The Home Blending/Flake Making Thread

[Tobias Lutz]

I'll kick it off, but I know we have a couple othr guys who blend their own leaf. This is a blend I made a couple weeks ago. I've names it Mason Dixon Blend because it is comprised of lemon flue cured Virginia and Maryland 609. I didn't top it with anything (which is unusual for me), just played with the moisture level to press it using DW.

This shot is right out the press:
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr317/lutztb/DSC04175.jpg

This is after I finished cutting some and dried it to proper Rh for jarring:
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr317/lutztb/DSC04176.jpg

It smokes great- the Virginia is very bright and grassy, but the Maryland leaf has more depth and a bit of nuttiness.

[Col. Kurtz]

Looks tasty. May want to rethink the name seeing as how Maryland and Virginia are both south of the Mason-Dixon Line.

[Tobias Lutz]

Looks tasty. May want to rethink the name seeing as how Maryland and Virginia are both south of the Mason-Dixon Line.

touche :)- but I was referring less to the formal demarcation, and more so to the colloquial line between union and confederate states.

[OnePyroTec]

Looks good. With enough arm twisting, I may be convinced to press some leaves I have hanging around.

[Scott W.]

Very,very cool Tobias

[Branzig]

I wish I had the patience to do this.

It really is something I should learn to do, along with growing tobacco. Just in care you know, the pipe tobacco goes bye bye. It's all about being prepared and preemptive...

[OnePyroTec]

I wish I had the patience to do this.

It really is something I should learn to do, along with growing tobacco. Just in care you know, the pipe tobacco goes bye bye. It's all about being prepared and preemptive...

Thanks for the reminder, time to get the seeds in the soil if I want a new crop this year.

[Bruck]

I press a brick of flake every couple weeks or so. My latest tobacco salad, which I just took out of the press this evening, consists of:

lemon VA
prilep
VA red
yenidje
imzir
VA bright
perique
cigar scrap cavendish
latakia
Cased with rum and DW.

Tobias will recognize this as it's mostly some leaves he just bombed me with. He might get some in a couple weeks :)

[Branzig]

I press a brick of flake every couple weeks or so. My latest tobacco salad, which I just took out of the press this evening, consists of:

lemon VA
prilep
VA red
yenidje
imzir
VA bright
perique
cigar scrap cavendish
latakia
Cased with rum and DW.

Tobias will recognize this as it's mostly some leaves he just bombed me with. He might get some in a couple weeks :)

Sounds delicious!

Good to see you Bruck!

[cbr310]

Id defienatly be lost in this department! I cant even pack a bowl right! lol

[Bruck]

Sounds delicious!

Good to see you Bruck!

Good to see you too! It looks like most of the more active members of the ocean made their way over to the gutter :)

PM me your addy & I'll send you some samples of my flake.

[Branzig]

Good to see you too! It looks like most of the more active members of the ocean made their way over to the gutter :)

It is amazing how Bums can just congregate and find each other, isn't it? :p

[Tobias Lutz]

I press a brick of flake every couple weeks or so. My latest tobacco salad, which I just took out of the press this evening, consists of:

lemon VA
prilep
VA red
yenidje
imzir
VA bright
perique
cigar scrap cavendish
latakia
Cased with rum and DW.

Tobias will recognize this as it's mostly some leaves he just bombed me with. He might get some in a couple weeks :)

My God, man! That sounds like back in the day when we would get one of everything off the bottom shelf of the liquor store and pour it together in a bathtub with Hawaiian Punch...ah to be young and stupid again.

[mooster]

So where do you guys get your leaf?

[Tobias Lutz]

So where do you guys get your leaf?

wholeleaf and leafonly

[mooster]

I have a feeling I'm going to regret asking...

[Tobias Lutz]

I have a feeling I'm going to regret asking...

I can send you some samples to play around with it you like. I've got plenty to share.

[Branzig]

I can send you some samples to play around with it you like. I've got plenty to share.

Have you ever considered trying to grow your own crop?

[Tobias Lutz]

Have you ever considered trying to grow your own crop?

I experimented with hydroponics in high scho...oh wait...no, I have not seriously considered growing tobacco. Flirted with the idea, but don't think I'm going their anytime soon.

[Branzig]

I experimented with hydroponics in high scho...oh wait...no.

Who didn't? :p

I have been interested in it....I am a gardener and enjoy being out in the yard...I have always thought it would be a good thing to have on hand.

I doubt I could grow all the variates I want though, let alone cure them.... Like you said, probably not anytime soon, but I have been kicking around the idea more and more.

[Bruck]

My God, man! That sounds like back in the day when we would get one of everything off the bottom shelf of the liquor store and pour it together in a bathtub with Hawaiian Punch...ah to be young and stupid again.

Actually there's some rhyme and reason for that mess - VA is a good foundation, but a blend of different VAs is better than just one by itself. Cavendish and Orientals are good for balancing out the sharpness of the VA (burley is good for this too, but I didn't use any in this blend). I don't know orientals that well yet so I just used a little of each. And Latakia for flavor, perique for vitamin N and flavor. So that one sort of makes sense.

The flake I'm about to put in the press is a real "jungle juice" batch. I literally went thru my tobacco cabinet and pulled out all the jars that had an inch or less in them (I was running out of jars), and mixed them together. Your 2014 holiday blend is part of this indecorous monstrosity. Then I added various leaves for substance, balance, and flavor till it smelled about right. We'll see how that turns out :)

[Bruck]

So where do you guys get your leaf?

Wholeleaftobacco dot com
leafonly dot com
thetobaccobutcher dot com

The tobacco butcher is a grower in KY - good prices, limited selection
The other two are pretty similar in terms of price and selection, but they carry different stuff, so I shop at both.
There are a number of other places to buy whole leaf but the ones I've found are all way more expensive than the 3 above.

[JustTroItIn]

Tobias Lutz, wasn't it you that also started a rope tobacco experiment? Is it still hanging in the garage?

[Tobias Lutz]

Tobias Lutz, wasn't it you that also started a rope tobacco experiment? Is it still hanging in the garage?

It is in the basement....and I still have the pictures on photobucket to redo the FAQ when I unwrap it!

[Bruck]

It is in the basement....and I still have the pictures on photobucket to redo the FAQ when I unwrap it!

IIRC, you said it should be ready to unwrap around Easter time...

[Tobias Lutz]

IIRC, you said it should be ready to unwrap around Easter time...

indeed. Ash Wednesday is next week, so roughly 6 weeks from now.

[mooster]

I can send you some samples to play around with it you like. I've got plenty to share.

Thanks for the offer, but I really don't need to add any more hobby stuff to this apartment!

[Haebar]

What kind of press do you use to make your flakes? Would you mind posting a pic or two? I'd like to try that.

[Bruck]

What kind of press do you use to make your flakes? Would you mind posting a pic or two? I'd like to try that.

Was that question directed to me, Tobias Lutz, or someone else? Tobias uses a low pressure method (weight); I use a hydraulic press.

[Haebar]

Was that question directed to me, Tobias Lutz, or someone else? Tobias uses a low pressure method (weight); I use a hydraulic press.

It was directed at either one of you. I remember someone on here or on the old Puff site who built a press using a hydraulic jack; was that you Bruck?

[Tobias Lutz]

Was that question directed to me, Tobias Lutz, or someone else? Tobias uses a low pressure method (weight); I use a hydraulic press.

Hey now, I upgraded to oak press plates and 6" C-clamps :)

[Bruck]

Hey now, I upgraded to oak press plates and 6" C-clamps :)

I stand corrupted :)

- - - Updated - - -


It was directed at either one of you. I remember someone on here or on the old Puff site who built a press using a hydraulic jack; was that you Bruck?

That would be moi. Here's a thread with pix:

http://www.cigarbum.com/forum/the-do-it-yourselfer-discussion/cigar-leaf-flake-4658.html

[Haebar]

I got about 6 pounds of whole leaf tobacco from Larry Butcher (The Tobacco Butcher) in Kentucky. I've stripped so many leaves this weekend that my fingers are sore, especially the tips of my thumbs. He gave me a substantial Christmas discount, so if you are thinking about ordering some, now would be a good time. This particular batch of tobacco is destined for making flake. Below is some dark fired KY:

http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/ah50/haebar/Cigarbum%20004_zpsi1novul0.jpg

If you want to order some from him, just email him and tell you what you want and he will send you a Paypal invoice with the shipping costs on it. His email address is: [email protected] . Be sure and email him first and get his list of tobaccos available; they are cheaper than what he has on his website: Larry, the affable Tobacco Butcher, out of bucolic Owingsville Kentucky (http://thetobaccobutcher.com/). He also may have other items not listed on his website and the prices are cheaper than what's on his website. When you get the tobacco be sure and check on the moisture of the leaves as they are sometimes on the moist side, especially the leaf tips. You will need to pull them out of the bag and separate some of the leaves to assess whether or not you need to leave then out for a while to dry a little bit. The first order I got, I postponed doing this for a few days and ended up with a little mold on some of my Red Tip Burley. Had to cut those parts out and lost about 6-7 leaves worth, but it was my fault.

[Bruck]

Haebar - I'm really glad I found Larry. His stuff is great, and cheap! Limited selection, though, compared to the other online distributors. I guess you can't expect a guy in KY to grow Dominican viso and Nicaraguan ligero. :) He mainly grows stuff for cigarettes and pipe tobacco. Hope we can send some more business his way.

[Haebar]

I also bought a pound of Turkish Yenidje; it has very small leaves and there are lots of them. Do I need to strip every one of these little leaves or just the ones with thick stems? The mid-ribs of these are much smaller than the lateral ribs of VA and Burley leaves that I leave on the stripped leaf halves. Bruck

http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/ah50/haebar/Cigarbum%20002_zpsbqlqbqox.jpg

http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/ah50/haebar/Cigarbum%20004_zpsbkx0mxds.jpg

[Bruck]

Re stripping the mid-ribs on Yenidje - I don't go thru and strip every leaf of my orientals per se, but when I'm putting together a flake blend I'll pull out and discard the ribs that are thick enough to feel. Reason: the thicker ribs tend to mess up the consistency of the flake. Note, this is for the small, delicate oriental leaves. With the big, robust Virginias and Burleys, I always remove the main vein.

OTOH, you don't _need_ to strip them out - the veins are perfectly smokeable, and contain the same basic flavor and slightly less nicotine than the lamina. If they don't bother you, and go through the cutter okay, you can leave them in.

[Haebar]

Re stripping the mid-ribs on Yenidje - I don't go thru and strip every leaf of my orientals per se, but when I'm putting together a flake blend I'll pull out and discard the ribs that are thick enough to feel. Reason: the thicker ribs tend to mess up the consistency of the flake. Note, this is for the small, delicate oriental leaves. With the big, robust Virginias and Burleys, I always remove the main vein.

OTOH, you don't _need_ to strip them out - the veins are perfectly smokeable, and contain the same basic flavor and slightly less nicotine than the lamina. If they don't bother you, and go through the cutter okay, you can leave them in.

Thanks! That's just the answer I wanted to hear from an experienced source. Really enjoyed smoking some of the flake you sent. Although I probably should have let it sit out longer, it had rich, deep flavor that wouldn't quit and didn't change all the way to the bottom of the bowl. It was also very N rich and I had to put it down mid-bowl and pick it up 30 minutes later. The second light was just as good as the first and it finished without a trace of wetness. Did you treat it with Rum?

[Bruck]

Thanks! That's just the answer I wanted to hear from an experienced source. Really enjoyed smoking some of the flake you sent. Although I probably should have let it sit out longer, it had rich, deep flavor that wouldn't quit and didn't change all the way to the bottom of the bowl. It was also very N rich and I had to put it down mid-bowl and pick it up 30 minutes later. The second light was just as good as the first and it finished without a trace of wetness. Did you treat it with Rum?

Yep - here's my log entry:

"Hydrating Batch 38, some cigar scraps, mostly red and bright VA, a bit of Imzur, and some cigar scrap cavendish. Topped w/ rum and vanilla. This is a psuedo-navy flake for Haebar."

I'm not real scientific with proportions :)

[Haebar]

What would be the ideal dimensions for an open box frame for a kake press? I want to make a tobacco kake and wondered if any of you have experience with this.😐?

[Haebar]

My brother and I built a box press for making tobacco kakes. The box is made of pine and the lid is made of cherry. The box is approximately 9" long and 5" wide and will employ two C-clamps for pressure. I can't wait to start pressing my first kake!

http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/ah50/haebar/Cigarbum%20002_zpsytpus5tn.jpg

http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/ah50/haebar/Cigarbum%20005_zpsjwts5wui.jpg

[Haebar]

Made my first attempt at making flake tobacco tonight! Layered alternating levels of air-cured, red Virginia, and Burley red tips:

http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/ah50/haebar/Cigarbum%20006_zpszxzjbufa.jpg

Built up the layers to 4.5 inches (wish I'd gone to 5.5 to 6 inches):

http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/ah50/haebar/Cigarbum%20010_zpsgk58ib6g.jpg

Wrapped the whole bundle in waxed paper and clamped the boards together:

http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/ah50/haebar/Cigarbum%20011_zps8ugwhiyc.jpg

(Elijah Craig Barrel Proof)

http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/ah50/haebar/Cigarbum%20014_zpskzw8eron.jpg

Then put the C-clamps to work:

http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/ah50/haebar/Cigarbum%20016_zps7t0filme.jpg

Now I'll leave them for 3 weeks or so.

[GWBowman]

Looking forward to seeing the box press in action. :thumb:

[Haebar]

Looking forward to seeing the box press in action. :thumb:

This morning I blended a mixture to make a VaPer:

22% McClelland's Perique
56% Pipes & Cigars Red VA ribbon
11% Whole Leaf Tobacco's Lemon VA (shredded)
11% Leaf Only's Flue cured Bright Virginia (shredded)

http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/ah50/haebar/Cigarbum%20001_zps5pmtviyw.jpg

Then I lined the box with waxed paper:

http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/ah50/haebar/Cigarbum%20002_zpskjnnobop.jpg

Then I stuffed in the blended tobacco, folded the waxed paper over the top of it and fastened the lid down with the C-clamps. Then I tightened them as much as I could:

http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/ah50/haebar/Cigarbum%20003_zps2ddru5xk.jpg

I plan on leaving it under pressure for about 3 weeks. This is my first time doing this and I learned that I could have put more tobacco into the box than I did. So, next time I will increase the recipe from 9 ounces to about 12 ounces.

[Bruck]

Haebar - nice pressing box!

My only advice is to start with small batches till you find a killer blend.

[BryGuySC]

Made my first attempt at making flake tobacco tonight! Layered alternating levels of air-cured, red Virginia, and Burley red tips:

http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/ah50/haebar/Cigarbum%20006_zpszxzjbufa.jpg

Built up the layers to 4.5 inches (wish I'd gone to 5.5 to 6 inches):

http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/ah50/haebar/Cigarbum%20010_zpsgk58ib6g.jpg

Wrapped the whole bundle in waxed paper and clamped the boards together:

http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/ah50/haebar/Cigarbum%20011_zps8ugwhiyc.jpg

(Elijah Craig Barrel Proof)

http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/ah50/haebar/Cigarbum%20014_zpskzw8eron.jpg

Then put the C-clamps to work:

http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/ah50/haebar/Cigarbum%20016_zps7t0filme.jpg

Now I'll leave them for 3 weeks or so.

Can't wait to see how these flakes turn out!
Nice job.

[Haebar]

Well, I pulled the flake out of the press this evening and had some success. I smoked half a bowl of it and it is very strong in terms of nicotine. Next time I will spray some distilled water and molasses or sweet rum, or something else to better bind the leaves together at the edges. In the middle of the block, it looks pretty good. I have to come up with a better way of cutting the flakes; this ulu is not a very good tool for the job or maybe it needs sharpening.

http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/ah50/haebar/Cigarbum%20002_zps7tsvgl5m.jpg
http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/ah50/haebar/Cigarbum%20006_zpsy5zpalcv.jpg
The yield was 5 half-pint jars, a jar of scraps, and a medicine bottle full for smoking in the next few weeks.
http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/ah50/haebar/Cigarbum%20011_zpskzn3asel.jpg

Anyone else having trouble with Photobucket?

I cut the plank into two long 3-inch wide sections so as to make it easier to cut into slices with the ulu. I sharpened the ulu this morning and sliced the flakes. I'm curious as to what you guys use to cut your flake slices?
Smoked a half bowl last night in a medium Comoy's Guildhall billiard. It is very strong with nicotine! This is on a nicotine level with Tambolaka and some ropes that I have tried. After smoking it, I stood up to cut some slices and got dizzy. I'll have to go a little easier on the Red Tip Burley next time.

http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/ah50/haebar/Cigarbum%20012_zpsnmafcfiq.jpg
https://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a7df26b3127cceee5a42bb3ade00000030O00EaNmbho5aOQ e3nwQ/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00904948306420170107153909741.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

[Haebar]

Pulled out the VaPer Kake early this morning and was pleased with the results although the kake was fairly thin. If I increase the amount of tobacco in the box by about 30-50%, I should get a thicker kake. Additionally, if I used more moisture in the mix, it may have binded at little tighter.

http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/ah50/haebar/Cigarbum%20007_zpsncyo2o73.jpg

[GWBowman]

Looks good, Tab.

[Bruck]

Nice kakes!

Just remember, all that stuff you're making, eventually you're going to have to smoke it (or give most of it away like I do) :)

Re cutting with the ulu knife, freehand doesn't work all that well - the kake or flake is too tough, the blade wobbles, and you get irregular cuts. What I do is put a hunk of steel (wood would work) on top of the brick of flake, with a thin amount sticking out. Then I hold the blade flat against the steel and press down, rolling back and forth.

IDK if your ulu is the same as mine, but mine has a flat side and a sharpened side to the blade. I keep the flat side against the steel, so that pressing down compels the blade to press against the steel for more stability. Also, with the rounded blade, it helps to start the cut in the middle of the brick of flake and work outward.

[Haebar]

Nice kakes!

Just remember, all that stuff you're making, eventually you're going to have to smoke it (or give most of it away like I do) :)

Re cutting with the ulu knife, freehand doesn't work all that well - the kake or flake is too tough, the blade wobbles, and you get irregular cuts. What I do is put a hunk of steel (wood would work) on top of the brick of flake, with a thin amount sticking out. Then I hold the blade flat against the steel and press down, rolling back and forth.

IDK if your ulu is the same as mine, but mine has a flat side and a sharpened side to the blade. I keep the flat side against the steel, so that pressing down compels the blade to press against the steel for more stability. Also, with the rounded blade, it helps to start the cut in the middle of the brick of flake and work outward.

That was exactly the problem that I was having with the slicing; I will use your technique from now on. Yes, my ulu has one flat side like yours. Thanks for the tip.

https://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a7df26b3127cceee5a085c3a1c00000030O00EaNmbho5aOQ e3nwQ/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00904948306420170107181350441.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

[Bruck]

This morning I blended a mixture to make a VaPer:

22% McClelland's Perique
56% Pipes & Cigars Red VA ribbon
11% Whole Leaf Tobacco's Lemon VA (shredded)
11% Leaf Only's Flue cured Bright Virginia (shredded)


I wrote up a little review of this blend in RYO cigarettes in the Mailbomb thread; can I ask, how did you arrive at this recipe?

[Haebar]

I wrote up a little review of this blend in RYO cigarettes in the Mailbomb thread; can I ask, how did you arrive at this recipe?

I don't know how I came up with the proportions. Just wanted it to have a well-rounded Virginia taste with enough Perique for it to be evident in every puff. Plus, I've got all these different kinds of Virginia and I wanted to start using what I had. The formula sounds complicated but it's really based on 9 units of 1 oz (11%) each; so it's 5 oz. of red virginia, 2 ounces of Perique, etc.