A Few Questions

**rodwha** · 01-01-2018, 08:42 PM

Originally Posted by Bruck

@rodwha - sorry, I haven't signed in for a few days and it looks like most of your questions are answered but if not, feel free to ping me or send a PM. Looks like you're off to a good start - your initial sticks look far better than mine did!

My higher level advice is, learn to sing on key before singing loud

The important things are flavor and burn characteristics. Work on burn first, which is mainly a function of how you work the filler bundle. Watch videos and practice. For flavor, buy small samples of various leaves and try them. I think Leafonly sells 1/4 pound units of some stuff. I'm happy to share my experience if you're interested.

I'm probably not the best person to advise on aesthetics, but I would say, it'll come with practice. I don't put a lot of effort into appearance myself - i'm happy if it looks more like a cigar than a stool sample

My biggest challenge continues to be the draw - after rolling 454 cigars I still manage to make a few that are too loose or too tight. I guess I'm not Cuban enough. That reminds me - you should keep a log book of your cigar rolling.

A log book sounds like an excellent idea! Especially as ADD hinders my memory.

I did notice the 1/4 lb offerings from Leaf Only. I'm ok with a mild smoke as long as there's flavor. That's all I'm really after. Don't care so much about nicotine anymore after I quit chain smoking cigarettes for 26 years.

I'm curious how people get their leaves to stay stretched while rolling. It was quite the task and I failed at it.

**rodwha** · 01-01-2018, 10:16 PM

How do you fellas store your leaves? I've been keeping mine in my fermentation chamber (chest freezer w/temp controller) that's set at 65* I believe (stupid Chinese controller only uses Celsius settings, but then it was fairly cheap).

**Bruck** · 01-02-2018, 07:19 PM

Originally Posted by rodwha

I'm curious how people get their leaves to stay stretched while rolling. It was quite the task and I failed at it.

I guess I don't so much stretch the wrapper as pull it tight while rolling it on. Here's my technique: I have a stainless tray which I moisten before putting the already-hydrated wrapper on it. It's all pretty wet at this point. I press it down as flat as I can, then after applying glue to the upper edge, sort of pull on it slightly while wrapping.

**Bruck** · 01-02-2018, 07:22 PM

Originally Posted by rodwha

How do you fellas store your leaves? I've been keeping mine in my fermentation chamber (chest freezer w/temp controller) that's set at 65* I believe (stupid Chinese controller only uses Celsius settings, but then it was fairly cheap).

Ideally one would keep them in a big humidor, but I have too many in my library, so I just seal them in plastic bags and store them in a big file cabinet. Sometimes they get pretty dry between rolling sessions, which of course is not ideal.