Pics of Your Sticks, III

[deluxestogie]

Stems in the Filler

If I'm rolling with filler leaf that retains its entire stem, I've really got to remove most or all of it, prior to rolling. Otherwise, I'm fighting the stems. Some are quite thick; some are kinked. Some are in higher case than the lamina. Since I usually do simple hand bunching, and manually tear the bunch to cigar length, stems can make the process messier.

If I'm rolling with frog-legged leaf (e.g. from WLT), from which 2/3 of the stem--the thickest part--has already been removed, then sometimes I roll that itsy bit of stem into the filler. It makes the final cigar feel more solid and rigid, without reducing the draw. But most of the time, my stems go into the trash.

In retrospect, I probably just end up choosing the path of lowest energy. If it takes less effort to remove the stems than to roll a decent cigar with them, then the stems are banished.

Bob

 

[CaptainRon]

Couldn't resist and had one of last night's rolling session this evening. Not bad. I'll be looking forward to tomorrow and smoking the other one to compare it to my last batch on day two.

 

[BrewinHooligan]

A little late to the party, but with my seco and viso leaf I typically leave the midrib if the leaf has been froglegged anymore. I used to remove it but after hearing someone else tell me they leave it with no ill effects I decided to try it out. I haven't noticed any negative effects since the change, if anything the structure is more sturdy and the draw seems to be more consistent. That being said, if you are getting good results with what you are doing keep on keeping on.

 

[webmost]

I haven't noticed any negative effects since the change...

Well she did get grumpier... if that's even possible to imagine.


Cycling thru Knucklehead's homegrown here, some of those stems were so stout that, now, I don't say they were big enough to need the splitter, cause you know that I would never exaggerate, but I did whip out the chainsaw, and stacked a cord and a half in the back yard for firewood.

I'm a de-stemmer myself. Just the other day I smoked a nine dollar cigar someone gave me where a fireproof stem ruined the burn about a third way along. Just as well, cause it was fulla that San V I don't care for, so that gave me an excuse to toss the darn thing.

 

[CaptainRon]

I rolled a few today. It went fairly quickly as I spent several hours yesterday processing my binder and wrappers - de-stemmed everything and took the stems out of the filler that wasn't froglegged already.

Previous cigars I've made usually end up with a soft spot in the head, so I focused on not letting that happen this time. Unfortunately I let the foot get small and have a few hourglass shapes. I think they're still burn well though.

The two on the right are a couple of scrap-gars that I wrapped with some sumartra binder I have. They're rough but I already smoked one earlier and it burned pretty well.

This blend is:
1/2 leaf Corojo Seco
1 leaf Dominican Seco
1/2 leaf Nicaraguan Seco
1/2 leaf Criolo 98 Ligero
Dominican Binder
Ecuador Maduro Wrapper

The third cigar from the right, I upped the Corojo seco to a full leaf because I ran out of the Nic. Habano Seco. I turned my cap leaf around so I wouldn't lose track of it.

 

[webmost]

That blend has everything but the kitchen sink.

I rolled a few today. It went fairly quickly as I spent several hours yesterday processing my binder and wrappers - de-stemmed everything and took the stems out of the filler that wasn't froglegged already.

Previous cigars I've made usually end up with a soft spot in the head, so I focused on not letting that happen this time. Unfortunately I let the foot get small and have a few hourglass shapes. I think they're still burn well though.

The two on the right are a couple of scrap-gars that I wrapped with some sumartra binder I have. They're rough but I already smoked one earlier and it burned pretty well.

This blend is:
1/2 leaf Corojo Seco
1 leaf Dominican Seco
1/2 leaf Nicaraguan Seco
1/2 leaf Criolo 98 Ligero
Dominican Binder
Ecuador Maduro Wrapper

The third cigar from the right, I upped the Corojo seco to a full leaf because I ran out of the Nic. Habano Seco. I turned my cap leaf around so I wouldn't lose track of it.

 

[LewZephyr]

Got a chance to do a little rolling yesterday.

The 6 larger RG are my 7H:
Nicaraguan Seco 2leaf
Nicaraguan Viso 2 leaf
Mata Fina Just 1/4thleaf
Sumatra Double Binder
Habana 2000 Wrapper

Looking at these I notice something I do, but not so much intentional. I don't trim up the foot when doing the wrapper.
Not sure why, I just skip it I guess.

the 5 small ones were done from scrap of the same blend above.
These were rolled on the 120mm rolling machine. Makes it real easy with the loose scrap.

 

[CaptainRon]

That it does. Trying different things with what I have on hand which is quickly dwindling. I really need to budget in a new order.

 

[CaptainRon]

Got a chance to do a little rolling yesterday.

The 6 larger RG are my 7H:
Nicaraguan Seco 2leaf
Nicaraguan Viso 2 leaf
Mata Fina Just 1/4thleaf
Sumatra Double Binder
Habana 2000 Wrapper

Looking at these I notice something I do, but not so much intentional. I don't trim up the foot when doing the wrapper.
Not sure why, I just skip it I guess.

the 5 small ones were done from scrap of the same blend above.
These were rolled on the 120mm rolling machine. Makes it real easy with the loose scrap.

Awesome looking sticks!

 

[Smokin Buffalo]

Trying to find a Cameroon wrapped blend. If anyone knows of a good one, please pass it along.

3 Dom Seco
1 Dom Viso
Dom binder
Cameroon wrapper




Wow, I was finally able to upload a photo from my iPhone! Also, I made a rookie mistake and put the wrapper on inside out. Haha. I find putting the wrapper on much easier now that I use a price of stainless steal when wrapping. So much easier when the leaf stays stretched when cutting and wrapping.

 

[Gdaddy]

That baby is burning beautiful !!

 

[CaptainRon]

Looking really good buf

 

[BAGraphics]

I made a few with the same blend last week though I used 2 and 2 on the filler. Good milder smoke.

Trying to find a Cameroon wrapped blend. If anyone knows of a good one, please pass it along.

3 Dom Seco
1 Dom Viso
Dom binder
Cameroon wrapper

View attachment 17013
View attachment 17014

Wow, I was finally able to upload a photo from my iPhone! Also, I made a rookie mistake and put the wrapper on inside out. Haha. I find putting the wrapper on much easier now that I use a price of stainless steal when wrapping. So much easier when the leaf stays stretched when cutting and wrapping.

 

[waikikigun]

Speedy rolls inspired by my recent trip to New Orleans. Without all the effort I usually put into making my sticks pretty these things came out damn rustic. Allotted myself one minute to bunch one, two minutes to roll. They are Cuban capped. I think if I can figure out the Dominican then I can roll and cap in a minute. Fifteen minutes total to roll these five. I'd usually spend about 1.5 hours on five. So if I ever have a gun against my head and am ordered to roll five sticks fast or die, I'll be ready.

 

[webmost]

Speedy rolls inspired by my recent trip to New Orleans. Without all the effort I usually put into making my sticks pretty these things came out damn rustic. Allotted myself one minute to bunch one, two minutes to roll. They are Cuban capped. I think if I can figure out the Dominican then I can roll and cap in a minute. Fifteen minutes total to roll these five. I'd usually spend about 1.5 hours on five. So if I ever have a gun against my head and am ordered to roll five sticks fast or die, I'll be ready.

View attachment 17081

View attachment 17082

View attachment 17083

Have gun, Will travel. Long's I get to smoke 'em.

 

[waikikigun]

Second rolling sesh of the day. Was planning on wasting plenty leaf trying to figure out the Dominican cap but chickened out after a couple failed efforts and went back to the tried-and-true.

 

[BrewinHooligan]

1/2 leaf Nica Habano seco, 1 1/2 leaf corojo viso, 1 leaf Dominican ligero, Dominican binder, and PA broadleaf wrapper. Fresh I didn't care for this blend, 2 months later I am in love with it. I need to roll lots more of these.

 

[waikikigun]

Nice.

 

[webmost]

Hooligan, is that a freehand perfecto?

That's my newest project, is to master the freehand (no mold) perfecto. Think I'll call them Uppowoc Imperfecto. Your average bunch wants to tend toward that shape anyways. Yours looks like a creditable attempt at a plump taper job.

I need to get to Mesa AZ, see how you do it. In a couple years I'll be 70. Want to ride across country to celebrate. See you then.

 

[BrewinHooligan]

Definitely not free hand, lol. While I can roll freehand those usually look like backwoods! That was one of the better looking ones I have been able to make. My door is open, just let me know when!