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by tnsmoker
on Tue May 02, 2006 2:41 am |
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I've seen a couple of topics called "Dummies Guide To Supermatic Matintenance", but I haven't found the actual guide.
We've been making cigs for a couple of months now, but the machine is getting harder and harder to use. Instructions say not to force it, but if I put less tobacco in it, then there's not enough tobacco in the finished cig. If I put enough tobacco in, then it's almost impossible to crank at times.
Tobacco gets packed around the bottom of the spoon, and I have to clean it out after making a few. This makes making a lot of cigs take a long time, having to stop and clean it out so often.
Would like to have the guide to see if there's something in there that will help.
_______________
"When told how to think or what to say or how to behave, we don't. We disobey social protocol that stifles and stigmatizes personal freedom." ~Charlton Heston, Winning the Culture War, 02/16/99 |
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tnsmoker
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by kam781
on Tue May 02, 2006 6:16 am |
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kam781
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Location: The peoples Republic of New York
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by Tom
on Tue May 02, 2006 12:01 pm |
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| That thread is gone. Zippy posted that. He said the pictures gpt corrupted, so he had to take it down. It was a great guide though. He doesn't seem to have an e mail address. I don't know how to reach him. |
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Tom
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by kam781
on Tue May 02, 2006 12:08 pm |
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| Hey Tom, New here, not much activity huh? |
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kam781
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by tnsmoker
on Tue May 02, 2006 7:03 pm |
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Thanks, kam. I will definitely check it out. |
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tnsmoker
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by tnsmoker
on Tue May 02, 2006 7:35 pm |
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Tom wrote: That thread is gone. Zippy posted that. He said the pictures gpt corrupted, so he had to take it down. It was a great guide though. He doesn't seem to have an e mail address. I don't know how to reach him.
Ok, gotcha. I misunderstood Zippy's post. I thought the "text" of the guide was still around, even without pictures (that had become corrupted).
Anyway, I think my DH and I solved the problem. Well, mostly my DH. He's the mechanic. 
We planned to buy a second Supermatic as a backup anyway, so we purchased a new one today when we went to pick up tobacco and tubes. This new one operates so smoothly, I wanted to cry just thinking about how we've struggled to make cigs with the old one for six weeks. From the first time we used it, the old one had a "hiccup" in the middle of the operation of pulling the handle around. Sounded like something was catching or grating on something else. Not having ever used or seen one used before, we thought this was normal. However, it became increasingly difficult to make cigs and would take almost an hour just to make a pack! DH was hesitant to take it apart, not knowing anything about it.
I made a pack in about 10 minutes with the new one. 
So we compared our old one with the new one. For some reason the bottom of the "cutter" and the two parts of the "link" that attach to the bottom of the cutter and move it back and forth were rubbing against the housing. They had scratches and worn spots on them. DH took it all apart, then just put it back together. He guesses it was just a little out of alignment. It's working as smoothly as the new one now!
So there are lemons, even if they're new. If the handle doesn't make the complete turn without a hitch, then something is wrong!
_______________
"When told how to think or what to say or how to behave, we don't. We disobey social protocol that stifles and stigmatizes personal freedom." ~Charlton Heston, Winning the Culture War, 02/16/99 |
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tnsmoker
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by Tom
on Wed May 03, 2006 9:58 am |
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Quote: Ok, gotcha. I misunderstood Zippy's post. I thought the "text" of the guide was still around, even without pictures (that had become corrupted).
I think all the text was embedded in the images, but I can't remember for sure. You remind me a lot of Zippy. I thought you were him at first. I see you use signatures like him, you analyze the supermatic like him, and you use his avator. He'd probably be happy to know that someone's taking after him. |
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Tom
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by tnsmoker
on Thu May 04, 2006 11:20 am |
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Zippy is certainly an inspiration. After reading about his workbench modification, we came up with our own. As the first machine became harder and harder to crank, it was also harder to hold onto while cranking without killing our hands and thumbs. We picked up a cheap wooden 8x10 picture frame at Wal-Mart (under $5) and nailed it to an old, heavy end table.
The machine fits into the frame with room to spare, so we needed something to keep it from moving while being cranked. I took a couple of plastic bottle caps (from soft drinks, bottled water, etc.) and wrapped them in aluminum foil until they fit snugly between the machine and the wooden frame. The foil will compress, so more will need to be wrapped around them after use until it firmly fills the gap. (I'm sure others can come up with easier/better things to fill that gap, but this is all I could find around the house in a pinch and it works.) This set up works even better with the new machine that's much easier to crank!
The end table is one that has a storage space beneath, and this is where we store the machine and supplies when not in use. A flower arrangement set inside the picture frame on top makes it less noticeable. (A doily or other decorative mat draped over the frame could further disguise it.)
I hope Zippy is able to return to the forum. His posts (among many others'--not including all the rhetoric-spewing antis) are interesting and informative.
And, Kam, thanks again for the link to the Supermatic maintenance site! I now realize the cutter/link problem is a common one. Although my husband thinks the two are fitted closer together on the old machine than on the new one. Lots of great ideas over there to explore to keep the machines in top working order. |
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tnsmoker
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