In my case, I've done it to mail to friends in countries where only plug tobacco is legal. So I made ribbons into "plugs" (customs doesn't know the difference between plug and cake). It hasn't failed to pass customs yet!
How to Press your Own Cake?
- Thread starter --dante--
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Just got my press and loaded it up with a Virginia mix. I'll weigh and measure when done so I know how much to press for preferred cake size. Made a little funnel to make it easier to load. Now I just wait!
Seems like the point of the press is to try your own blends and by pressing them you get the married experience much quicker than just throwing it in a jar and shaking it up now and then.
Yesterday i loaded up with some Virginia No 1 + 507-S and a little Perique. Tomorrow I’ll give it another half crank or whatever it will take.
For the record i used the plastic lid from a 100g Marlin Flake can, the center circle actually fit perfectly so well as very easy to cut
Yesterday i loaded up with some Virginia No 1 + 507-S and a little Perique. Tomorrow I’ll give it another half crank or whatever it will take.
For the record i used the plastic lid from a 100g Marlin Flake can, the center circle actually fit perfectly so well as very easy to cut
So the moment I’ve been waiting for, this is a 48 hour press in the noodle press. I only used 2 ounces to start, a mixture of MB Virginia No 1 and some Sutliff 507-S.
took the bottom off right away you can see how compressed it is and has that oily goodness shine to it
even after only 48 hours it’s a completely solid mass, i gave it a gentle twist expecting an easy crumble but that certainly wasn’t the case
and a couple pictures that s
first slices
took the bottom off right away you can see how compressed it is and has that oily goodness shine to it
even after only 48 hours it’s a completely solid mass, i gave it a gentle twist expecting an easy crumble but that certainly wasn’t the case
and a couple pictures that s
first slices
That was only 48 hours? Looks pretty solid. Looks like 2 oz tobacco gives you a cake about an inch thick?
Looks like you didn't line the press with anything and it slid out ok? I'm going to try this! Thanks!
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Correct and i did tighten the shit out of it and then gave it as much of a crank as i could a couple more times every few hours.
had to slice it with the knife, smoking a bowl now, def marries the flavors to the point it’s one tobacco not Virginia with some 507S mixed in. Hmm it’s a learning process for sure. Glad i ordered some Perique .. i think it’s need in this type of blend to add that little something extra.
Yes take the bottom off and just keep cranking down and it pushes out no problem
I think i might try a layer approach at some point layer the tobaccos and then process them so it’s not just one solid “flavor”. This is basically just a sweeter more Smokey version it MB Virginia No 1 right now. I think layering (like blenders do) would give more of an experience where the tobacco is more multidimensional… no duh right. Still all in all super happy with how this turned out and already grabbed a second press to have multiple going.
Sorry this is what i started with
Sorry this is what i started with
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AJL67 inspired me to pop mine, after 6 days. I used a mix of Lane MV-1000 (which is too sweet on its own) and some straight unsweetened Virginia. I used to press it between two pie plates with my barbell weights on top, but this press works much better, distributes the aromatic vanilla through the straight Virginia, so it's evenly distributed and much less sweet overall, and it burns more slowly. Very happy with the result. I used 1.5 oz tobacco which make a cake 0.75 inches thick (the press is about 2 inches wide). I used the same noodle press as AJL67, it's the most popular. I think these are all the same so just find the cheapest vendor on Amazon or Ebay. I've heard for Virginias it's good to let them press for 2 weeks, next time I might try this.
Looks awesome! I was amazed at how the color blended as well, i didn’t use too much of the 570s but the Virginia quickly took in the darkened aspect, im assuming through the oils even though i didn’t add that much to the blend.
As long as you are having fun - and it's obvious that you are - it's all great. I press for a variety of reasons - sometimes I infuse with rum or nocino, sometimes I try to save a shitty ribbon or shag, sometimes I try my own blend. My thought is that plug is always better than anything else, so if I'm going to blend my own, after giving it a test smoke prior to pressing, I will press it into a tight plug.
To those who say there are no benefits to pressing tobacco, that's fine - they certainly don't have to do it. The rest of us will continue to have fun, even if the benefits are all imaginary.
To those who say there are no benefits to pressing tobacco, that's fine - they certainly don't have to do it. The rest of us will continue to have fun, even if the benefits are all imaginary.
I’d love to hear how these press cakes would turn out being stoved too?
I would think that by stoving after pressing, it would really marinate further.
hmm ?
P.S. You should definitely cellar a cake or two for some aging.
I would think that by stoving after pressing, it would really marinate further.
hmm ?
P.S. You should definitely cellar a cake or two for some aging.
I found a huge thread on another popular pipe board about pressing and while skimming it saw some discussion about stoving as well, haven’t got a chance to read through it all, it’s like a bazillion pages but that’s my weekend homework.
Just put my order in for some long cut Perique and PS 702 Burley (from what i read that seems to be the way to go for blending as it isn’t topped like the Sutliff versions).
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Or this thread i just found lol
Thread 'How To Home Stove Tobacco - Informational Only'
How To Home Stove Tobacco - Informational Only :: Pipe Tobacco Discussion - https://pipesmagazine.com/forums/threads/how-to-home-stove-tobacco-informational-only.82853/
Thread 'How To Home Stove Tobacco - Informational Only'
How To Home Stove Tobacco - Informational Only :: Pipe Tobacco Discussion - https://pipesmagazine.com/forums/threads/how-to-home-stove-tobacco-informational-only.82853/
Up next some C&D Opening Night (2oz) and some Sutliff 507-S (3/4 oz)
Oh man i like this stuff.
Compared to my last pressing which was just Virginia No 1 and a touch of 507-S
I notice you just used the regular bottom piece to press the tobacco. I take it using the finer holes bottom piece presents no problem to pressing your own cake?
Actually if you look up at the pic with the loose tobacco, that plastic lid is from a Rattrays 100g tin, the raised inner circle is exactly the right fit if you cut it out. So i do put something in yo block the holes, it’s just very nice fit.
Ah, okay. I'll check the lids on things around my house when my press comes in. Thanks!