Home made flake

[rx2man]

So not being one to stay out of trouble I am experimenting with making my own baccy. As any of you that have tried making their own it takes a little work to figure out how its done. There is not much in the way of "recipes" out there. I have some of the sites I went to for info below. I also bothered our forum patriarch Kevin, thank you sir.
I cut up a cigar box that had cedar lining that I removed. Its 2x2 and I used a C clamp to press it. Once I figure out what I like I will make a 2x6.
So far I have 2, 2x2 squares of "flake" I made. The 1st a Organic American Flue Cured VA re-hydrated with distilled water and nothing else. I avoided using Mycoban and I got mold as it was too wet. I caught it almost immediately and removed the mold, rubbed a little Everclear on it and dried the flake out some more. So far mold has not returned but not sure if its the Everclear that did anything or just getting it a little dryer. I smoked some of the flake and it was not bad at all. I sat on the leaf for a good 5 mos, re-hydrated it and pressed it a few days and let it sit a week. Time will do its thing but I was happy so pressed on...lol.
I next made a "Navy" flake. Re-hydrated the same Organic American Flue Cured with Bacardi 8 year and a little raw sugar. Added in 15-20% perique, it came out of the "press" today and is drying. I am very interested in how this will turn out but already know where I want to make changes. There are a lot of rums out there but the basic styles are in the link below.
http://www.plantationrum.com/en/section/view/203
I had debated using a rum flavoring but after a lot of thought decided to next go with one of the British type of rums. And will probably go with Pussar's as it is the rum that was part of the British navys rations. If I can find it I will go with the gunpowder proof as I would assume this is what would have been used in making the original "Navy" tobaccos.
http://pussersrum.com/
I bought the below
Item Name: Samples - Brightleaf Virginia Flue Cured - Sweet

Item Price: $4.99

Quantity: 1

Samples - Brightleaf Virginia Flue Cured - Sweet Total: $4.99
Item Name: Samples - Saint James Perique

Item Price: $16.99

Quantity: 1

Samples - Saint James Perique Total: $16.99
Item Name: Samples - Brightleaf Virginia Flue Cured - Smooth

Item Price: $4.99

Quantity: 1

Samples - Brightleaf Virginia Flue Cured - Smooth Total: $4.99
Item Name: Samples - Organic American Flue Cured

Item Price: $5.49

Quantity: 2

Samples - Organic American Flue Cured Total: $10.98
If you google raw tobacco leaves you will find a couple sites that sell whole leaves.
flavoring with rum

http://tampandpuff.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1576
tobacco pressing

http://www.naspc.org/Archives/tobaccopressing.html
forum dedicated to tobacco growing, processing etc

http://www.howtogrowtobacco.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=35
a discussion here on Mycroban vs Mycoban (calcium propanoate).....MYCOBAN is what is used NOT MYCROBAN

http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/microban-in-campd-tobacco#post-501351
lots of info on the below site

http://fairtradetobacco.com/forums/34-Finishing-Tobacco
For those that have done this before please feel free to correct any screw ups. I spent a lot of time researching this but I am sure I missed something. I know how much rum was misted on the baccy and how much sugar is in the topping. Once I get an idea of how it tastes I will get more accurate in my topping amounts and also figure out if I need Mycoban or not.
Oh and the screw in the lid is only used to remover the top. There is no metal on contact with the baccy while its being "pressed". The baccy on the left is the 1st one that had the mold on it which is why its not a real tight flake.
I will also say I have a lot more respect for what Russ and GLP do with tobacco. I did not save much money once it is all said and done. More I wanted to understand what they do and was curious.

 

[deathmetal]

Sounds delicious. Good experiment, well-documented.

 

[dadgy]

I will admit to an interest in creating my own blends that was sparked by the FDA business of late. There's something about having complete control from seed to smoke while raising my middle digits to authority that seems very satisfying to me. I'm too late to start a crop this year, but I believe I'll be placing an order for some whole leaf soon.

 

[mikestanley]

Many years ago, there was a pretty nice little home press article in Pipe Friendly. I believe P&T Foundations provides all back issues of PF on its Foundations web site.
Mike S.

 

[jackswilling]

Great post/info. Lot of effort went into providing us with a lot of information. Bless you

 

[rx2man]

Good to hear positive feedback. Wanted to try and put it in one place to ease the learning curve and am hoping those that have done this already will reply back so we dont make the same mistakes over and over again. I am in AZ so I dont think I will be growing any tobacco around here. But I do agree on it being nice to give the FDA the one finger salute.

 

[cobguy]

Looking good and sounds like you're having fun! :clap:

 

[rx2man]

Crap........cobguy (Darin) also helped out with the whole baccy thing, pressing when it is too wet will cause it to ooze out. Moist is good wet not so much. Also per cobguy wrap it in parchement paper or wax paper before pressing it. Thanks cobguy.......you forget people when you are brain dead!!! LOL

 

[cobguy]

LOL ... As long as we can get together for some sampling, I'm happy! :D
BTW ... you've got plenty of sun to grow down there. If I can get them to you before I leave next week, would you like a few starter plants?

 

[rx2man]

Wow, almost ex wife grew up on apple orchards. Even though an almost ex she will still help out on the green thumb. I thought AZ was too dry to grow tobacco, just an assumption on my part. Sun is not an issue so sure would be interested in starting it from the beginning. Too cool, and for sure on the sampling!!!!!!

 

[jvnshr]

Good job. Now it is time to smoke them.

 

[rx2man]

jvnshr, the problem with AZ is we are getting to the time when it starts to heat up. Not there yet but pushing it on the homemade stuff. I have FVF that has been sitting for a few yrs and is definitely ready to smoke. Come fall my homemade stuff will be getting ready to enjoy.

 

[rx2man]

@ jvnshr I was wondering if you were local with the "now its time to smoke em" comment except its the opposite, but its not really. The almost ex is from Serbia, so we are neighbors....sorta, lol. I love that part of the world. Its a different speed.....and a lot of fun.

 

[jvnshr]

Wait, I got confused I was just trying to say that you might pack a bowl and smoke and tell us how they taste. And what does "almost ex" mean?
By the way, as far as I know, Hawke had lots of experience in making crumble cakes, maybe he can help.
Good luck.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Awesome, you got it going. So you took the cedar out, cool. I would have been curious to try it pressed in cedar. Ha ha.
Anyways... you need to try growing. If tomatoes grow there, so will tobacco.
Keep up the good work.

 

[rx2man]

@ jvnshr.....almost ex wife. Still friends, just dont like living together.
@ cosmic, I was debating on using a cedar box or whatever the wood is in a cedar lined box and decided not to mess with cedar. Good for cigars not sure I want it with my pipe tobacco.

 

[deathmetal]

Wonder how one of these would work:
http://www.globalindustrial.com/p/metalworking-tools/metal-fabrication/shop-arbor-presses/972210-f-10-floor-10-ton-manual-h-frame-press?infoParam.campaignId=T9F&gclid=CJSWzqip6cwCFQeraQodCQMMEw

 

[rx2man]

I would think this would work for a lot less money. But the C clap I am using works great for hardly any money. For a commercial operation the C clamp would not work but for my needs its fine
http://www.harborfreight.com/6-ton-a-frame-bench-shop-press-1666.html

 

[deathmetal]

Looks very manageable. Thanks!

 

[cobguy]

http://www.harborfreight.com/6-ton-a-frame-bench-shop-press-1666.html

That's the one I use.