Roll Your Own: My Experiences (Saving tons and smoking less)

Today | RandallFlagg

[RandallFlagg]

Well, it's been a week and I have to say that I'm really enjoying these homemade cigarettes. It's so easy to do and it's saving tons of $$$.

With the cigarette cartons skyrocketing at the first of the year (At least in Colorado), we'll need alternatives. So, I'm starting this thread for FReepers who are thinking about going into this little venture for themselves.

I got these items when I started up:
Premier Supermatic II Injector Machine $36.99
1 x Sixty1 100mm Tubes $2.39
1 x Farmers Gold Additive Free Tobacco 16oz. $12.99
I got them from http://www.rollyourown.com
Now, the Supermatic II only makes king size cigarettes. If you smoke 100s, you'll have to go with the Premier Supermatic Injector Machine Kit, which goes for about $50.00 (comes with tubes and a plastic cigarette case -no tobacco). It has a select switch which accomodates kings and 100s. I found the tubes to be a bit harsh as well, so I found an in-town shop that sold Zig-Zag tubes (I can't remember the price, but I'll be getting those online as well) and they were a lot nicer. The machine needed some slight modifications as well. The "Spoon" (the part that the tube is inserted into) was a little too wide to fit inside the tube. However a quick filing around the edges made everything work out nicely. I cranked out all 200 tubes (one carton, minus the few I smoked while cranking) in about a half hour. Also, it's a bit messy, so do this in an area that's easy to clean up (a tabletop).

Now, the flavor of the cigarette was something else. It was nice and strong; the way I like them to be. My Wife thought they were too harsh, which I expected because she smokes lights. I then gave one to a buddy I work with (who's retiring today *sob*) after cranking it out right in front of him to show him how easy it is to do. After smoking it, he liked it so much that he bought the machine from me the next day. (His Wife's probably going to hate me for that)

I'm wondering about a few things. Like where is the best place to keep the tobacco; should I get a humidor? If I cut it down correctly, could I use pipe tobacco? Things of that sort. These questions will probably be answered after some more experimenting and modifying.

Anyhoo. I just thought that it might be a good idea for there to be a FR thread for this kind of stuff. So. Here it is. Please feel free to add comments.

And, PLEASE don't bother with the, "Smoking will kill you," lines. Life is meant to be enjoyed. I always tell people, "I know my luck. I'll quit smoking today, and next week get run over by a truck."

Here's the links I have:

http://www.rollyourown.com/

http://www.stuffyourown.com

http://www.ryomagazine.com

http://www.ryocigarette.com/

http://www.cigarettetobacco.com/

http://www.americanthrusttobacco.com/

http://www.americanthrusttobacco.com/home/home.html

http://www.tobaccostation.com/index.html

http://www.ryotobacco.com/

Smoke 'em if ya got 'em!

[RandallFlagg]

I use rubbing alcohol to clean, then Hoppes gun oil to lubricate.

I would think that any oil near the tobacco chamber would be a bad thing (I'm remembering the rifle problems in Iraq).

Good idea with the bread pan, though.

[RandallFlagg]

Looks like I have some experimentin' to do...

Thanks.

[Vigilantcitizen]

I would think that any oil near the tobacco chamber would be a bad thing (I'm remembering the rifle problems in Iraq).

The oil is used very sparingly, and all excess is wiped off. The oil mainly keeps build up from happening as quick.

[eddie willers]

WOW....how can you do 200 in 30 minutes?

I've been using my Supermatic for over a year and it still takes me 10 minutes a pack.

Anyway....I buy Stoker's #2 for $12.49 a pound and El Rey regular filter tubes @ 1.99 at Ingles grocery store.

I take out about a days worth from the bag (which I keep in the Fridge) and put it in a Tupperware container with a small, moistened sponge.

I use a spaghetti colander to clean out the shake and generally get two cartons out of the pound so the smokes are around .80 a pack.

Stoker's tastes like a 1966 L&M.

[RandallFlagg]

Yeah. But remember, I had to modify the machine a bit.

I was averaging about one every eight seconds. After doing the math, I had about 200 seconds to spare so I could light up a few while cranking.

Did you know that they sell a motor and someone's working on an automatic hopper? Both will attach to the top of the machine and speed up the process even more.

After working with a hamburger patty machine at Fuddrucker's in my youth, I'm convinced I can make a machine that does it all even faster.

If I only had the time these days......

[RandallFlagg]

Bumping for the afternoon crowd.

[Gabz]

(sorry so late in replying, been offline all day-phone issues)

No license is needed as far as I know.

The law permits growing 1/10th of an acre of tobacco for personal use. I did learn that is per property owner, not per adult. In other words, my husband and I can only grow 1/10th of an acre, even though we are both adults and both smokers.

And no, I do not know the dimensions of a 1/10th acre garden.

[Gabz]

I smoke less. The cigs burn slower and taste better.

They burn MUCH slower, and will go out if just left in the ashtray. I discovered shortly after starting to make my own that I actually smoke less than 1/2 a pack a day..........the rest just burned like incense in the ashtray.

[RandallFlagg]

I just had a thought. Rolling my own cigs have resulted in my having to purchase a cigarette case to carry them in.
If I marketed a cigarette case that played a song when opened, it would be a hot seller.

What song? Of course, the only appropriate song would have to be the theme from.....

James Bond.

[Ditter]

What if your cigarette case played the funeral dirge, would that help someone quit? ;9)

[RandallFlagg]

I was also thinking of Darth Vader's theme, but nothing beats Bond.

[Judith Anne]

Or, "Smoke gets in your eyes..." ;-D

My daughter and her husband roll their own, works out to under 10.00 a carton, they have a specialty smoke shop in their town that carries the tobacco they like...

They both have neat little metal cigarette cases, really nice looking.

I used to roll my own, went back to buying them since I don't smoke very much.

[need_a_screen_name]

bump!

[RandallFlagg]

Thanks.

[need_a_screen_name]

No problem. Saw you mention the Supermatic in another thread, so I Googled it up. What did I find, but this older thread of yours. lol

[cgbg]

I smoke cigars myself, but I am amazed at the prices of cigarettes.

I buy boxes of one hundred chicos (small cigars) over the internet (mikescigars.com) for $ 23.00. These are wonderful little cigars, seconds of Macs and Partagas.

$23.00 per hundred is the price of cigarettes in our area!

The cigarette market is way out of wack with all the local taxes, and roll your own folks like you are sending a message through the marketplace. Good job!

[RandallFlagg]

I just hope we can organize the manufacturers to start some kind of lobbying effort before it's too late.

[RandallFlagg]

Update: I found a blend of light tobacco that my Wife likes...FINALLY!

[RandallFlagg]

Did you buy one yet, or are ya still thinking about it?

Just curious.

[MileHi]

Update: I found a blend of light tobacco that my Wife likes...FINALLY!

Well, whats it called?

Is loose tobacco subject to the tax?