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Post by That Falls Guy on Oct 3, 2019 15:37:03 GMT -5
To begin my story, I used to smoke both cigars and pipe, I smoked a lot more cigars than I did a pipe. Then for some reason unbeknownst to me, I gave up the cigars and switched almost exclusively to the pipe. That was about 14 or 15 years ago. There was nowhere near the information about pipe tobacco then as there is now. So what I did (regrettably now...wish that I had aged them instead)) was to throw whatever tobaccos that I didn't like into a container, and let them set there. As I kept adding to the 'scrap pile' as I called it, I accumulated quite a bit of tobacco. While I never disposed of it, I kept adding things to the mix....coffee, chocolate, spices, and thing that I can't even remember. The tobacco was exposed to extreme temperatures of heat and cold over the years. About three years ago, I put it all into jars, and simply labeled them 'OLD'.
Well now, with so many discussions on the subject, I decided to press them into cakes. At first, I actually tried to press them inside of tobacco tins. I wax papered the bottoms of the tins, stuffed the tobacco inside, wax papered the top, and screwed on the lids. It partially worked. While not a compressed cake, what I ended up with was a sort of crumble cake. Not too bad, but not what I wanted. Then, the idea of pasta presses evolved. While it sounded good, the idea of these cheap Chinese presses didn't impress me very much. I figured them to be cheap Chinese crap (IMHO), and didn't think that one could apply much pressure to them without breaking, as well as having to press 1" circles. While many have declared success with these presses, they weren't my 'cup of tea'. So what I finally contrived was the following press comprised of the following:
3" Muffler Exhaust Adapter (about $4.00 at Auto Supply Store
2-3" Round Stainless Steel Discs (about $14.00 on Ebay)
1 4" C Clamp from Harbor Freight (about $4.00)
So about for about the cost of a Chinese Pasta Press, you could build a press like this.
One note... the 3" round steel discs were a bit too tight inside the Muffler Adapter, so I had to take them to a muffler shop to have them expanded just a tad (maybe a 1/16". Also, I had a steel plate that I placed on the bottom of the Adapter (as you will see in photo), rather than sandwiching the tobacco between the two round discs, but that's only because I had it. Sandwiching the tobacco between the two round discs works perfectly!
And lastly, that black dab you see on the table surface, and the black around the adapter ring is moisture that came out of the tobacco after only one day! I had to place the press on some newspaper.
So after this lengthy story, here is what it looks like.....
One note... the 3" round steel discs were a bit too tight inside the Muffler Adapter, so I had to take them to a muffler shop to have them expanded just a tad (maybe a 1/16". Also, I had a steel plate that I placed on the bottom of the Adapter (as you will see in photo), rather than sandwiching the tobacco between the two round discs, but that's only because I had it. Sandwiching the tobacco between the two round discs works perfectly!
And lastly, that black dab you see on the table surface, and the black around the adapter ring is moisture that came out of the tobacco after only one day! I had to place the press on some newspaper.
So after this lengthy story, here is what it looks like.....
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2019 15:47:54 GMT -5
Nice solution and creative thinking. I have a 'regret bin' too and will give this some thought.
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Post by peteguy on Oct 3, 2019 15:57:33 GMT -5
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Post by That Falls Guy on Oct 3, 2019 16:49:13 GMT -5
Pictures are not there. I'd like to see them! Looks like another innovative setup! |
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Post by adui on Oct 3, 2019 18:07:21 GMT -5
What is the purpose of a tobacco press? Is this something one uses when processing tobacco, or is it something one uses on tobacco that was previously processed?
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Post by McWiggins on Oct 3, 2019 18:11:35 GMT -5
What is the purpose of a tobacco press? Is this something one uses when processing tobacco, or is it something one uses on tobacco that was previously processed? Pressing tobacco changes the profile. This can be good or bad. Not all tobacco pressed ends up being good and not all blends take to pressing. It gets more complicated though and writing books is not what I have a talent for. |
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Post by scrooge on Oct 3, 2019 18:18:01 GMT -5
Looks like a good set up, Is the C-clamp foot the part touching the steel disc as large as the disc? or close to it. I would worry about the disc bending under pressure of tighting it. To get the results your looking for.
Good luck with this. Keep us informed.
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Post by addamsruspipe on Oct 3, 2019 21:26:17 GMT -5
Pictures are not there. I'd like to see them! Looks like another innovative setup! The pictures are farther down in the thread. |
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Post by That Falls Guy on Oct 4, 2019 6:32:38 GMT -5
Looks like a good set up, Is the C-clamp foot the part touching the steel disc as large as the disc? or close to it. I would worry about the disc bending under pressure of tighting it. To get the results your looking for. Good luck with this. Keep us informed. The steel is 1/8" thick. Pretty solid. Doesn't seem to mind the pressure. If it does bend, could always add anolther plate. |
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Post by That Falls Guy on Oct 4, 2019 6:35:43 GMT -5
Pictures are not there. I'd like to see them! Looks like another innovative setup! The pictures are farther down in the thread. I had thought about the PVC setup as well, but decided to go the steel route. Nice work!
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Post by Legend Lover on Oct 4, 2019 8:51:34 GMT -5
That looks like it'll work well. Nice job, Roy.
However, the proof is in the pudding. let us know how the cakes end up.
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Post by That Falls Guy on Oct 4, 2019 16:19:24 GMT -5
Will do Paddy!
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SLR
New Member
Posts: 12
First Name: Mike
Favorite Pipe: C Pipes Morta Poker
Favorite Tobacco: Gawith Hoggarth & Co Dark Flake
Location:
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Post by SLR on Oct 16, 2019 7:50:44 GMT -5
Always wanted to press my own tobacco. Thanks for sharing this idea.
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Post by mgtarheel on Oct 16, 2019 8:55:27 GMT -5
Very ingenious. Hope it works well for you.
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Post by Legend Lover on Oct 16, 2019 9:16:28 GMT -5
Always wanted to press my own tobacco. Thanks for sharing this idea. Welcome back. |
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Post by Pistol Pete 1911 on Oct 20, 2019 16:34:35 GMT -5
This is of awesome design !!!! I used a much larger clamp and high pressure PVC and 2 hockey pucks for mine. We are agreed that this process produces a fine crumble cake, My question is as follows. Is there any way to make this pressed product that we create a much harder disc or "puck" or "cake"? If anyone knows of a process to press a harder product I for one would surely be interested in hearing about it
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Post by That Falls Guy on Oct 22, 2019 6:30:25 GMT -5
Quoting my original post, Home Tobacco Press, here are the first results..... 
They came out great. Three inches in diameter, and just over an inch thick! Weight range is 140 to 160 grams. |
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Post by Legend Lover on Oct 22, 2019 6:32:10 GMT -5
Quoting my original post, Home Tobacco Press, here are the first results.....
They came out great. Three inches in diameter, and just over an inch thick! Weight range is 140 to 160 grams. They certainly look great. Proof is in the pudding though... |
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Post by addamsruspipe on Oct 22, 2019 6:43:08 GMT -5
You will have to let us know how they smoke and taste.  |
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benton629
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Post by benton629 on Nov 14, 2019 19:19:46 GMT -5
I gotta try this. I love plug tobacco and just about every blend benefits from pressing.
Thanks for sharing your set up!
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Post by That Falls Guy on Dec 3, 2019 17:32:59 GMT -5
Just put in the press today......
Equal parts of Half & Half, Prince Albert, and Velvet. Added a touch of Anise Oil, Maple Syrup, Apple Pie Moonshine, Lemon Extract and Cinnamon Oil.
It's already starting to exude juice from the tobacco. This one should be quite interesting!
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taharris
Junior Member
Still taking up space and sucking air.
Posts: 146
First Name: Todd
Favorite Tobacco: Filmore
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Post by taharris on Dec 3, 2019 19:00:52 GMT -5
Just put in the press today...... Equal parts of Half & Half, Prince Albert, and Velvet. Added a touch of Anise Oil, Maple Syrup, Apple Pie Moonshine, Lemon Extract and Cinnamon Oil. It's already starting to exude juice from the tobacco. This one should be quite interesting! I’m really interested to hear how this one turns out! |
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