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by staticwarp
on Sat Oct 17, 2009 12:16 am |
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i recently got a bag of criss cross smooth pipe tobacco and found it to be a bit harsh. i stuff my own tubes using zen 100mms and a hand injector.
couple questions for the pros here:
is there any way besides blending with another tobacco to cut down the harshness of the smoke?
is tobacco harsher when it is dry or moist?
would packing more or less tobacco into the tube make a difference in the harshness?
by harsh i am referring to the "burn" when you inhale. camel non filters are harsh, while marlboro ultra lights are light, for example.
i just read the thread on blending and i think it's time to give that a shot, however i've got this bag of tobacco here and i want to do something with it in the meantime.
thanks! |
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staticwarp
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Joined: Oct 06, 2009
Posts: 6
Location: san antonio TX
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by JohnC
on Sat Oct 17, 2009 4:32 am |
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staticwarp ,
First let me say welcome to the forum.
Moist and tighter pack will give a lighter or smoother smoke.
-J.C.- |
Last edited by JohnC on Sun Oct 18, 2009 6:04 am; edited 1 time in total |
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JohnC
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Joined: Dec 23, 2004
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by gilster
on Sat Oct 17, 2009 7:32 am |
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Everytime I used a hand injector I could never get enough tobacco in the tube to make a decent stick.
When you make a cig, is the product firm to the touch - like a pre-made? or a bit loose?
*Try buying a crank injector like a Supermatic or Topomatic (my favorite), they tend to make a more uniform smoke. Loose is Harsh.
*Check the sell by date on your tobacco (if you can find one)
*Humidify the tobacco first a bit if it seems too dry - some people will bring a bowl of tobacco in the shower room with them to put moisture in the tobacco.
*Too moist tobacco will jam a machine - so experiment - after a while you'll notice the right moisture.
*Try a different tobacco first *All tobacco is not made equal
* Back before SCHIP I always used American Spirit (now it's way too expensive) but back then I would use Organic once and a while, for me it way WAY TOO harsh - and very dry, I attributed it to the dryness of the tobacco. I never bought enough of it too experiment with moisture.
*Experiment with different tubes - I love Zens, IMHO you have one of the best tubes already, but experimenting is part of MYO/RYO
* I'm partial to "The Good Stuff" tobacco, also, anything from D&R or Custom Blends is excellent.
You are the manufacturer now - get your R&D department up and running  |
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gilster
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by staticwarp
on Sun Oct 18, 2009 12:24 am |
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i find that putting too much baccy rips the tube and/or makes it impossible to inject. are there any 100mm crank injectors? i like my long smokes. i smoked 120s before the ridiculous s-chip bill. i find that stuffed 100s burn just as long though, and i'm happy with them. i'd hate to have to go to a smaller tube just for a machine.
my sticks generally come out firm, i find the tobacco expands a bit when left to sit in the tube and when i get it right there's no telling the difference between mine and a factory smoke.
on a side note, i blended about half criss cross smooth and half farmers gold smooth and the mix is quite enjoyable. the benefits of both without the bad parts of either. the criss cross was too harsh and the farmers gold tasted too much like a cigar, but the blend worked out nicely. i'm glad i bought two bags at once! |
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staticwarp
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Joined: Oct 06, 2009
Posts: 6
Location: san antonio TX
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by BillyBlack
on Mon Oct 19, 2009 5:06 pm |
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Many at first try for a pre-made light equivalent. It's tough and almost impossible as pre-mades contain lot's of things other than normal tobacco, recon and expanded tobacco are 2 items.
Try a small quantity of Direct Buy Silver. It's very light and makes for a good blending base.
http://www.smokersoutletonline.com/direct-pipe-tobacco-p-222.html
The snobs will cringe, but it's worth a try.
I actually re-hydrate my smokes after I stuff them. I have a small plastic container with a small, slightly damp sponge and a bed of Criss Cross on the bottom (I like the smell and it buffers the humidity). I only keep them in there for about a day. Handmades will dry out quickly if left laying around. |
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BillyBlack
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by bob_kemp
on Thu Oct 29, 2009 3:55 pm |
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Hi --
I agree with the other replies that it is most likely either a brand problem or the moisture content of the tobacco.
I'll add another possibility - Time of year. Right now, I am purchasing bulk tobacco from the farmers. It is just dried and hasn't aged and unless it is cured in a kiln or air-cured for at least 2 more months, it may have a bite in the back of your throat and could have a slight grassy taste.
Rather than his RYO tobacco being too old, maybe it's too fresh? Cigarette tobacco manufacturers are notorious for rushing unaged, harsh leaf through the factory and putting additives in it to hide the fact that it isn't ready to smoke yet.
The best thing to do is buy tobacco in bulk and start shredding your own. Buy now when it's cheap and don't wait for it to go through the retail markup and taxation process. Whole leaf isn't subject to the punitive taxation in most states, YET! so in some cases you can save 40% or more right there!
Just a thought!
Bob Kemp
GYOtobacco@yahoo.com
Whole Tobacco Leaf and Seeds |
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bob_kemp
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