genuine porcelain lined cap" most were just made of glass and could come in various colors.
The original patent was given to him on March 30th 1869 and various manufactures made them. The original patent name is "Improved Mode of Preventing Corrosion In Metallic Caps"
The early ones where made of clear glass and from 1871 on milk glass was used, they were made well into to 50's, the glass insert was mainly to prevent the foods form touching the zinc lid and giving the food a metallic taste, and help prevent the increase in possible bacteria contamination.
*
On tomorrows lesson will be on 16th century Mongolian cookware, was it as seen on TV 

 

[Stein]

Has anyone had issues with off brand lids?

Have not tried any but i would be nervous, no reason other than id hate to waste product due to saving a few bucks.
Someone did post above about uline lids and having no issues so with 2 recommendations i might try those for like jams etc but im still sticking to ball or kerr lids only for meat

I've used whatever was available and that included a few off brands.  With the lids, it's completely obvious whether they sealed or not.  I'll probably get one no seal in 50 jars, due to not cleaning the rim enough or whatever and it goes in the refrigerator.

I've never had a jar that started sealed and came unsealed in the pantry. 

I have reused lids many times too as long as you don't dent the edge when you remove it.

Jar lids aren't the most technically advanced piece of equipment out there.

[Fl0und3rz]

I have reused lids many times too as long as you don't dent the edge when you remove it.

Same here.  I've broken more jars (3) due to cold contents in hot bath than I've had no seal ever (1).

[KFhunter]

Don't reuse lids, the sealing compound is meant to be single use.

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[treefarmer]

Tested out the uline lids on some tomato sauce had a couple that didn’t seal which is unusual for us.   They seem to be a little thicker then the ball lids.   Reused a couple ball lids and they sealed fine.  I know it’s not preferred but as long as it seals I think it’s fine    I’d rather re use lids then pay crazy prices at Amazon for counterfeit lids.   If lids don’t show back up locally I’ll buy some more of the uline before canning season rolls around.     We do between 300-500 jars a year.   The only thing we have ever had unseal in storage is the beet/horseradish relish from the ball book, have had a few unseal over the years from different batches.  Not sure why

[Southpole]

Don't reuse lids, the sealing compound is meant to be single use.

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    do not reuse lids!

[Fl0und3rz]

Don't reuse lids, the sealing compound is meant to be single use.

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That's just a conspiracy by big lid to keep you buying more lids, man.

[Stein]

I reuse the jars too!

[Buckmark]

Don't reuse lids, the sealing compound is meant to be single use.

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That's just a conspiracy by big lid to keep you buying more lids, man.

Yeah, maybe i could believe this if lids where always expensive, but traditionally they have been pennies on the dollar and since this has been gospel since my great grand ma ma was alive i will believe it! 

[KFhunter]

My understanding is that ring of compound on the sealing surface sorta softens on the first boiling of the lid, and aids in sealing forming to the tiny imperfections of the jar.

2nd use the compound is hard and doesn't soften appropriately, after multiple uses can even get brittle and micro cracks can form, and it doesn't form to the jar as well.



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[300rum]

It is well known that you can reuse lids.   

I would stick to Ball lids, they are around but I wouldn't expect them to find them everywhere this year.  The seed companies going out-of-stock or limiting orders already will tell you what is going to happen mid summer through fall 2021. 

[rasbo]

I traded fish for wide mouth lids a few weeks ago,last week I found a bunch at the wally world,bought them all..

[Fl0und3rz]

Don't reuse lids, the sealing compound is meant to be single use.

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That's just a conspiracy by big lid to keep you buying more lids, man.

Yeah, maybe i could believe this if lids where always expensive, but traditionally they have been pennies on the dollar and since this has been gospel since my great grand ma ma was alive i will believe it! 

It was a joke.  Reused lids have proven effective for more than just me.  I believe it is most likely a generated as a result of a combination of old wives tales and prudent lawyer-made liability limitations, because, let's face it, the public cannot be trusted to look out for his or her own interest and ensure that the seal is good after canning or it goes in the refrigerator for immediate consumption.

[KFhunter]

Immediate failure isn't the issue, it's long term failure rates.

I have lot's of tattler lids, those are reusable, but tricky to use compared to metal lids.

I would reuse ball metal lids if I had too as well, I don't think its a huge deal but if new were widly available and cheap,  I'd always opt for new.

Ya I keep the old lids too.

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[Fl0und3rz]

Yeah, and again, the public cannot be trusted to hear the pop and inspect the contents on shelved self-canned goods.  I prefer new, too.  But I am pretty sure I have some long-term reused lid goods on the . . . .

[Stein]

Immediate failure isn't the issue, it's long term failure rates.

I have lot's of tattler lids, those are reusable, but tricky to use compared to metal lids.

I would reuse ball metal lids if I had too as well, I don't think its a huge deal but if new were widly available and cheap,  I'd always opt for new.

Ya I keep the old lids too.

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That's what I do, use new lids for a few bucks but if you can't get them or are in the middle of canning at 1 am and run a few short because you apparently can't count, use a few used ones.

[KFhunter]

Im showing lacy warehouse uline has a bunch, shipping is nuts though

Maybe be good for someone closer, does uline allow local pick up?

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[KFhunter]

I think they'll show up in April

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