To make leaf into ribbon
- Thread starter HeadMisfit
- Start date
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I think you're going to have to let us know about this one
. You may be better off with a giloutine cutter.
Moisten the leaf appropriately.
Roll tightly into a tube.
Trim with a very sharp knife into coins.
They will loosen into long ribbons.
Roll tightly into a tube.
Trim with a very sharp knife into coins.
They will loosen into long ribbons.
And you can cut the coins in half if you want the ribbons shorter
People over on the fair trade tobacco forums have many threads on machines, including paper shredders.
I used to make ribbons, but now I turn leaf into rough cut. I prefer the way it smokes and tastes
I used to make ribbons, but now I turn leaf into rough cut. I prefer the way it smokes and tastes
I've got one like this. The fine side cuts somewhere between ribbon and shag
I think you might be on to something with the paper shredder, as they aren't too far off an electric machine with rollers that cut. I use the same pasta machine as Supdog and it works great, so why not try a paper shredder?
I think the biggest challenge will be finding the right humidity and feeding it in while triggering the button that runs the motor. Might be a two person opperation.
I think the biggest challenge will be finding the right humidity and feeding it in while triggering the button that runs the motor. Might be a two person opperation.
Tobacco leaves tenaciously gooey stuff on any blade which cuts it. Stuff that builds up a layer at a time, non-stop, with every cut.
The only way to get it off without messing things up---meaning solvents that will both get into the machinery and be absorbed by subsequent tobacco---is to scrape it off with a sharp metal tool.
After making millions of tons of commercial (cut) tobacco for hundreds of years in thousands of places around the world, no other technique for blade cleaning was ever developed, never mind a better one.
Meaning unless you have a magic wand, a paper shredder will work fine until it doesn't... and then you're screwed. (Unless you're rich and can buy shredders by the truckload and throw them away like disposable cups, plates, or plastic silverware, that is.)
The only way to get it off without messing things up---meaning solvents that will both get into the machinery and be absorbed by subsequent tobacco---is to scrape it off with a sharp metal tool.
After making millions of tons of commercial (cut) tobacco for hundreds of years in thousands of places around the world, no other technique for blade cleaning was ever developed, never mind a better one.
Meaning unless you have a magic wand, a paper shredder will work fine until it doesn't... and then you're screwed. (Unless you're rich and can buy shredders by the truckload and throw them away like disposable cups, plates, or plastic silverware, that is.)
Even the hand turned leaf shredders gunk up after a couple of bunches of leaf are run through it. Need to run it empty while holding a knife or needle in the grooves to clean it. A paper shredder wouldn't stand a chance.
I'm glad to hear it's not just me for not finding a solvent to remove the tar. I have some scissors I cut tobacco with that has the black tar. No solvent I have tried removes it. I think the only one that came close was turpentine with lots of elbow grease.
anyone tried an overnight soak in acetone? or MEK aka methyl ethyl ketone
mek can dissolve latex gloves, as well as some "nitrile" gloves. It also is a main component of many silicone based commercial adhesives. Especially in the boot and shoe manufacturing world.
Its what holds the treaded outersole of 90% of Bates mil spec government contract boots together.
mek can dissolve latex gloves, as well as some "nitrile" gloves. It also is a main component of many silicone based commercial adhesives. Especially in the boot and shoe manufacturing world.
Its what holds the treaded outersole of 90% of Bates mil spec government contract boots together.
If you scrape enough of it off you can sell it by the ounce.
