Questions from a noob whole leaf piper!

[GreenDragon]

I use a regular chefs knife. Just take out the ribs, roll into a cigar, and cut coins. There’s many ways to skin a cat

 

[Armstrong-Joshua]

I think if everyone chimed in, you'd get another dozen or so ways to process pipe tobacco. There's no right way, and all your ideas and future ideas, (aside from the crazy expensive aluminum press), are just as valid as any.

I've never gone with the Rikon knife that so many go for because it's ergonomics would make me feel like I'm old and arthritic, and it's bright colour like I should be outfitting a time share rental.

I like the carotte/perique method that @furryfreek shared. I never thought of doing it vertical like that. Good idea. I do small carottes by hand, maybe 50-100g each. My method is to roll cigar shape, put in plastic bag, wrap with fiberglass tape super tight by hand, let age.

Vacuum sealer works like a press. Make nicely piled stacks, seal. You need to let it sit in bag a week or whatever, but you can easily slice it like plug after. Only difference is it won't be a rectangle.

But you know what my main method is? Scissors. Stainless steel scissors with no silly plastic or bright handles. Take one leaf, leave the stem in, cut it into more manageable length, like you would with green onion, then snip snip snip, viola, enough tobacco for a day.

This made me laugh. You don't like the expensive press idea? I'm kind of curious what the turn out would be. I mean the presses that pipe tobacco companies use I imagine would also have a heating element.

 

[Armstrong-Joshua]

I purchased some Kentucky Burley. It says there is a preparation method for it that is time consuming? Can I not just smoke? The purpose for me was to try it mixed with my Virginias to give bigger nicotine hit and also impart a nutty flavour. (Would be great with apple and vanilla casing I imagine)

 

[Armstrong-Joshua]

I use a regular chefs knife. Just take out the ribs, roll into a cigar, and cut coins. There’s many ways to skin a cat

This is the method I'm thinking of adopting. My budget shredder will break soon I think and even 1mm for pipe tobacco seems too thin.

 

[Knucklehead]

I purchased some Kentucky Burley. It says there is a preparation method for it that is time consuming? Can I not just smoke? The purpose for me was to try it mixed with my Virginias to give bigger nicotine hit and also impart a nutty flavour. (Would be great with apple and vanilla casing I imagine)

The burley I receive from WLT has always been ready to go, no prep.
I think the burley in commercial cigarettes may be toasted but I like it fine without toasting.

 

[Armstrong-Joshua]

Going with this set up I think! I am excited! This project looks fun! (Also you can do multiple presses at the same time!) This person is a genius! $65 for the Dewalt Clamp

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGI9DD5FLe4&t=18s

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

$65 for the Dewalt Clamp

Holy crap, man. Go to Princess Auto.

https://www.princessauto.com/en/searchresults?Nr=product.active%3A1&Ntt=Clamp*&Nty=1&No=0&Nrpp=50&Rdm=841&searchType=simple&type=search

 

[Armstrong-Joshua]

Holy crap, man. Go to Princess Auto.

https://www.princessauto.com/en/searchresults?Nr=product.active%3A1&Ntt=Clamp*&Nty=1&No=0&Nrpp=50&Rdm=841&searchType=simple&type=search

You have to remember I am Canadian so $65 is like $45 usd. This Dewalt clamp press is able to do 600lb of pressure per square inch. I dunno I'm just going to follow the video it looks very doable.

 

[deluxestogie]

Unless you plan to generate tetraquarks, a mere 50 psi is all you need.

Bob

EDIT: Divide the applied force in pounds by the surface area of the press block, in square inches, to get the psi.

 

[Armstrong-Joshua]

Unless you plan to generate tetraquarks, a mere 50 psi is all you need.

Bob

EDIT: Divide the applied force in pounds by the surface area of the press block, in square inches, to get the psi.

Look at the video's end results the flake looks very good. Only thing is I would try to make thinner slices with a sharper blade.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1J6UCCXwk7Y

 

[Armstrong-Joshua]

Unless you plan to generate tetraquarks, a mere 50 psi is all you need.

Bob

EDIT: Divide the applied force in pounds by the surface area of the press block, in square inches, to get the psi.

I've never been that good at math. 3"x2" surface area divided by 600lb of pressure = what psi? 100psi?

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

That looks like a pretty effective clamp. I can't attest to the pressure from the noname brand clamps, so I see why you're choosing that one. FYI, I'm from Edmonton.

 

[tullius]

I'm with CV on this one: that's an overly expensive hand clamp. Not sure if you have estate or tag sales up where you're at, but here we buy 5 gallon buckets filled with c-, pipe, one hand, and welding clamps for $5/per bucket all the time. They're basically free. The pipe woodworking clamps like the one below would probably produce the most pressure consistently: they're all metal, very strong, and you can use them to glue up the press box. Just a thought

 

[deluxestogie]

I've never been that good at math. 3"x2" surface area divided by 600lb of pressure = what psi? 100psi?

Your math is perfect, but your description of it is backwards. 600 divided by (3 x 2). So, yes, 100 psi.

Our forum member, @piping_presbyter's original thread is here:

Leaf compression for 1-inch thick plug?

In your experience, if the goal is to make a 1” thick pressed plug, approximately how tall will the unpressed stack of leaves be? Assuming they were relatively flat (no folds) and figuring 35psi for 1 week will be applied. Basically, I’m wondering how tall my press needs to be since I’m...

fairtradetobacco.com

Bob

 

[Armstrong-Joshua]

That looks like a pretty effective clamp. I can't attest to the pressure from the noname brand clamps, so I see why you're choosing that one. FYI, I'm from Edmonton.

Yeah I mean my reasoning behind this one is that because I'd be doing multiple presses at once (2-3 cakes) and leaving it for a week; pressure aside the design to do 3 cakes in a single press per week is desirable for me.

 

[Armstrong-Joshua]

Your math is perfect, but your description of it is backwards. 600 divided by (3 x 2). So, yes, 100 psi.

Our forum member, @piping_presbyter's original thread is here:

Leaf compression for 1-inch thick plug?

In your experience, if the goal is to make a 1” thick pressed plug, approximately how tall will the unpressed stack of leaves be? Assuming they were relatively flat (no folds) and figuring 35psi for 1 week will be applied. Basically, I’m wondering how tall my press needs to be since I’m...

fairtradetobacco.com

Bob

So is 100psi bad? I'll be doing multiple presses 2-3cakes.

 

[Armstrong-Joshua]

Lorann Oils came in the mail. I'll be testing. My idea was to apply the casing and then press. My press isn't built yet though. I'm just going to be mixing Virginia (Red,Bright,Lemon) with lemongrass, orange, lemon oils (mixing with everclear alcohol then adding distilled water then spraying the shredded tobacco). Then I'll be mixing some Virginia Bright with Burley and applying Apple and my homemade Vanilla extract. The apple has [propylene glycol, artificial flavours, triacetin] compared to the others which are just straight oils. Do I need to be concerned with this? Any opinions on propylene glycol?

 

[Armstrong-Joshua]

Pretty sure the Apple with propylene just doesn't need to be mixed with alcohol (vodka,everclear) to be water soluble. Am I wrong?

 

[deluxestogie]

Propylene glycol renders it water soluble.

Bob

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

. The apple has [propylene glycol, artificial flavours, triacetin] compared to the others which are just straight oils. Do I need to be concerned with this? Any opinions on propylene glycol?

That small amount ought not be problematic. Cigarettes often contain as much as 2% by weight, so you would have to add a lot to overdo it.