Posted on 12/30/2004 6:47:41 AM PST by 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!
You could have saved that $100 by quiting.
Plantation House in England sells seeds over the net (coffinnails.com) complete with instructions for growing and drying.
Tobacco will grow just about anywhere in America. The Colonials used it for money and grew it in the streets.
I wondered that myself. But was also wondering if a license was required..
Rolling rolling rolling,,, keep those doggies rolling.... :-)
puff bump
I believe that as long as the total acreage is less than 1/4 acre you do not need a license.
Gabz, you may know about this better than I since you decided to try growing your own.
Is the tobacco you're using a full flavor shag, a halfezware, or a milde shag?
From what I understand the drying and curing is harder than the growing.
You have no idea what crap they put in manufactured cigarettes.
A buddy of mine went to work for one of the tobbacco companies after leaving the Air Force, and he was bragging about how they have a machine on the production line that can do a zillion quality control checks by passing radiation through the cigarette and measuring the results.
I quit smoking that afternoon.
It's just that Farmer's Gold stuff. I don't know about any, "Shag," stuff. I also have a one pounder of this, "Gambler," stuff that I haven't opened yet.
Well, according to a "Roll your own," forum...
Tobacco
Water
Sugars (Sucrose and/or Invert Sugar and/or High Fructose Corn Syrup)
Propylene Glycol
Glycerol
Licorice Extract
Diammonium Phosphate
Ammonium Hydroxide
Carob Bean and Extract
Cocoa and Cocoa Products
Natural and Artificial Flavors
= Marlboro tobacco
I've been rolling my own for two years now, after reading about it here on FR.
I love it. I smoke less. The cigs burn slower and taste better. Wouldn't dare go back.
LOL! You learned the folly of packing the cig too much?
Like syrup through a straw!
Let's ask algore.
I preferred Marlboro Mediums and found a very similar tobacco in Samson Milde Shag.
BTW, I wouldn't try pipe tobacco in cigarette tubes. There's too much moisture and it REALLY get's the tubes wet when smoking it.
If you're looking for different flavors there are flavored cigarette tobaccos out there.
LOL..Yep. It's an art, it takes time to get it down pat.
One piece of advice, be sure to keep the machine clean, especially the tobacco slot. I use rubbing alcohol to clean, then Hoppes gun oil to lubricate. I've had my Supermatic 2 years, and it still works good.
Another thing, to minimize the mess, I took an old bread pan and velcroed the machine base to it so I can roll in my recliner, and the tray catches all the loose tobacco.
Another thing, some tobacco will come stringier than it needs to be. A cheap coffee grinder ($10 from Wal Mart) grinds the tobacco perfectly. Just don't overgrind.
To grow it, no. Only to sell it.
It's just like brewing your own beer or making your own wine.
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