Leaf compression for 1-inch thick plug?

[piping_presbyter]

In your experience, if the goal is to make a 1” thick pressed plug, approximately how tall will the unpressed stack of leaves be? Assuming they were relatively flat (no folds) and figuring 35psi for 1 week will be applied.

Basically, I’m wondering how tall my press needs to be since I’m constructing one this week.

Thanks!

 

[deluxestogie]

I've never been able to predict that. I would make the mold at least 3 times the final plug height you hope for. Then fill and compress for an hour, and add more if needed.

Bob

 

[piping_presbyter]

Thanks. On your recommendation, plus a dash of conservatism, I’m building it 12” tall. I’ll post the build and results when done.

 

[piping_presbyter]

So, that’s my second plug made with my box press design. Here are some build videos I made:

View: https://youtu.be/pGI9DD5FLe4

View: https://youtu.be/hwgEAutMVhA

 

[deluxestogie]

This thread has been added to our Index of Key Forum Threads.

Bob

 

[JD_]

Great press solution... simple, elegant. Did you find that you need an additional amount of casing to get the plug to stick together?

 

[deluxestogie]

Welcome to the forum, @JD_. Feel free to introduce yourself in the Introduce Yourself forum.

Bob

 

[93rdCanadian]

I like the looks of your form, Im looking to make one myself this year, thanks for sharing! What kind of woods are recommended? I figure none of the more aromatic woods, but I only have experience with cedar and pine.

 

[piping_presbyter]

I like the looks of your form, Im looking to make one myself this year, thanks for sharing! What kind of woods are recommended? I figure none of the more aromatic woods, but I only have experience with cedar and pine.

I use white oak. It is cheap, strong, and available.

 

[Plinsc]

Liking this Triple P Press design, I have a 4’ popular board I’m going to make it from to try.
What shall I call it?
Triple P Press
The 3P press
The Presbyterian Plug Presser

 

[Radagast]

Liking this Triple P Press design, I have a 4’ popular board I’m going to make it from to try.
What shall I call it?
Triple P Press
The 3P press
The Presbyterian Plug Presser

The 4P: The plinsc presbyterian plug press.

 

[deluxestogie]

"Presbyter" = elder

 

[Radagast]

"Presbyter" = elder

Neat!

 

[kellyhh]

I suggest weighing your favorite plug and then dividing the weight by the area of one of the pressed sides to get the mass of tobacco per square inch of your press face.

I did this for a few GLP plugs and got about 15g of tobacco per square inch of press face. So, having made one of your wonderful presses, I have a press face that is 2" x 3.5" (7 square inches). At 15g per press area that's 7 sq.in. X 15g for a total of 105g of tobacco.

This gets me a plug that is about a 0.75-1.0 inch, but it varies with thickness and moisture level of the leaf.

 

[deluxestogie]

Welcome to the forum, @kellyhh. Feel free to introduce yourself in our Introduce Yourself forum.

Your computational approach is clever. For a 2"x 3.5" plug that finishes to ¾-1" thick, just use ¼-pound of tobacco. While I believe no great precision is needed for pressing a plug, the moisture content of the tobacco added to the press mold could introduce a significant variation, when measured by weight.

Bob

 

[kellyhh]

Thanks, Bob. 105g works out to about 0.23 pounds, so we seem to be getting similar values. I express mine in grams since I tend to measure out component tobaccos in grams. But each to their own, certainly.

 

[Radagast]

The 4P: The plinsc presbyterian plug press.

The Plinsc Poplar Presbyterian Plug Press. There it is, more than a year later.

 

[Bamabaccy8a]

In your experience, if the goal is to make a 1” thick pressed plug, approximately how tall will the unpressed stack of leaves be? Assuming they were relatively flat (no folds) and figuring 35psi for 1 week will be applied.

Basically, I’m wondering how tall my press needs to be since I’m constructing one this week.

Thanks!

I literally just watched your yt video on pressing flake using the press you made.
Built one exactly like yours out of an old oak barnwood plank . same type clamp .
Casings are varied across 5 different already 10 to 12 year aged leaf. Smelling very fruity and sweet just after a few hours in the press. Just loaded it up with all 5 separately prepressed and wrapped neatly in parchment paper and labeled. It up on the wall in my greenhouse until further notice.
I have a few questions as per your technique . Looks simple enough .
How did your 2 week press time work then as to now?
How long do you dry the flake once sliced before smoking?
Would you change anything or have you changed anything in your process since then, 5 yrs ago ?