Adventures in home rolling

[Ralemonds1s]

Rolled up a couple more new blends tonight. Had a couple leaves of nic Habano ligero from my kit and a leaf of Paraguay Flojo Viso. So I mixed some of my new stuff.
1-dominican seco
1-paraguay Flojo viso
1-criollo 98 ligero
And:
1-dominican seco
1-corojo viso
1-nicuraguan Habano ligero
All bound in Dominican and wrapped in Ecuador Maduro.
The criollo Ligero smells amazing. And the mineral sparkle on those leaves is unreal. I've tried a bit in my corn pipe but I feel it probably doesn't do it justice.
If either of these are winners there Wil be some more of the Paraguay and the Habano coming my way. Now for pics.

Will say this is the CLOSEST I have came to making two cigars of the same size in one setting.

 

[Hopduro]

Rolled up a couple more new blends tonight. Had a couple leaves of nic Habano ligero from my kit and a leaf of Paraguay Flojo Viso. So I mixed some of my new stuff.
1-dominican seco
1-paraguay Flojo viso
1-criollo 98 ligero
And:
1-dominican seco
1-corojo viso
1-nicuraguan Habano ligero
All bound in Dominican and wrapped in Ecuador Maduro.
The criollo Ligero smells amazing. And the mineral sparkle on those leaves is unreal. I've tried a bit in my corn pipe but I feel it probably doesn't do it justice.
If either of these are winners there Wil be some more of the Paraguay and the Habano coming my way. Now for pics.

Will say this is the CLOSEST I have came to making two cigars of the same size in one setting.

Man, yours look awesome! Are you using any sort of mold?

For everyone else, especially the Hooligan since I know he used to do this, how do/did you shape your rolls? I remember someone saying a paper towel method.

I bought some pvc pipe last night, 3/4 inch, which made some decent molds, but limits the ring gauge. 48 rg is fine for the future, but the first two sticks that I rolled aren't even close to that size. I'd like to shape them up a bit.

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[Ralemonds1s]

Man, yours look awesome! Are you using any sort of mold?

For everyone else, especially the Hooligan since I know he used to do this, how do/did you shape your rolls? I remember someone saying a paper towel method.

I bought some pvc pipe last night, 3/4 inch, which made some decent molds, but limits the ring gauge. 48 rg is fine for the future, but the first two sticks that I rolled aren't even close to that size. I'd like to shape them up a bit.

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I actually roll my bunches up tight in a page from an old catalog then just twist the ends. Let them sit for an hour or so, and it's surprising what it can do. Want to get a small mold eventually.
I'll try to post before and after pics tonight if I have time. Have a couple wrapper leaves I left at case so I need to roll them up.

 

[Hopduro]

I actually roll my bunches up tight in a page from an old catalog then just twist the ends. Let them sit for an hour or so, and it's surprising what it can do. Want to get a small mold eventually.
I'll try to post before and after pics tonight if I have time. Have a couple wrapper leaves I left at case so I need to roll them up.

Definitely take some pictures for me, my first bunch is way too loose, I might just reroll it.

I started trying entubado, poor choice, I can't get them rolled tight enough! I switched over to the book method immediately, seems to work just fine, hope the draw isn't too tight

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[BrewinHooligan]

Man, yours look awesome! Are you using any sort of mold?

For everyone else, especially the Hooligan since I know he used to do this, how do/did you shape your rolls? I remember someone saying a paper towel method.

I bought some pvc pipe last night, 3/4 inch, which made some decent molds, but limits the ring gauge. 48 rg is fine for the future, but the first two sticks that I rolled aren't even close to that size. I'd like to shape them up a bit.

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To form my sticks before I had a mold I would take my bunch and wrap it in a strip of paper towel going from the foot to the head. The excess paper towel at the head gets held and twisted as you roll the bunch. Holding the twist as you roll makes the paper towel squeeze the bunch tight and form it.

 

[Ralemonds1s]

Definitely take some pictures for me, my first bunch is way too loose, I might just reroll it.

I started trying entubado, poor choice, I can't get them rolled tight enough! I switched over to the book method immediately, seems to work just fine, hope the draw isn't too tight

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I have had good success with Entubado...a bastardised version at least. I might suggest getting your binder to a higher case so you can roll your bunch tighter without it tearing. I have found you really don't need to mold anything for tightness, it's really all for aesthetics. Just try to roll it as tight as you can. And as for bunching here is the guy I learned from. I believe it's this video:
All three of his videos have helped me ALOT.
Test your draw after you get your bunch bound up. If it's a little tight I wouldn't worry as it should improve as the stick drys.

 

[Bruce T.]

I've rolled a few dozen cigars and I'll throw my 2 cents in.
I've rolled with and without a mold. The problem without a mold is getting the stick to look nice. No matter how good you get, the mold will do a better job.
The problem with using a mold is that it compresses the cigar to a fixed size so the amount of leaf you use becomes critical. Use too little or too much and the draw is compromised.
One other piece of advice is do not necessarily roll as tight as you can. It is easy to roll too tight, especially if your leaves are a bit too moist. Don't use any glue for the binder on the first roll attempt. Feel the cigar after the binder is applied and re-roll it until you think it feels right. Then you can add some glue if you want to.
That's what I've found works best for me.

 

[HIM*]

I have had good success with Entubado...a bastardised version at least. I might suggest getting your binder to a higher case so you can roll your bunch tighter without it tearing. I have found you really don't need to mold anything for tightness, it's really all for aesthetics. Just try to roll it as tight as you can. And as for bunching here is the guy I learned from. I believe it's this video:
All three of his videos have helped me ALOT.
Test your draw after you get your bunch bound up. If it's a little tight I wouldn't worry as it should improve as the stick drys.

You can learn a good bit from his videos but I don't agree with removing the midrib as he does. I've actually heard them mention in Cigar Safari videos they intentionally leave them in for structure, combustion, and flavor.

 

[Ralemonds1s]

You can learn a good bit from his videos but I don't agree with removing the midrib as he does. I've actually heard them mention in Cigar Safari videos they intentionally leave them in for structure, combustion, and flavor.

Funny you mentioned that. I remove the mid rib and add them into the middle of my bunch.

 

[HIM*]

I don't think it's proper entubado, or maybe it is who knows, but I sort of use it as a fold line. Then you can use the stem to help tube the leaf. Sounds weird the way I describe it but it works very well.

 

[Hopduro]

Here's another question that might have many answers, let's say I'm shooting for a 40-48 rg stick, maybe 5 or 6 inches, how many leaves does it take to fill your bunch?

With the pvc molds I made, if those are actually 48 rg, probably more like 40, I could just barely fit my bunches in with:
1 leaf seco
.5 leaf ligero
.5 leaf viso
And I think a single binder for them. I know it's all leaf size dependent, but I feel like that's not enough just from watching videos. Am I over thinking it?

Also, with the entubado method I tried on the first roll, my binder case might have been too high because I just shredded that leaf as I rolled it lol. Into the scrap pile it went. :/

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[Ralemonds1s]

Hmm. I tend to use about three leaves for filler and just by my guesses I think I'm getting 50+/- rg. I think you are right about a lot of different variables going into that.

 

[BrewinHooligan]

In the tiny figurado mold I have that rolls a 4.75" x 38 rg stick I can only use about a leaf and a half of filler, less if the leaves are large, more if the leaves are small.

 

[Hopduro]

In the tiny figurado mold I have that rolls a 4.75" x 38 rg stick I can only use about a leaf and a half of filler, less if the leaves are large, more if the leaves are small.

Then I guess about 2 leaves might be right for the size I'm targeting.

Last question until I attempt wrapping, how do you case your leaves? My binder I just sprayed down and blotted up the excess, my filler I just used as is. Somewhat drier, but still pliable.

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[BrewinHooligan]

Then I guess about 2 leaves might be right for the size I'm targeting.

Last question until I attempt wrapping, how do you case your leaves? My binder I just sprayed down and blotted up the excess, my filler I just used as is. Somewhat drier, but still pliable.

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Filler I just keep moist enough not to crumble when rolled. Gently sprayed with distilled water in large ziplock backs, the rest is stored in the original bags resealed with my vacuum sealer, but I don't vacuum the bag, for some reason the vacuum doesn't work on the bags from WLT but it seals perfectly. Binder I do the same, bring up to high enough case to unfold and remove the mid rib, then I spray the leaves each directly with distilled water (not soaked) and kept in a large ziploc to finish coming up to case (usually good to go within a few hours). Wrapper leaf is treated the same as the binder, just slightly more moisture added to get a good stretch when wrapping. For binder and wrapper, if the leaf isn't going to be used within a few days it gets pulled from the bag to dry so it doesn't mold.

 

[Hopduro]

Filler I just keep moist enough not to crumble when rolled. Gently sprayed with distilled water in large ziplock backs, the rest is stored in the original bags resealed with my vacuum sealer, but I don't vacuum the bag, for some reason the vacuum doesn't work on the bags from WLT but it seals perfectly. Binder I do the same, bring up to high enough case to unfold and remove the mid rib, then I spray the leaves each directly with distilled water (not soaked) and kept in a large ziploc to finish coming up to case (usually good to go within a few hours). Wrapper leaf is treated the same as the binder, just slightly more moisture added to get a good stretch when wrapping. For binder and wrapper, if the leaf isn't going to be used within a few days it gets pulled from the bag to dry so it doesn't mold.

Smart, I have a vacuum sealer too for hops, I'll give that a shot if I don't use up all the leaf hahaha!

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[HIM*]

That method is solid just be sure to be patient with it. If you prep everything ahead of time then all your leaf will have a nice even case and be perfect to roll with.

 

[Bruce T.]

That method is solid just be sure to be patient with it. If you prep everything ahead of time then all your leaf will have a nice even case and be perfect to roll with.

Yea, I was often impatient and wanted to roll before the leaves had stabilized. The moisture from my spray bottle had not distributed evenly or the leaves were a bit too wet or too dry. I find it works best if I keep the leaves in a tupperware for 3-4 days to come to an even case. Patients is the key.
Another little detail I always use is to put an extra layer of binder at the head so that it is a bit more reinforced since it will be going in and out of your mouth. I found my cigars felt better in my mouth with that extra reinforcement at the head.

 

[Hopduro]

Chocolaty maduro goodness

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[Ralemonds1s]

Ecuador Maduro? They are beautiful!