Smokin Harley
Well-Known Member
So today being my first non-busy day (got laid off last week)yesterday I put some binder and wrapper off in damp towels for todays rolling session. I had been watching all the videos I could lately to improve my recently found new hobby.
I got this perfecto mould off of ebay a couple months ago and not one to let it go to waste or simple decoration. I pulled it out of my cigar supply tub and rolled a few (5 to be exact) first one I had to really adjust the amount of leaf filler and placement within the bunch . I'm using the same Sabroso Medio in the same exact proportions I had been for the toros and gordo so I'm not messing with a blend change...yet.
After binding it up I shoved it into its little compartment and went on to roll a few more until I ran out of the binder I had set to moisten yesterday. I like the double binder ,seems to roll without a tear. The lid went on the mould then I clamped it down with a squeeze grip type of bar clamp I have in my wood working supplies in my garage . I let it set while I watched more rolling videos . three vids into it and it was time to turn my little brown gems 90*. so at the end of the second press time an hour had gone by and the amount of moisture lost /shrinkage was quite amazing . The shape consistent and the firmness perfect. I had a bit of a problem getting them out of the mould without the worry I was going to break them in half, so in my leather working kit I have a big regulator needle and I used that to get under the end to pry it out carefully.
Rolling board moistened with distilled water , pulled my towel rolled wrappers out of the bag ,trimmed out the stem ,stretched it out vein side up , trusty chaveta cut the edge clean . tucked the leading edge over and rolled carefully stretching the wrapper leaf ahead of me . It was then I realized the taper of the foot wasnt rolling the wrapper tight . Unrolled the whole thing and cut a small flag as it were and rolled the foot just a bit over the shoulder to the body . Then I took the original wrapper , dabbed a fingertip in the goma spread that to the shoulder of the first wrapper and rolled the main wrapper over it , nice . Continued up to the head where I had the same problem , did the same thing , dabbed some goma and wrapped a first cap up to the head tip. Took some wrapper leaf scrap and cut a flag , wrapped that and then meticulously smoothed ,rolled and flattened it onto the head ending in a pigtail twist, a quick roll with the chaveta would smooth it out ,cut the pigtail off at the board edge . used the tip of the chaveta to push the docked tail into the end ,found a clean piece of wrapper scrap , dabbed goma on the size of a dime . took a 1/2-3/4 copper tubing fitting with a sharpened 1/2 end and cut a 3rd and final cap ,stuck the head end squarely down on the cap and smoothed it out.
Not too bad . I had made some bands on the computer "2014 WLT, Sabroso Medio, handmade" (two of five I made in the style of "Cuban Sandwich" to use up some scraps )each on their own line in font size 8 and printed them out , scissor cut . Dab of goma and wrapped their bands on , set in the humi to rest and finish drying . They seem a bit rough and toothy in appearance but I'm learning still. Pics as soon as I can . I'm very pleased with a mould in how consistent they are and the ease to roll the wrapper after unmoulding.
I got this perfecto mould off of ebay a couple months ago and not one to let it go to waste or simple decoration. I pulled it out of my cigar supply tub and rolled a few (5 to be exact) first one I had to really adjust the amount of leaf filler and placement within the bunch . I'm using the same Sabroso Medio in the same exact proportions I had been for the toros and gordo so I'm not messing with a blend change...yet.
After binding it up I shoved it into its little compartment and went on to roll a few more until I ran out of the binder I had set to moisten yesterday. I like the double binder ,seems to roll without a tear. The lid went on the mould then I clamped it down with a squeeze grip type of bar clamp I have in my wood working supplies in my garage . I let it set while I watched more rolling videos . three vids into it and it was time to turn my little brown gems 90*. so at the end of the second press time an hour had gone by and the amount of moisture lost /shrinkage was quite amazing . The shape consistent and the firmness perfect. I had a bit of a problem getting them out of the mould without the worry I was going to break them in half, so in my leather working kit I have a big regulator needle and I used that to get under the end to pry it out carefully.
Rolling board moistened with distilled water , pulled my towel rolled wrappers out of the bag ,trimmed out the stem ,stretched it out vein side up , trusty chaveta cut the edge clean . tucked the leading edge over and rolled carefully stretching the wrapper leaf ahead of me . It was then I realized the taper of the foot wasnt rolling the wrapper tight . Unrolled the whole thing and cut a small flag as it were and rolled the foot just a bit over the shoulder to the body . Then I took the original wrapper , dabbed a fingertip in the goma spread that to the shoulder of the first wrapper and rolled the main wrapper over it , nice . Continued up to the head where I had the same problem , did the same thing , dabbed some goma and wrapped a first cap up to the head tip. Took some wrapper leaf scrap and cut a flag , wrapped that and then meticulously smoothed ,rolled and flattened it onto the head ending in a pigtail twist, a quick roll with the chaveta would smooth it out ,cut the pigtail off at the board edge . used the tip of the chaveta to push the docked tail into the end ,found a clean piece of wrapper scrap , dabbed goma on the size of a dime . took a 1/2-3/4 copper tubing fitting with a sharpened 1/2 end and cut a 3rd and final cap ,stuck the head end squarely down on the cap and smoothed it out.
Not too bad . I had made some bands on the computer "2014 WLT, Sabroso Medio, handmade" (two of five I made in the style of "Cuban Sandwich" to use up some scraps )each on their own line in font size 8 and printed them out , scissor cut . Dab of goma and wrapped their bands on , set in the humi to rest and finish drying . They seem a bit rough and toothy in appearance but I'm learning still. Pics as soon as I can . I'm very pleased with a mould in how consistent they are and the ease to roll the wrapper after unmoulding.
