Hard time adjusting to RYO

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by CoreyD on Thu Sep 10, 2009 12:56 am

Hey there. I've recently switched from Marlboro Lights to experimenting with RYO. I was an avid Marlboro guy and currently I'm using Bali Shag Light with larger filters but they are still too strong. Though it's great that I can't seem to smoke more than 5 or 6 cigs a day...it's the smoking experience that I really miss and having a smoke that doesn't burn or give a headache. I have experimented with different tobaccos and filters but they all seem so strong. It's only been just at two weeks. Should I give it more time? Should I keep trying blends? Anyone else here have the same issues with switching over?

CoreyD

Newbie Joined: Sep 10, 2009 Posts: 3 Location: WA

by Pete Gatti on Thu Sep 10, 2009 1:59 am

Not sure this will work, try poking a few holes with a needle just in front of the filter.

Pete Gatti Enthusiastic Smoker

Enthusiastic Smoker Joined: Mar 26, 2009 Posts: 217 Location: Dade City, Florida

by JohnC on Thu Sep 10, 2009 4:30 am

Corey D,
First let me say welcome to the forum.

There are many ways to lighten up a smoke.
If the holes in the front of the filter doesn't do it for you ---- try packing the tobacco a bit tighter and raising the moisture content. pack it dry and then put in a tupperware with a moist cotton swab over night ---- next morning you should have a milder smoke.

The first few weeks of adjusting to the "real tobacco" might be a bit strange ,but after you lose the additives that the premades are so famous for, you'll not want to go back.

Hope this helps --- Let us know if these ideas do the trick.
(if not there's more in the bag Wink

)

-J.C.-

JohnC

Enthusiastic Smoker Joined: Dec 23, 2004 Posts: 333

by gilster on Thu Sep 10, 2009 5:42 am

You need time to adjust - I used to smoke ultra lights but now smoke RYO 'The Good Stuff" with a light Zen tube - they are much stronger.

Try an added filter tip - I've used TarBlock in the past and they do cut down on the strength, I still use them once in a while to lighten the smoke.

There are other filter tips out there on the market - experiment.

Also, all tubes are not made equal - keep hunting for your favorite tube - tubes make all the difference in the world on how a cigarette smokes.

gilster

Smoking Lobby Sponsor Joined: Apr 19, 2006 Posts: 1207

by CoreyD on Thu Sep 10, 2009 10:38 am

Great.....some suggestions like this are exactly what I needed. Thanks. Your ideas are really appreciated. I will give these a try and give myself time to adjust.

CoreyD

Newbie Joined: Sep 10, 2009 Posts: 3 Location: WA

by crackerjack on Thu Sep 10, 2009 11:49 am

CoreyD wrote:

Hi Corey
Making your own cigarettes is much like making Chili. Some like it hot some don't.
to understand what it is in chilly that makes it hot allows you to ad less or more of that one component to adjust it to your taste.
Blending tobacco is the same as blending spice.

Cigarettes consist of tree basic tobaccos Virginia, Burly and Orientals
each of these are cured in a few different ways but for starters you need to get your hands on the tree basics.
D&R is by far the best place to shop for good quality affordable tobaccos.
As an example their Comfort Blend Two Timer is a Burly tobacco and for 3.5 oz it will cost about 9.00 If you attempt to buy blending tobaccos in their pure form you could easily spend that much for 1 oz .
When shopping for your tobacco at D&R buy only the 3.5 tubs at first. Later you can buy what you like in bulk.

The tree Basics from D&R = Two Timer (Burly) Wind Sail (Virginia) and Rambak (Oriental)
Virginia is smooth and sweet easy on the lungs and windpipe.
Burly has a little bite and you can taste it in your mouth sort of nutty
Orientals give the smoke a reconcilable cigarette taste and smell. It is very light in nicotine so too much of this will result in a ultra light smoke that smells like burnt camel dung.

I use to smoke Marlboro lights but for the life of me I can't remember what they tasted like.
Now I smoke 50% Wind Sail 30% Ramback and 20% Oriental in Zen light tubes.

When you find the proportions of the basic smoke you like you can experiment by using different tobaccos. For instance you can switch out the Windsail for Penhooker or Three Sails
You can ad more elements to your blend by adding Cigar leaf tobacco or adding flavored tobacco.
there are so many possibilities that eventually you will find 5 or more blends that you like to smoke during the day.

For starters blend just eneough tobacco to make 10 smokes for me that's about 1/2 oz of tobacco.
try it during the day at diferant times too see what you like or dislike about your blend and adjust. don't chain smoke the blend because the after taste of the first will rune the second.

As a general rule don't use more than 30% Orientals but for more flavor ad Burly for more smooth and sweet ad Virginia.
always make sure your tobaccos are not too wet or too dry when blending because it will distort the taste and make it hard to find the right blend that you like.

Blended tobaccos gain from sitting in a sealed container for a few days. The time gives them a chance to get to know each other a little better and it will smooth out the blend.

Hope this helps.

disclaimer. I'm no expert so everything I say is up for criticism. I'm just a guy who likes to smoke.

crackerjack Toker

Toker Joined: Sep 08, 2009 Posts: 83

by crackerjack on Thu Sep 10, 2009 12:12 pm

Oops
I forgot to mention that you can economize by blending with cheaper tobaccos like Criss Cross or my Fav. The Good Stuff Light and TGS Natural.

some useful links.

http://www.ryomagazine.com/ check out the media area for good info on blending
http://ryorevolution.com/ryo-tobacco-shops.html this is a good forum to read hard to join but the info available here is amazing.

crackerjack Toker

Toker Joined: Sep 08, 2009 Posts: 83

by kalila on Mon Sep 14, 2009 11:00 am

My husband also smoked Marlboro lights and when we decided to go over to RYO I asked the tobacco shop assistant a lot of questions.

Long story short, I happened to get lucky and hit the right combo the first time out. In fact, my husband says he prefers the RYO! Go figure.

What he is using is a 'pipe' tobacco by the brand name of People's True Taste "MILD" and Premier "Light" tubes.

What the woman at the shop said was not to be fooled by the "Pipe Tobacco." She said that a lot of times they put that to skirt the tax of 'cigarette' tobacco.

Friends of ours had warned that true pipe tobacco gave them a headache but we've had no problems with this mix. I also use the same brand but menthol (mint.)

Also it's costs a little more for the good machines (around 50.00) but it's well worth the investment and will pay for itself with the first couple of cartons!

Happy smoking!

kalila

Newbie Joined: Sep 14, 2009 Posts: 5

by CoreyD on Mon Sep 14, 2009 11:30 am

Wow Gang....thanks for all the tips.

As it turns out....I broke down and bought a pack marlboro lights this weekend. Funny thing is that after almost a few weeks of RYO the Marlboros didn't do it for me like they used to. they tasted cheap and were not satisfying. I will continue to experiment with different blends. There seems to be more to learn than I thought when it comes to finding the right combination of tobacco, papers, machine etc... They are all very different. But I've found that by modifying the amount of tobacco I am using (using less) then the smoke is extremely smooth and pleasant. I think that moving to "real" tobacco versus the pre-rolled, processed and high chemical pre-mades is actually opening up a whole new world. I think it's going to take some time to find "my perfect mix" of products but I trust now that I am definitely on the right path. And really happy to be moving over. Again...thanks for all the suggestions.

CoreyD

Newbie Joined: Sep 10, 2009 Posts: 3 Location: WA

by crackerjack on Mon Sep 14, 2009 12:46 pm

CoreyD wrote:

Yep once you taste real tobacco you can't go back again.
On Friday nights I sit and make smokes for my wife's mother and father. I use to just make them a pack or two and they would smoke those while still buying their smokes from the gas station on the corner but after a short while they came to me with a proposal to make their smokes for them.

"We just can't stand the taste of those factory smokes anymore they make us feel sick!"

I'm happy to support D&R and the other vendors who took on the challenge to provide their clients with affordable and yet excellent tobaccos after the S-Chip bill passed. It's the can-do spirit that makes me proud to be an America. You just can't put us down man we will find a way.

Very Happy

crackerjack Toker

Toker Joined: Sep 08, 2009 Posts: 83

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