Home Blending Noodle Press

[Effortlessdepths]

A few weeks ago I mixed and then pressed some blends for 2 days in the ye old noodle press. Taking them out, inlet them sit for a week or so to settle down a bit, packed a bowl and lit up. I took some notes on improving the blends, and now I am ready to blend and press those same blends with their tweaks/adjustments.

Does anyone have experience with pressing blends? I am curious how long you left them in the press. I am looking for a sweet spot; I don't really want to press them for a super long time "just to be sure", but not for a short amount of time either. Any suggestions?

 

[BROBS]

Cook it in the oven

 

[Effortlessdepths]

Cook it in the oven

For whatever reason I haven't really liked stoved tobaccos, whether sampling blenders or encountering them in blends. I might have to give them a shot again though, I'm sure they are different when you do them on the spot.

 

[Effortlessdepths]

Specifically though, I'm wondering how long to press them

 

[rushx9]

I've messed around with pressing some blends... wrapped in parchment, squeezed with a squeeze clamp overnight to form a puck, then put between two wooden planks and parked the truck on them for a few hours. Results weren't terrible! I'll probably give it another try when it warms up a bit.

 

[anthonyrosenthal74]

I use one for a crumble cake I make. I press for three days, a slight turn each day after the first tightening. Turns out great. You're results may vary depending on the blend type, moistness, etc.

 

[Effortlessdepths]

I made sure to line with parchment, and got the moisture levels right before pressing. Never thought about tightening it more as time goes by, I think I'll do that. And as far as 3 days in the press.... I think I would do 3 if I had just a small tester amount in there like 10g or an ounce, but I have a solid 50g in it so I might do 5 days; just wanna make sure it all marries together good without having to try and put it back in. Don't want to wait a week though.... I wanna smoke it! The last run I did was really close, just too much DFK ...

 

[Sonorisis]

I'm looking forward to this discussion. This is something I haven't yet tried, but would like to.

 

[briarbuck]

This isn't my actual, but I made a similar set up. I used a kiln dried dowel as a plunger and a hockey puck on the bottom. Wax paper and you're good to go.

 

[Effortlessdepths]

I

This isn't my actual, but I made a similar set up. I used a kiln dried dowel as a plunger and a hockey puck on the bottom. Wax paper and you're good to go.

View attachment 21524

I had a similar setup in the beginning, but I have to be honest, if you have and extra $20 spend it on Amazon and get one of these presses it makes it a whole lot easier, especially if you are pressed for time like I am. Good job though, and if it works it works. Whole point is the marrying process is shortened, which in my opinion is the only real advantage of blending your own tobacco's over just buying tins, besides customization.

 

[mikefu]

I've messed around making Crumble Kakes from various VA's, and found that a week with the occasional tightening works best for me. I also use parchment and a cardboard disc on either end. Results have been very good, particularly with the blending/melding of flavors from very different types of tobacco coming together to a unified whole.

 

[Enemygod]

I usually leave it alone for a week. I do not do any additional tightening over that time period, but I'm usually going for more of a cumble kake vs plug.

 

[BROBS]

what are you guys using for a press?
the only thing I found while searching was a pollen press but it seemed really small.

 

[mikefu]

what are you guys using for a press?
the only thing I found while searching was a pollen press but it seemed really small.

One of these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07HF3S6S1/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[anthonyrosenthal74]

Here's a tip. I cut a couple plastic tobacco tins lids to fit in the attachment with the smallest holes to prevent leaking. I still get a little bit of leaking after pressing for a couple days, but it's a very miniscule amount.

 

[lukasstrifeson]

Specifically though, I'm wondering how long to press them

I hydrate the tobacco a bit before putting them in the noodle press: not soaking but very moist. And then I press it (tighten a bit everyday) for a week or so.

Here is a puck of 50% Ashton Artisan's Blend and 50% GH&Co American Nougat hydrated with a sweet sake -

One bit of advise: because they're ribbons pressed back into a "plug", it'd be smart to cut out thicker flakes; otherwise they all just crumble into tiny bits, which can makes packing a PITA.

 

[BROBS]

One of these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07HF3S6S1/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

ok cool! That's a lot more normal size.. the pollen press things I was finding I'm assuming are for weed keef because they are tiny.

 

[BROBS]

I hydrate the tobacco a bit before putting them in the noodle press: not soaking but very moist. And then I press it (tighten a bit everyday) for a week or so.

Here is a puck of 50% Ashton Artisan's Blend and 50% GH&Co American Nougat hydrated with a sweet sake -

One bit of advise: because they're ribbons pressed back into a "plug", it'd be smart to cut out thicker flakes; otherwise they all just crumble into tiny bits, which can makes packing a PITA.

so a flake more the width of a Watch City flake?

now I wanna get an antique book press.

 

[tfdickson]

I’ve been doing a lot of pressing using the noodle press for about a year. I do 2oz at a time for 7-10 days. The biggest improvement for me came from adding heat, I microwave the tobacco for 20 seconds, mix with my hands, then microwave again for 15 more seconds. It is usually steaming and hot to the touch at this point. I immediately stuff and press it right out of the microwave. I hand tighten as much as I can, wait 20 minutes and then usually get another 1/4 crank. After that I tighten once a day for the duration of the press. Here is how the last batch came out:

 

[Sonorisis]

Wow, TF, 'em are nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!