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Post by slowroll on Nov 25, 2017 19:34:09 GMT -5
Many of us have tried this, and many have cobble up various presses. I've done some experiments and come with some ideas. I've concluded that a press jig and a hydraulic press is overkill for most efforts, unless one wants to do a large volume. Considering that we mostly want to accomplish a good melding of flavors in a short-ish amout of time, a vice or big clamp is sufficient. Bear in mind that the commercial blenders are typically mashing full leaf tobacco in sheets; they need tons to marry up the leaves in compression. Since we're starting with ribbon cuts in the first place that are mixed, all we need is enough pressure to force the ribbons together to meld them up and push the oils around. We're really making crumble cakes rather than plugs or flakes. I use a woodworking vice with a wide jaw. The pressure jig is just a block of wood with a hole drilled in it, and the press plunger is a steel bar of matching diameter. I pack the tobacco into the hole, put the plunger over it and screw down the vice. I can do about 3 ounces with this rig, and I get a nice cake. I think any more pressure mashes up the ribbons and one gets a crumbley mess of particles.
Just some food for thought here, hope someone gets some use out it. This approach is pretty simple.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2017 19:55:28 GMT -5
Speaking of cobbling . . . . . given good weather, would it be feasible to wrap the chosen tobac, proceed to vehicle, jack up rear tire, place tobacco under the tire and lower it and let press?
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Post by haebar on Nov 25, 2017 20:25:07 GMT -5
Here's some pictures of the pressing box that my brother made for me. The second pictures is of the box in use with c-clamps. It is good for making crumble cakes.   |
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Post by trailboss on Nov 25, 2017 20:57:27 GMT -5
Speaking of cobbling . . . . . given good weather, would it be feasible to wrap the chosen tobac, proceed to vehicle, jack up rear tire, place tobacco under the tire and lower it and let press?  Catfish Cooley has probably already done it with a bulldozer. |
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Post by slowroll on Nov 25, 2017 23:39:52 GMT -5
Catfish aside, no reason it wouldn't work. Just remember to have an open bottom in whatever container you put it in so you can push it thru when you're done.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 26, 2017 17:39:29 GMT -5
Here's some pictures of the pressing box that my brother made for me. The second pictures is of the box in use with c-clamps. It is good for making crumble cakes. Nicely done. Might have to make one up myself. |
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Post by slowroll on Nov 28, 2017 12:09:53 GMT -5
Here's a cake I made, it's an ounce of tobac.  |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 28, 2017 14:11:14 GMT -5
Looks pretty dense. I like it.
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Post by slowroll on Nov 28, 2017 17:15:41 GMT -5
Looks pretty dense. I like it. I actually think it can be a bit less dense and still really marinate all the tobacco with each other. Compared to , say, Ten Russians, it's more dense by quite a bit. |
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Post by haebar on Nov 29, 2017 18:48:21 GMT -5
Here's a chunk of my Navy Cake pressed in the box. It's a crumble cake; not trying to make a plug.  |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 29, 2017 19:20:59 GMT -5
I have thought about trying something like this and it is cool to see these results. Thanks for sharing.
I have heard of people using a short section of PVC and two wooden plugs. That is probably the route I would take.
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Post by slowroll on Nov 29, 2017 19:46:23 GMT -5
Here's a chunk of my Navy Cake pressed in the box. It's a crumble cake; not trying to make a plug. That's a nice cake. I like them. How many ounces in that? |
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Post by haebar on Nov 29, 2017 20:02:42 GMT -5
Here's a chunk of my Navy Cake pressed in the box. It's a crumble cake; not trying to make a plug. That's a nice cake. I like them. How many ounces in that? That's a little over 4 ounces in that one bar. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 29, 2017 22:50:02 GMT -5
My kind of brownie!
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Post by sparks on Nov 30, 2017 13:31:51 GMT -5
I have heard of people using a short section of PVC and two wooden plugs. That is probably the route I would take. I've thought the same thing. Quick, simple and not much to buy |
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Post by slowroll on Nov 30, 2017 16:12:21 GMT -5
I have heard of people using a short section of PVC and two wooden plugs. That is probably the route I would take. I've thought the same thing. Quick, simple and not much to buy Yep, you just have to turn the plugs on a lathe and you're in business. If no lathe, it's a PITA To jig saw or band saw, but doable . |
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Post by Darin on Nov 30, 2017 17:42:07 GMT -5
A Hole Saw and some sandpaper might just do the trick also. Great thread! I press whole leaf, make twists and snuff as well. Love all the DIY stuff and next up is home-made perique.  jitterbugdude on here is a big DIY'er as well including growing his own tobacco. |
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Post by antb on Dec 1, 2017 1:53:31 GMT -5
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