Pics of Your Sticks

[Dominican56]

Lately I've been spending zero minutes prepping binder. I grab a respectable looking seco leaf, hit it with a spritz and set it aside for 54 seconds. I don't recommend this method.

How do you get the binder smooth?

 

[Fusion555]

Try the newspaper for 1/2 hr before you wrap em, much smoother i found

 

[TommyTao]

Hey Blake @blisscigarco, I think this MSA is pretty pro. Rolled 8/9. Like an unsweetened creamy hot chocolate with red pepper and espresso and hints of earth. I won't have tons to send and shipping funds are tight atm, but I will get you some of this for sure.

LOOK AT THAT WRAPPER AND ASH! I'M COMING

 

[keithjjones]

It looks like a moose penis wrapped in a dead dried out foreskin.
It's kinda frustrating

Don't be down about it. You're doing it, and that's the first step. My first 20+ sticks were such that I wouldn't show them to anybody. I watched a ton of Bliss videos, and others in my cigar playlist, but mostly Bliss, and they started coming around. One thing that helped me was patience. I'll do one part, then walk away for some hours, come back, do another part, etc. It helped me really think about my next moves and I didn't feel the need to finish by any particular time. My rolls take no less than 12-24 hours now. Once you start learning the muscle memory it'll start to feel natural and you can really pick up the nuances of cigars you don't roll. I'll pick up a commercial stick now, after not liking how I rolled my last batch, then realize commercial sticks are much sloppier than they first appear, so you start to feel better about your own rolls.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

 

[Dominican56]

LOOK AT THAT WRAPPER AND ASH! I'M COMING

No you are not, just breathing heavily! Lol

 

[keithjjones]

Lately I've been spending zero minutes prepping binder. I grab a respectable looking seco leaf, hit it with a spritz and set it aside for 54 seconds. I don't recommend this method.

I'm the same way. I keep my leaves slightly pliable so I can save the big work for the wrapper.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

 

[Dominican56]

Don't be down about it. You're doing it, and that's the first step. My first 20+ sticks were such that I wouldn't show them to anybody. I watched a ton of Bliss videos, and others in my cigar playlist, but mostly Bliss, and they started coming around. One thing that helped me was patience. I'll do one part, then walk away for some hours, come back, do another part, etc. It helped me really think about my next moves and I didn't feel the need to finish by any particular time. My rolls take no less than 12-24 hours now. Once you start learning the muscle memory it'll start to feel natural and you can really pick up the nuances of cigars you don't roll. I'll pick up a commercial stick now, after not liking how I rolled my last batch, then realize commercial sticks are much sloppier than they first appear, so you start to feel better about your own rolls.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

Thanks for the encouragement. I need that.
It looks so easy when I watch Bliss roll then on his videos.

 

[keithjjones]

I've two better ones in the mold.

What might help is stretching the wrapper a little when you roll it on. It'll help with the winkles and any veins. It took me a while to learn the right amount of stretch. Each leaf has its own stretch sweet spot.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

 

[Dominican56]

Try the newspaper for 1/2 hr before you wrap em, much smoother i found

I will try that

 

[TommyTao]

No you are not, just breathing heavily! Lol

I dealt with MSA wrapper as well, not good as his though. He really made it.

 

[keithjjones]

Notice the dude has hours of videos.

Thanks for the encouragement. I need that.
It looks so easy when I watch Bliss roll then on his videos.

Notice the dude has hours of videos. It's probably safe to say he's had practice. This is your first few sticks. If I caved in to my frustration at the begining I wouldn't still being rolling, and that would have sucked royally. I know how you feel. Just keep practicing and trying new things.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

 

[Dominican56]

I'll pick it up again in the morning.

 

[Fusion555]

Its just taken me 4 hrs to wrap and cap 10 rolls, rolled em yesterday, when i get bored or frustrated i been just walking away for a while, have a smoke, drink a coffee, as @keithjjones says, no hurry, take your time, mine are still not good but i can see they are getting better, yours will also

 

[keithjjones]

Its just taken me 4 hrs to wrap and cap 10 rolls, rolled em yesterday, when i get bored or frustrated i been just walking away for a while, have a smoke, drink a coffee, as @keithjjones says, no hurry, take your time, mine are still not good but i can see they are getting better, yours will also

Exactly. Used it as your unwinding time instead of your frustration time. When I begin to feel stressed, my reaction is to roll. Lol. Now I have a ton of cigars.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

 

[keithjjones]

Its just taken me 4 hrs to wrap and cap 10 rolls, rolled em yesterday, when i get bored or frustrated i been just walking away for a while, have a smoke, drink a coffee, as @keithjjones says, no hurry, take your time, mine are still not good but i can see they are getting better, yours will also

How long have you been rolling? I started in late April.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

 

[Fusion555]

How long have you been rolling? I started in late April.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

5 days lol guess i shouldnt be giving advice

 

[keithjjones]

5 days lol

Keep at it! Post some pics when you are comfortable. The crew here is very helping. We are a small group.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

 

[BrewinHooligan]

LOOK AT THAT WRAPPER AND ASH! I'M COMING

Lol, thank you. I take the time to get to know my wrappers. How much water they need to get to case and how long it takes. How far can I stretch the leaf before it's going to tear. I push the leaf to the limit of what it can take, that's the only way to get that shiny/smooth finish. Some leaf is easier to get there than others.

 

[Fusion555]

My latest 10, just finished wrapping and capping

 

[BrewinHooligan]

Thanks for the encouragement. I need that.
It looks so easy when I watch Bliss roll then on his videos.

You are working with some of the absolute most difficult wrapper known to man. The Mata fina is thin and fragile, it has veins like a roadmap and unlike a kinky porn star it refuses to lay down and submit. Don't be discouraged. Be proud you actually wrapped that cigar and didn't tear your wrapper to hell. Once you master wrapping with that leaf you can wrap with anything. If you want something that will give faster and easier gratification, Ecuadorian habano ligero should be on your "buy quick fast and in a hurry" list.