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by Tom
on Mon Sep 12, 2005 8:33 am |
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| All the suggestions here are good so far. There's one difference with the supermatic than the others that I don't think was mentioned. With the supermatic, you don't push the tobacco down like with the excel or the hand machines. The chamber is wider and holds more tobacco. The machine compacts it. If you compact it, you are getting the tobacco compacted twice. The hand machines and the excel rely on you compacting it with the little plastic piece. Just place it in the chamber. Use the extra tobacco on top for your next cigarette. Gambler tobacco should be fine. That's my favorite tobacco. |
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Tom
Smokers Rights Activist
Joined: Aug 24, 2003
Posts: 961
Location: The Kingdom of New Jersey
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by Zippy
on Mon Sep 12, 2005 1:00 pm |
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IrishEyzs wrote: How in the world do you make so many in an hour 8O
The day I posted this thread it took me 2 1/2 hours to make 4 packs!!
IrishEyes:
It takes practice and creative thinking, I will include, with the pictures of the maintenance, photo's of a modification (actually of my workbench, not the machine itself), that has sped things up dramatically.
If you have a workbench, or something like it, it is worth you time and a few bucks to do this.
OBTW, Tom's post above is absolutely correct. In most cases there is no need to "pack" the tobacco prior to moving the lever. Knowing this also comes with practice.
(It was reading Toms postings that got me to start MYO in the first place and because of it I have now saved over $2,000.00 in the past 2 years) |
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Zippy
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Posts: 681
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by IrishEyzs
on Mon Sep 12, 2005 2:21 pm |
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PROGRESS!!! After reading and watching video clips I adjusted the spoon doohickey...my technical term...and it made a huge difference. I end up with about 1/3" of tobacco sticking out and I just tap it a few times and the whole tube is filled nicely. I don't pack it like I was...just make sure that the tobacco is evenly distributed and that also made a difference. I still wish that it wasn't so hard to crank through the injection part but I'll get used to it. I made about 5 packs in an hour and a half. For me that's great! Maybe someday I'll be cranking out hundreds in an hour 
Thanks so much for everyone's help...I really appreciate it! |
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IrishEyzs
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Joined: Dec 21, 2004
Posts: 14
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by Zippy
on Mon Sep 12, 2005 10:07 pm |
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OK, I have the pictures taken and uploaded to a photo hosting site.
I did a full maintenance on my machine tonight and documented it with photo's. I will start posting my "Dummies Guide to Supermatic maintenance" in a day or two. It will probably be a work in progress for a few days, so bear with me please.
Tom, or anyone else that knows how to maintain one. Please, if you see me leave something out, please point it out.
OBTW, after I did all the maint, I stuffed a few just to see the difference the maintenance made. It was Incredible! It works soooooo smoooooth!
Take Care |
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Zippy
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by IrishEyzs
on Tue Sep 13, 2005 11:44 am |
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I anxiously await your pics and the title is perfect for me
As far as money saved with MYO...between my husband and myself we would be spending about $300.00 a month if we bought them in the store. It costs us about $70.00 a month to make them. When we first tell someone you get "that look" like they expect it to look like you rolled a joint 8O but once they see them they are amazed by how "real" they look and how good they are once they try them. My husband is always passing them out at work and at that price you don't mind sharing!
Thanks again everyone! |
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IrishEyzs
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by totallydonebeingcool
on Tue Sep 20, 2005 1:41 pm |
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I too have had problems with the supermatic packing the cigs too loosely, the smokes burn fast and harsh. I will try Zippy's fabulous adjustment manual one of these days (thank you!).
In the mean time I have managed to get decent smokes by making sure to tamp extra tobacco in the corners of the slot. That seems to avoid the issue of having a void near the filter. Also, avoid using the fine stuff that tends to collect at the bottom of the bag. Someone suggested sifting the tobacco before using it. I haven't done that but it does seem that after handling (grabbing a handful out of the bag and putting it in a bowl and taking pinches to put in the slot) I have to throw 10-20% of the tobacco away because it has crumbled into too fine pieces. If I inject that into tubes they all loose their tobacco over the course of the day and it all ends up in my pockets.
Still I do find you have to put enough tobacco in the slot such that you have to give the machine quite a stiff crank (similar to opening a very tight doorhandle) if you want decently packed smokes. Maybe this will improve by cleaning the cutter mechanism but I'm not sure if that is the root of the problem. My machine is only 2 months old....
Peter |
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totallydonebeingcool
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by IrishEyzs
on Tue Sep 20, 2005 3:07 pm |
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It's getting better. I don't think that McClintock tobacco works to well in the Supermatic. I make my husband's cigs with that but it is alot finer than the Gambler that I use for mine and mine give me less trouble. I agree with you about the cutter mechanism...I don't think that's it. The hard part is when the spoon pushes the tobacco into the tube. I think I'm getting muscles!! LOL But only in one arm!!
I too am looking forward to the manual that Zippy is putting together. Hope to see it soon so I don't have to work so hard!
Thanks |
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IrishEyzs
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by Zippy
on Tue Sep 20, 2005 3:27 pm |
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TDBC:
Beleive me when I say I do not know everything their is to know about the Supermatic, nor do I think it is perfect. It simply is not. But it is the closest thing that we have to a machine that can save us big bucks.
I think you are experiencing the same problem that a lot of people experience with the machine from time to time. I think that the tube holder is letting go too soon, and that is why you are having the trouble with the "void" near the filter of the cigarette. This happens to me also from time to time. This is also made worse when the tobacco is too moist (compounds the problems).
There is an adjustment for the tube holder, but I have never used it.
I have found that doing this will take care of the problem:
1. Put the amount of tobacco that you want in the chamber.
2. Slide a tube into place, then back it off about 1/2 way off of the brass tube.
3. Take your left hand and hold the tube holder (little black dohickey) against the paper tube, then make the cigarette keeping pressure on the tube holder until the pack is done.
The reason that I back the cigarette tube off a bit is to keep the paper from tearing.
After doing this to make 6 or 7 smokes it seems that the machine adjusts itself.
I hope this helps, but again, it is free advise and you do get what you pay for!
EDITED TO ADD:
Irish, the manual Is complete. Look for the post named "DUMMIES GUIDE TO SUPERMATIC MAINTENANCE"
If it looks to complex, do not do it, but if done correctly, your arms should become as thin as toothpicks again! |
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Zippy
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by Zippy
on Tue Sep 20, 2005 3:45 pm |
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Just to add a thought.
If there is one consistant manufacturing flaw that I find in the newer Supermatics it is that the "Packer Cutter" is not finished properly. It appears that it is cut then not sanded or buffed out.
Any flaw that exisists in the "Packer/Cutter" will result in much greater effort when you push the handle. Any gouges or pits or spurs must be removed from the surface to get a smooth operation. That is why, if you read my "Dummies Guide" I stress how important that step is.
Also, after using the machine a while, many of them seem to "stick" at the beginning of a "pack" making it seem like it takes a huge effort to start the pack. I have documented a modification that I made to my machine, using a popcycle stick and a piece of packing tape that solves this problem. I will post it in the next few days. |
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Zippy
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by IrishEyzs
on Tue Sep 20, 2005 4:01 pm |
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Zippy,
Your free advice is worth a million  My toothpick arms appreciate it...how did you know about my toothpick arms 8O
I can't wait to take it apart. Be prepared for a frantic post if I can't get it back together LOL |
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IrishEyzs
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