How to Press your Own Cake?

[--dante--]

I'm sure this has been done to death, and I _have_ looked into it, but what are your recommendations? I've seen a noodle press used. I'm interested to hear anyones, advice/experiences doing this. I have a number of jarred tobaccos I'd love to try making into cakes.

 

[Chasing Embers]

The face method is pretty reliable.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

I bought a noodle press that was inexpensive, but, I haven't had time to try anything yet; life has gotten in the way of experimenting with it.

 

[The Amish Tyrant]

I bought a noodle press that was inexpensive, but, I haven't had time to try anything yet; life has gotten in the way of experimenting with it.

Same.

We are just starting to get the basement back together after Michigan's monsoon season from last year (parts of Detroit were literally under water).

I hate feeling unsettled and having the home in disarray.

I know, what's my next excuse- especially when I have a few blends picked out and some blending mixes in mind.

Sigh. Life happens.

 

[didimauw]

I actually welded a piece onto a tube so that it would hold tobacco, and then used a c clamp to make my cakes. Only about 3 days and it started to form. I want an easy way to make square ones.

 

[renfield]

The noodle press works great. You end up with a dense puck and a melding of the flavors in the blend(s). It’s not a plug unless you started with whole leaf, but it’s dense.

The general process I use with the noodle press is to take the blend I want to press, microwave it for 5-10 seconds, and load the press. Microwaving makes the leaf more pliable and releases some moisture.

Crank it down and re-tighten later in the day. Just give it a crank if it needs it when you walk by the press. After a few days it’ll have stabilized. Leave it in the press for about 10 days before releasing it. You could add gum Arabic if you want a really dense puck but I’ve never bothered.

Adjust the process as needed for you.

 

[Chasing Embers]

You could always just use a caulk gun.

The Tobacco Press That You Already Own :: Pipe Tobacco Discussion

This idea came to me this evening while I was taking a shower. It's where many of my more spectacular inspirations originate. This is one of those big-assed 1 quart, 13" caulk guns, and it's sized just right for an 8oz jar with 150-200gr of tobacco. This caulk gun will exert a considerable...

pipesmagazine.com

 

[FurCoat]

I actually welded a piece onto a tube so that it would hold tobacco, and then used a c clamp to make my cakes. Only about 3 days and it started to form. I want an easy way to make square ones.

I'm a former welder by trade. You could use square tubing. Weld a plate to the bottom and cut a piece to go int the tube. You'll have to round the corners a bit. I may have to do this myself.

 

[crashthegrey]

I've used PVC tube and a c-clamp, but it was not all that exciting for the work involved. Now I just buy flakes and cakes. Lol.

 

[Streeper541]

You beat me to it...
PVC & a c-clamp... easy peasy.

I've used PVC tube and a c-clamp, but it was not all that exciting for the work involved. Now I just buy flakes and cakes. Lol.

 

[crashthegrey]

Whilst definitely easy, it didn't really increase my enjoyment of the tobacco. But it was fun to experiment for awhile.

 

[helmhammerhand]

Been enjoying cakes lately, and saw a few videos on this - all with variations on pipes and a clamp! Might try it someday for easy of carrying around some favorite ribbons.

 

[romaso]

The noodle press works great. You end up with a dense puck and a melding of the flavors in the blend(s). It’s not a plug unless you started with whole leaf, but it’s dense.

The general process I use with the noodle press is to take the blend I want to press, microwave it for 5-10 seconds, and load the press. Microwaving makes the leaf more pliable and releases some moisture.

Crank it down and re-tighten later in the day. Just give it a crank if it needs it when you walk by the press. After a few days it’ll have stabilized. Leave it in the press for about 10 days before releasing it. You could add gum Arabic if you want a really dense puck but I’ve never bothered.

Adjust the process as needed for you.

What do you use at the end of the press? The molds they come with all have holes.
Do you line it with anything? Thanks!

 

[The Amish Tyrant]

What do you use at the end of the press? The molds they come with all have holes.
Do you line it with anything? Thanks!

Parchment paper.

 

[LotusEater]

What do you use at the end of the press? The molds they come with all have holes.
Do you line it with anything? Thanks!

Plastic lid from a C&D tin or a Pringle’s lid cut to fit

 

[Streeper541]

Whilst definitely easy, it didn't really increase my enjoyment of the tobacco. But it was fun to experiment for awhile.

I agree.

 

[n_irwin]

I’m genuinely curious…what’s the value in pressing tobaccos at home? Reducing storage space? Maintaining moisture levels? Maturing the tobacco? @renfield mentioned melding the flavors. Seems like an easy, inexpensive process, so I thought I might give it a shot, but I wanted to understand it more.

 

[SBC]

I've used the noodle press. I put a few layers of tin foil at the bottom to keep stuff from seeping out the noodle holes. As stated above, it makes a very dense puck in a few days.

 

[kcghost]

Seems like a lot of bother for something without any real reward.

 

[--dante--]

Seems like a lot of bother for something without any real reward.

I think it has reward, for something you're going to cellar for a while. Pressing into a cake gives the tobacco certain qualities that are different than if jarred as ribbon for example. Melding of flavors is the most commonly cited example.