My very first rolling experience

[Indianamac]

Well,

After all the video watch'n, here it is. These are my first ever, personally hand rolled cigars. The two bigger ones look & draw loose. The two smaller ones are tied and I'll have to wait until smoked, in order to check the draw on them. My wife foregot to pick up the fruit-pectin from the store, so I had to get creative and use the flour & water technique. Worked out ok, but I'm anxious to try the fruit-pectin.

I am finding out, just how important case is. I have some wrapper in damp towels now and will wait to get the pectin before trying to roll again.

Here's what I used on each:

The two bigger cigars are made up of: 1/2-Maduro wrapper, 1-Habano Viso binder, 2 1/2-Dom. Seco, 1-Dom Ligero
The two smaller ones are made up of: 1/2-PA Oscuro wrapper, 1/2-Habano Viso binder, 1-Nic. Seco, 1/2-Nic. Ligero
​

The two bigger cigars were rolled and then rolled up into newspaper strips. I let them sit for about a half an hour, before applying the wrapper. After applying the wrapper, I rolled them in paper towels and let them dry over night. When I got up this morning, I checked them and put them in the humidor.

I put the two smaller cigars in my cigar mold, after rolling with the binder. I feel that it worked really well and am planning on filling the whole mold (10), if the blend that I chose, turns out to be good. I left these in the mold for 30min., then turned them half a turn and then let them sit for another 30 min. After an hour of being in the mold, I then rolled them in the wrapper, rolled them in paper towel and let them sit over night. These also were checked this morning and then put in my humidor.

All of these were stiff and dry this morning, so I think they will turn out ok. When I have a chance, I will sample one of each and report my findings.

 

[Knucklehead]

Nice looking cigars. Can't wait to hear how you like that tobacco. Good job on the rolling. My favorite is two Nicaraguan seco leaves, one half Nicaraguan Ligero leaf, wrapped in the Maduro for binder and wrapper. Mmmmmmm. No more store bought for me, I'm hooked on the good stuff.

 

[johnlee1933]

Nice looking Cigars Mac.. You chose some interesting Leaf. I hope they are what you want and like.

John

 

[Indianamac]

Update!

I smoked one of the bigger cigars (the smallest of the two). It lit up pretty good, but as I suspected, it was rolled a little loose and therefore, had a real easy draw. I did have to keep re-lighting some, but no big deal. It didn't hold the ash very good either, kinda messy. The flavor was real good, not to bold, not too light. I really like the blend. I am curious as to wether this might get better with more time in the humidor. The cigar actually burned (with some re-lighting) for about 45 min. In all, I am very happy with this experience and with a little more practice, I hope to be roll'n like a champ. No more store boughts for me, atleast til my Wholeleaf runs out!!

I plan on trying one of the smaller ones later on this evening and will report on that.

 

[johnlee1933]

Update!

I smoked one of the bigger cigars (the smallest of the two). It lit up pretty good, but as I suspected, it was rolled a little loose and therefore, had a real easy draw. I did have to keep re-lighting some, but no big deal. It didn't hold the ash very good either, kinda messy. The flavor was real good, not to bold, not too light. I really like the blend. I am curious as to wether this might get better with more time in the humidor. The cigar actually burned (with some re-lighting) for about 45 min. In all, I am very happy with this experience and with a little more practice, I hope to be roll'n like a champ. No more store boughts for me, atleast til my Wholeleaf runs out!!

I plan on trying one of the smaller ones later on this evening and will report on that.

If you continue to experience "too Large // too loose" try increasing the case of the filler. Take it slow and easy and my cigars get right close to the way I like them.

John

 

[Knucklehead]

You roll a good cigar the same way you become an excellent rifle shot. Practice, practice, practice.

 

[Indianamac]

Thanks John & Knucklehead.


Like I mentioned before, I'm already learning how important case is and I intend to do alot of practicing.


Update #2


I smoked one of the smaller cigars a little bit ago and it really smoked great. I made 4 more of those this afternoon and I think they are going to be my regular size. My molds are working out great. Here's a picture of a couple wait'n for wrappers.

 

[FmGrowit]

I've never objected to using molds...they certainly have there place for beginner. The biggest benefit to using molds is the degree of confidence they offer merely in creating a presentable stick. Sporting a presentable cigar will encourage you and even challenge you to do better and one day tackle the elusive hand rolled perfecto.

Nice work.

 

[Indianamac]

Thanks Don,

I am really struggling with wrapping the ends. The molds are really helping hold things together, until I learn more about controling the case. I plan on one day being as good a roller as the folks I see in the videos.

The tobacco taste great by the way!! Thanks

 

[BarG]

I think it has a lot to do with how picky or choosy you are. My home grown wrappers were only so so without at least a years aging and then a month kilning I found. Fortunately WLT has had wrappers for sale during my learning experience that wrap and burn fantastic every time. I ration what I have left of the 2008 Bezuki. I am leaning towards the Ecuadoran and Criole 98 to allow mine to age further, before they dissapear from stock.

 

[deluxestogie]

For those perfecto ends:

They look like they are about 30º off the parallel (to the cigar's axis), so lift the bound bulk 30º off the rolling board while wrapping the foot, then do the same when wrapping the head.

For the foot, it helps if the wrapper strip is first trimmed to leave a slight 'J' that extends away from the stem edge. If you picture the whole wrapper for a perfecto, it will be a lazy 'S' shape.

If you can imagine a conical top (the child's toy), rolling on its side on a table surface, it will only roll in a curve, rather than straight (like a cylinder). If you make a large cone out of cardboard, and attempt to wrap it with a piece cut from copy paper (surrogate wrapper), you can eventually figure out how to cut the paper so that it spirals up the cone. It's all a big pain in the butt. With practice, you'll get a feel for the curves and the tilt angles.

Bob

 

[Indianamac]

For those perfecto ends:

They look like they are about 30º off the parallel (to the cigar's axis), so lift the bound bulk 30º off the rolling board while wrapping the foot, then do the same when wrapping the head.

For the foot, it helps if the wrapper strip is first trimmed to leave a slight 'J' that extends away from the stem edge. If you picture the whole wrapper for a perfecto, it will be a lazy 'S' shape.

If you can imagine a conical top (the child's toy), rolling on its side on a table surface, it will only roll in a curve, rather than straight (like a cylinder). If you make a large cone out of cardboard, and attempt to wrap it with a piece cut from copy paper (surrogate wrapper), you can eventually figure out how to cut the paper so that it spirals up the cone. It's all a big pain in the butt. With practice, you'll get a feel for the curves and the tilt angles.

Bob

Much appreciated. Thanks for the info. Will attempt this on the next roll.

 

[Southern Planter]

What is the pectin for?

 

[MarcL]

What is the pectin for?

The pectin is used as clue to keep the wrapper leaf of the cigar from unraveling.

 

[Knucklehead]

Fruit Pectin. You get it in the canning section of the grocery store.

 

[johnlee1933]

The pectin is used as clue to keep the wrapper leaf of the cigar from unraveling.

This has been discussed in threads before this. I have used fruit pectin and prefer ordinary gelatin like Knox Gelatin or unflavored Jello available in any grocery store. You add as much water as you like for a gel or more for a liquid glue.


John

 

[MarcL]

#8

I really liked the powdered fruit pectin for caning after I really liked powdered jello, flour, starch. But, when I got some Gum Tragacanth.

It was less sutle. No weird aftertaste like other stuff.

 

[Knucklehead]

If you just use a little on the head of the cigar to keep it from unwrapping, you won't actually be smoking any of it. You don't need it down the length of the cigar. Provided you finish the wrap at the head.