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    Hi Everyone, as mentioned in my introduction post, BOTL needs quite a bit of updating, patching and whatever else I might come across. Over time BOTL may be unreachable on occasion as I do migrations or updates, etc. Just be patient - we'll be back! I'll generally try to keep these maintenances until later in the evenings.

Cake... nom, nom.

SeaGarr

SeaGarr

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So... I got into some trouble today lol. I went out and got myself a 1 ton press and a couple C-Clamps.

"The Blend" - (of course I didn't need to "blend" these blends... just thought it would be fun as I am not sold on the Solent Mixture)
65% - Solent Mixture
13% - Sillem's Black
22% - Early Morning Pipe


I tell you what. Ribbon tobacco compacts something serious lol!

As you know, they call taking tobacco that's already cut up and then pressing it, "crumble cake." Why would you want to do that to start off with? Well, the pressure merges the tobacco blending the tastes more. I understand it makes for a much smoother and tastier smoke.

Moreover, being pressed, I understand the tobacco itself will travel better, holding it's moistures more readily. This of course could be a great way to prep your "carry" tobacco.


Like I said, I am not sure I am sold on "the solent mixture," so I thought I would try to get the most out of it by applying pressure. Then I thought it might be fun to mix some other tobacco's to see if that wouldn't help as well :). I probably should have just used the one tobacco to start in order to prove that this indeed does enhance the tobacco to myself - but I couldn't help myself lol.

I wrapped the tobacco in parchment paper (I think I should have used wax - oops), and then put it into a really small meatloaf pan. Then I placed another meatloaf pan on top and bolstered it with wood and went to town. When I started I couldn't even keep all the tobacco in the mold. In no time, it was down to no more than 1/2" at the most.

As I pressed it down with my press, I grabbed the clamps and held down the progress I made. Little by little I worked it down more and more. I intend to tighten it up a little more every day for three days running. On the fourth day, I'll pull it out, throw it into a jar and let it settle a bit before smoking.

I am really hoping it works out as well!! :). I have all kinds of idea's as to what tobacco's I have never smoked I want to mix lol! Of course... if it works out, I'll need some friends here to review my work :).

Any of you make Crumble Cake? Hints? Advise? General comments...
 
BrewinHooligan

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I was fortunate enough to get some flakes from Smokinghole, his VA blend and the VA/Latakia flake. Excellent stuff!! Excited to see what you come up with!!
 
SeaGarr

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BrewinHooligan said:
I was fortunate enough to get some flakes from Smokinghole, his VA blend and the VA/Latakia flake. Excellent stuff!! Excited to see what you come up with!!
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Thanks. I am pretty excited myself. When I am a bit more experienced, I'll start buying unblended tobacco's and give blending a whirl. I got to tell you - it's a blast just messing around with the tobaccos. No matter what the outcome :). Formulating blends in your mind is crazy fun.

I really want to mix some Purple Cow with a mildish Virginia. I want to layer it though, so that you are going along then... balm! Purple lol! Who knows - not sure how to do that in a cake :).


javajunkie said:
let the press set at LEAST a week, and rest it at LEAST two in jar. give it a chance.

also, super hopeful on the outcome. o)
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Thanks! I am pretty hopeful as well.

With respect to how long to press - clearly, I didn't come up with the three days (72 hours). I read up on it as much as I could (not much out there), finally finding some dude who came up with this number after all of his trials and errors. His work is posted in Pipepedia. I'll try to dig up the link when I get home.

I am more inclined to wait a week myself however. I don't know why you state a week - but it seems pretty intuitive to me that the longer you wait the better.

I might - I say might, pull it out after 3 days this time to A. see if the dude on Pipepedia has volatility, and B, because I used so little tobacco (relatively speaking), that 3 days would be the equivalent of a week were it a more substantial amount of tobacco - I would think.

Of course, pulling it in 3 days also be me simply dying to have a look LOL!! :).

Thanks for your inputs!! You all will be the first to know!
 
javajunkie

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as a caveat, that was TOTALLY just me spitballing. but, as i know the professional machinery produces SIGNIFICANTLY more PSI that a home press, i figured time would be a decent trade off for compression.

let's be honest, my shit lives in a teeny house, and i do NOT have the space to devote even to a small rig like this ( i gotta switch rooms to change my mind, TBPH...), so i am just offering suggestions based off my own independent reading and research, and NOT off experiential knowledge.

at a 1ton press, you have a DAMN good start. and i do wish you luck, and eagerly anticipate the results. i truly hope it is a home run. just tossing suggestions...

did you save any of the original mixture pre-pressing, to do a side by side?
 
SeaGarr

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ha- ha!! You kill me. I have lived in small places - miss it really! When you only have two sinks, you can buy nice faucets :)!!

And yes - I definitely have some of the original mixture for a side-by-side. I can't wait :)!
 
SeaGarr

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Gentlemen... WE HAVE KAKE LOL!!

So tonight was day 3 and I thought I would pull it out! It was ready. I was worried that it would be hard to remove. Clearly, the oils had seeped out to the surface.



But the coated pans and the parchment paper saw it take but a tap.

I pulled off the paper and oh... the smell. Caramel and tobacco combining to make... nom, nom, nom.


I just wanted to eat it lol.

I got to tell you though - it compressed!! A lot!


I put it into a Ziploc and am going to leave it for a couple of days. We'll see - super stoked!! I can't wait!!
 
CVAC085

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SeaGarr said:
Yeah man lol!! If this turns out working, I'll send you one still in the parchment paper so you can replicate it. :)
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Let me know how it turns out! I'll return the favor with something! It's bad when I'm practically brand new to pipes and already trying to create some blends. I do have a thing for vanilla for some sick reason. Plus I've been sitting on the pipes and cigars website way to long figuring what baccys I can blend to get a flavor I'd like to try.
 
K Williams

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CVAC085 said:
Let me know how it turns out! I'll return the favor with something! It's bad when I'm practically brand new to pipes and already trying to create some blends. I do have a thing for vanilla for some sick reason. Plus I've been sitting on the pipes and cigars website way to long figuring what baccys I can blend to get a flavor I'd like to try.
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Off topic...if you really like vanilla, try Hiland's Cigars "Black Gold Plus".

http://www.hilandscigars.com/bulk-pipe-tobacco/aromatic-blends/black-gold-plus.html
 
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CVAC085

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K Williams said:
Off topic...if you really like vanilla, try Hiland's Cigar "Black Gold Plus".

http://www.hilandscigars.com/bulk-pipe-tobacco/aromatic-blends/black-gold-plus.html
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Thanks for the heads up @KWilliams, I actually had something similar at the local B&M. He had one called Black Gold also, blended the same way with a slight mixture of vanilla. Purchased their minimum 2 ounces and asked him to mix some of my house vanilla blend I purchased from another shop with it. Turned out decent. In fact, I'm almost out.
 
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