Cigar Rolling Kit

[rodwha]

Of course you need to take up pipe smoking.
It's got nothing to do with weather you make your own pipe tobacco or buy it in tins tho.

Always loved the smell of a pipe. And a pipe makes one rather dashing I hear.

[Emperor Zurg]

...a pipe makes one rather dashing I hear.

That's exactly right . Contemplative and intelligent too!

And in all fairness, there is the possibility of it making you a hipster, but if you still look at all like your avatar, there's no danger of that.

[rodwha]

That's exactly right . Contemplative and intelligent too!

And in all fairness, there is the possibility of it making you a hipster, but if you still look at all like your avatar, there's no danger of that.

No worries there then. I'm just grown greys and gotten uglier.

[Bruck]

Thanks!

Hmmm... Maybe I need to pick up pipe smoking. I assume to shred or dice it for that application?

That's actually what got me into pipe smoking (again - I had tried it in the early 90s but gave it up as I didn't know what I was doing and quit in frustration).

You could shred tobacco leaves and smoke them straight in a pipe, which some people do, and it's not bad but a little one-dimensional in my opinion.

Another thing people do is steam the leaves to make a plausible pseudo-Cavendish. I've done this with some success. Straight, unflavored Cavendish is pretty bland, but takes flavoring well and is a good component in other blends.

What I usually do is add tobacco scraps to a Virginia-based flake. Happy to share my recipes if you're interested. Here are some threads on flake and rope technique:

http://www.cigarbum.com/forum/the-do...lake-4658.html

http://www.cigarbum.com/forum/the-do...wist-1566.html

http://www.cigarbum.com/forum/the-do...lake-1392.html

http://www.cigarbum.com/forum/the-do...-19-a-908.html

I realize that the flake setup is somewhat elaborate, but it works Others on this board have produced some pretty respectable krumble kakes with less elaborate press arrangements (weights, clamps, etc.).

Making a rope is more within reach regarding equipment, but the technique is more challenging.

& of course, you don't need to make flakes or ropes; you could just cut leaves into ribbons and blend them with other tobaccos.

[rodwha]

That's actually what got me into pipe smoking (again - I had tried it in the early 90s but gave it up as I didn't know what I was doing and quit in frustration).

You could shred tobacco leaves and smoke them straight in a pipe, which some people do, and it's not bad but a little one-dimensional in my opinion.

Another thing people do is steam the leaves to make a plausible pseudo-Cavendish. I've done this with some success. Straight, unflavored Cavendish is pretty bland, but takes flavoring well and is a good component in other blends.

What I usually do is add tobacco scraps to a Virginia-based flake. Happy to share my recipes if you're interested. Here are some threads on flake and rope technique:

http://www.cigarbum.com/forum/the-do...lake-4658.html

http://www.cigarbum.com/forum/the-do...wist-1566.html

http://www.cigarbum.com/forum/the-do...lake-1392.html

http://www.cigarbum.com/forum/the-do...-19-a-908.html

I realize that the flake setup is somewhat elaborate, but it works Others on this board have produced some pretty respectable krumble kakes with less elaborate press arrangements (weights, clamps, etc.).

Making a rope is more within reach regarding equipment, but the technique is more challenging.

& of course, you don't need to make flakes or ropes; you could just cut leaves into ribbons and blend them with other tobaccos.

Seems quite a bit more in depth than I'd likely want to go, especially at this point. Thinking I'm just going to have to try out cigarillos with the scraps first.

[Bruck]

Seems quite a bit more in depth than I'd likely want to go, especially at this point. Thinking I'm just going to have to try out cigarillos with the scraps first.

Or just smoke them in a pipe.

The problem with "scrap filler" cigars is that they tend not to ash or burn consistently. Also, flavorwise, they tend to be all over the place. Kind of like Fuente Curly Heads.

[rodwha]

I'd be ok with flavor variations I think. Kinda like a surprise each time!

I've been rehydrating old Boveda packs to drop into the leaf bags. After they get better I'll try again.

Watching the video over again I see that his leaves were at a 45* angle which I obviously wasn't doing as I was just orienting by the veins.

Soon the two I rolled will be ready for the tupperdor. A part of me wanted to be impatient and try one after it dried out just a little. But I'd rather it be right...

[Bruck]

Re resting - basically you can smoke a cigar immediately after rolling (assuming it's dry enough to burn), or you can rest it. Smoking it immediately (there's actually a Spanish term for this, but it fell out of my brain) has a certain appeal, but if you don't, I recommend at least 3 months of rest and 6 months is better. In the interest of full disclosure, mine rarely last more than a few months.

[Sir Lancerolot]

Re resting - basically you can smoke a cigar immediately after rolling (assuming it's dry enough to burn), or you can rest it. Smoking it immediately (there's actually a Spanish term for this, but it fell out of my brain) has a certain appeal, but if you don't, I recommend at least 3 months of rest and 6 months is better. In the interest of full disclosure, mine rarely last more than a few months.

I leave mine out of the coolidor overnight to kickstart the drying process. They're always too wet to smoke. The day after I roll them I put them in the coolidor for 2-3 weeks, at which time they have reached a good moisture level for smoking. I like the taste of "green" cigars, so I will start smoking them at this point. I have left a few to rest for a few months, and they are definitely worth the wait. My goal is to roll enough to allow me to smoke a few fresh and leave some to rest.