What, *ANOTHER* rabbit hole??? @Nothing Clever

[Old Gasman]

I do, and I’ll take you up on that - I’ve read thru the comments on most of WLT’s offerings (still some to go - kind of an education of its own) & Izmir & several others popped out at me…think I’m about to start my own pound-a-month club, adding something different to what I’ve got so far each month: Bright, VA Red Tips, Izmir will be my first 3, I’m thinking

Here’s my first real question: has anyone ever done hand-shredding & not regretted it? It would be swell if I could avoid the expense of a shredder right now, so I’m thinking of starting testing my knife skills. I have a wicked sharp nakiri, a steady hand, and a ton o’ patience…also, a ton o’ practice mincing herbs & vegetables; I’m sure others have tried a similar move so I’m curious about others’ experiences -anyone got tales good & bad?

Another question: are there videos showing the destemming/deveining/shredding process itself?

Thanks for the responses, yall

I've made my own roll up tobacco by hand with a sharp knife. I found that the secret is not to try to do too much. I do just 1 or 2 leaves at a time. I fold them in half several times until I have a little pile no thicker than a quarter of an inch. Rub the knife against s steel every so often and that's it. It's not quick but it works.

 

[Nothing Clever]

I've made my own roll up tobacco by hand with a sharp knife. I found that the secret is not to try to do too much. I do just 1 or 2 leaves at a time. I fold them in half several times until I have a little pile no thicker than a quarter of an inch. Rub the knife against s steel every so often and that's it. It's not quick but it works.

Sounds like good advice, I hear tobacco leaves are big…that pic I posted is a left-behind from somewhere, but it’s got a thin blade, real sharp, loves making long, straight strips - I have nicer knives, but none like this

Thanks for your tale of success, Gasman, encouragement is always welcome!

 

[Knucklehead]

Well, I did like I said…now I get to sort *those* out. Honestly don’t know about the “old-style bold”…was smoking the yellow ones ‘til I couldn’t afford a fresh pack; since then, a half-ounce of Bugler & same of the dk-blue AS has got me ~50 hand-rolls, which have been satisfying for me in ways cigs have never actually been for me…no tongue bite, gentle throat hit, can’t really say much about the flavor(s) at all

As long as nothing falls to the level of Galois blue, I’m likely okay…still leaning toward the Virginia blend because happy memories discovering imported Dunhills ~’71, then State Express & Player’s #6 in England a year later…the blend would speak to ALL of that, and give me ‘room’ to add something more different next month.

Lordy, it all sounds like so much fun…alright, I'm dropping the order

BTW, “Knucklehead shredder” is the 1/4” hardware cloth, right? This will be mine, for at least a minute:
View attachment 55194

Yes. It was the 1/4" hardware cloth.

 

[Nothing Clever]

Order placed, waiting to see what delivery date I draw

Feeling pretty good about this latest ‘transition’…got ~1k 15mm filters, ~180 papers, 1+/- oz AS deep-blue, 1 POUND VA blend (arriving someday). Nothing to do, really, but enjoy what I’ve got & keep a Positive Mental Attitude…

 

[Nothing Clever]

Question on shipping times:

When I was placing the order, it said priority mail has a long wait (or words to that effect) & sure enough, three days after ordering I have no delivery estimate at all, just a note that a label was printed Friday

Not here to complain, but would like to know what to expect; yes, I did request all updates, there have been none.

 

[deluxestogie]

Expect the unexpected. Tracking for USPS, UPS and FedEx have dramatically deteriorated over the past 5 years.

• "Expected delivery Thursday"
• "Sorry delivery delayed"
• "Good News! Delivery expected Wednesday!"
• Package actually arrives on Tuesday

USPS now seems to think that a location called, "United States" is sufficient for where a package happens to have reached.

My suggestion is to just sit back and relax. Although delivery times have lengthened somewhat, it's not yet horrible.

Bob

P.S. if you are having it shipped to "Jawja", it might be on its way to Indonesia.

 

[Nothing Clever]

That wasn’t a choice presented in the pop-up, so it’s spelled the regular way…I’m one of those folks who watch orders make their way to me. Just eager, I guess…hadn’t realized “3-5 day priority shipping” had slipped so far.

‘Preciate your reply

 

[Nothing Clever]

And now I suddenly have a delivery date, Thursday
Cool beans, I can wait…I just like to know

 

[Nothing Clever]

I got curious & went looking, but missed it:
What tobaccos are *in* the WLT Virginia blend?

 

[Nothing Clever]

…meaning, which of WLT’s ~7 Va varieties?
(just wondering)

 

[Nothing Clever]

Package arrived in good condition & on time
Thanks to all involved!

From here, I’ll be guided by @Juxtaposer-‘s processing thread, mainly, tho I’m sure there’ll be questions

My first move will be to de-stem, fold, jar, & identify each leaf, & saving loose bits to hand-shred & smoke while I give the jars time to settle; depending on how many leaves of each variety, I’ll then shred one of each variety, give it it’s own jar, and begin learning about each of them, & learning to blend as I shred more.

I’m a bit cramped for elbow room where I am, so I’m curious about the work areas that the experienced folks have set up - is there a thread where y’all show your stations?

 

[deluxestogie]

your station

My "station" has been my kitchen counter for about 15 years. That is to say, I have no dedicated tobacco manipulating location.

Bob

 

[ProZachJ]

Package arrived in good condition & on time
Thanks to all involved!

From here, I’ll be guided by @Juxtaposer-‘s processing thread, mainly, tho I’m sure there’ll be questions

My first move will be to de-stem, fold, jar, & identify each leaf, & saving loose bits to hand-shred & smoke while I give the jars time to settle; depending on how many leaves of each variety, I’ll then shred one of each variety, give it it’s own jar, and begin learning about each of them, & learning to blend as I shred more.

I’m a bit cramped for elbow room where I am, so I’m curious about the work areas that the experienced folks have set up - is there a thread where y’all show your stations?

Id post on that thread!

 

[Juxtaposer-]

Id post on that thread!

No damnit, make your own thread for ME to mess with!
oh….wait…..this is your thread. I’m here for you buddy!
I don’t make cigarette tobacco so my posted methods lean towards making pipe tobacco. So I would mention at this point that tobacco in sealed jars normally will use up the oxygen in the jar within three months (hearsay). This will create an environment for anaerobic microbial growth which is great for pipe tobacco. This may or may not be what you want in a cigarette tobacco. I imagine you would consume the tobacco soon enough as to not have this problem. If you do have a blend you like in a jar you would simply give a little air once a month so that its flavors don’t change too much. (Unless you want them to). Virginia tobacco changes most quickly. Just a heads up. Those that smoke cigs will have opinions on this on which I don’t know.

 

[Nothing Clever]

No damnit, make your own thread for ME to mess with!
oh….wait…..this is your thread. I’m here for you buddy!
I don’t make cigarette tobacco so my posted methods lean towards making pipe tobacco. So I would mention at this point that tobacco in sealed jars normally will use up the oxygen in the jar within three months (hearsay). This will create an environment for anaerobic microbial growth which is great for pipe tobacco. This may or may not be what you want in a cigarette tobacco. I imagine you would consume the tobacco soon enough as to not have this problem. If you do have a blend you like in a jar you would simply give a little air once a month so that its flavors don’t change too much. (Unless you want them to). Virginia tobacco changes most quickly. Just a heads up. Those that smoke cigs will have opinions on this on which I don’t know.

Totally good point on your pipe orientation; if I ever get back to smoking a pipe, it’ll it’ll be down this road…. Even so, I have a *bunch* of those jars…& had no idea what following your guide would lead me *to*, so I just started simple: pulling the ribs out, folding them & stuffing them in the jars (flat down) until they filled, scraps in a jar of their own (I’ll ‘shred’ that first). Put things away, spent some family time, will get back to it after she goes to bed. Slightly less room than a counter so the jars make it easy, and had me thinking more about the whole aging/curing thing, so I’ll avoid anaerobic conditions & check the jars daily once I get it all destemmed & start shredding

I got the Virginia blend, so it’s a bit rough identifying the leaves - maybe not important, but I wanted to know the components & their characters…which are yellow & brown so far, but I have to start somewhere. At the very least, I’ll have those separated for tasting…might be 3 yellow kind & 2 brown kind - but I’m here for the experiments & the experience, & I’ll learn. So, by the time I hit the hay, I hope to have at least one more leaf distinguished & one more jar filled; I expect to end up with some number of ‘spontaneous’ blends & have fun appreciating them on their own & introducing them to each other.

If I finish tonight’s work tonight, then I could be done shredding & casing by Monday (oops, midnight…). I have a new phone, so maybe pix too

I appreciate y’all’s patience - it’s a solo fascination on this end, so every comment is gold. Good night, everybody

 

[Nothing Clever]

My "station" has been my kitchen counter for about 15 years. That is to say, I have no dedicated tobacco manipulating location.

Bob

Thanks for this, BTW…gave me a pretty clear sense of the ‘elbow room’ required … things like that are important. I ended up doing my first shredding in my lap & it worked out fine, I think…pix to follow

 

[Nothing Clever]

So, I didn’t get back to it last night, but this morning.


This was my first shredding


This was my second


This was the 1st cig I rolled, from the scrap jar
Felt like full nicotine, yet very mild - a bit hot/harsh, but not really dried at all. Burned okay

From last night’s work, I shredded 2 8oz of yellow & one of brown. I’ve maybe identified a second brown (not like the other), so shredding that separately. Later tonight, I will rub out the various batches & label them.

For the cigarette crowd, how long can I expect to wait after shredding before smoking - & should I go aerobic or not?

 

[ShiniKoroshi]

So, I didn’t get back to it last night, but this morning.

View attachment 55284
This was my first shredding

View attachment 55285
This was my second

View attachment 55286
This was the 1st cig I rolled, from the scrap jar
Felt like full nicotine, yet very mild - a bit hot/harsh, but not really dried at all. Burned okay

From last night’s work, I shredded 2 8oz of yellow & one of brown. I’ve maybe identified a second brown (not like the other), so shredding that separately. Later tonight, I will rub out the various batches & label them.

For the cigarette crowd, how long can I expect to wait after shredding before smoking - & should I go aerobic or not?

Looks like you are well on your way! Any of the blends are "shred, mix and smoke" ready.

Aerobics? Nah, I prefer to sit and relax while smoking.

 

[ShiniKoroshi]

I don’t make cigarette tobacco so my posted methods lean towards making pipe tobacco. So I would mention at this point that tobacco in sealed jars normally will use up the oxygen in the jar within three months (hearsay). This will create an environment for anaerobic microbial growth which is great for pipe tobacco.

So mold won't grow after being sealed up for 3 months? Sorry, Im having a hard time following "GL Please" science.

 

[Juxtaposer-]

So mold won't grow after being sealed up for 3 months? Sorry, Im having a hard time following "GL Please" science.

I have had success with the theory that there is a point where a jar has not enough air in it to grow mold. I have even had a plug that started to to grow mold right away so I took it out, wiped the mold off put it back in with no further mold growth to date. I have also had a plug that had a mold spot on it that I ignored and left in the jar. After a few years when I got back to it there was a “wet” spot where the mold was that I simply wiped off. I have certainly had mold in jars that have had more air than tobacco. Those types of jars I take more care with moisture levels now. I have a mold watch system to keep tabs daily until I am confident of a jars condition. I will still do monthly mold checks on jars especially if they are not full. I have been using a jar vacuum lately to suck air out of jars that I think need it. It does not work on jars that don’t have much air which is fine because I feel they don’t need it. Maybe I have just been lucky and I do make quite a few assumptions but I like to think there is a method to my madness.