Buying Used Cigar Mold?

[kmcogar]

Just starting out here. I have been researching tools and I had a few questions about purchasing a used Cigar mold. I see most for sale on ebay or Etsy.

-Is there anything I should avoid?
-Specifics to what I should look for?
-Plastic vs wood?
-Do I need to refurbish a wooden mold in anyway? (i.e. adding oil to wood, sanding, wax)
-Recommendations?

Thanks all!

 

[Knucklehead]

Professional Cigar Molds and Chavetas

We offer a variety of chavetas and molds along with a double blad cigar cutter for creating your own cigars.

wholeleaftobacco.com

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

I own wood and plastic molds. I've never had a used one. The molds from WLT are great and totally worth it.

The wooden one draws moisture out of the bunches in my dry climate, so it takes less time to create a stable stick, ready to wrap. But the plastic ones are just as consistent, take up less space. They are nice and solid units. The wood ones have a certain beauty, but the tolerances of the plastic ones are superior. I like both styles.

 

[Tutu]

Completely agree with the above. I have old wooden molds used by cigar factories in the DR, but mostly for their beauty. I prefer rolling using plastic ones when I roll. WLT mold is a very good one.

 

[Nathan Esq]

I have 2 WLT new plastic molds and am very happy with them

 

[FmGrowit]

I have a library of WLT plastic molds. One of these days I'll post pictures of the figurados here before offering them on the website.

.

 

[MarcL]

Just starting out here. I have been researching tools and I had a few questions about purchasing a used Cigar mold. I see most for sale on ebay or Etsy.

-Is there anything I should avoid?
-Specifics to what I should look for?
-Plastic vs wood?
-Do I need to refurbish a wooden mold in anyway? (i.e. adding oil to wood, sanding, wax)
-Recommendations?

Thanks all!

Things to look for in wood are tight fitting seams. Cracks within the cavities can be rotated around. If there is space due to the need for cleaning or reparable damage it can be hard to spot.
Affordable availability can be an issue in used wood. Most issues can be dealt with when the price is right in my book.
If something in a size of interest at a okay price is to be had, it may become popular quickly and the price will rise.
Some wood warping can be simply pressed.
Spoon butter is a lasting treatment consisting of wax and oil which some old wood have came still bearing.
I have applied mineral oil lightly when needed.
If there is something your looking at, let me see it. I'll see if I can get some good examples of some bad looking stuff.
Plastic is very nice. Damage is hard to find but easy to spot hence, expensive. If you see anything less then what can be had all day, buy it.
This seller (Don/@FmGrowit/WLT/FTT/see post above) has had the best and most consistent offerings to date.
Most include a cigar rolling tobacco kits.

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[DePasta]

MarcL provided a good synopsis....I have 9 used wooden molds that I picked up for various prices, but most under $15 each. All of them are useable but some are beat up pretty good. Some have bad spots in a couple of slots that render those slots unuseable but I can still use them when I roll 8 or less sticks. They suit my purpose well. Other than wiping them down I have done nothing....they have obvious use dirt particularly old cigar glue buildup...but they work fine for my needs.

 

[waikikigun]

I have 23 wood molds and have never done any treatment to them. If they have bad slots I don't use those slots. One of my fave wood molds only has 5 useable slots.

I have several plastics, too. I don't really "feel" them, and they don't wick, but they can make a smooth bunch.

 

[kmcogar]

@FmGrowit, That is an impressive collection!

@MarcL That was exactly what I needed!

I am thinking I will start with a wooden one because of the cost is far lower. Maybe one day move up to a plastic. Theres so many different options on size, its hard to choose. A lot of the time on ebay, people are not very descriptive and make it hard to pull the trigger on some items.

I found this plastic one https://www.ebay.com/itm/50x5-Cannagar-mold/164158559674 , but I don't believe it is to be used for cigars. At least not the ones were rolling. A lot of the wood ones I see have torpedo chambers or maybe small diadem shaped. I guess I am looking for a mold around $30 that has the corona shape or close to.

Not many people list the ring size of the cigar. is there a good way to estimate? Say the mold is 12 inches long, 2.5 inches high and and has 10 cavities.. Or just check this one out and estimate the ring size. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Vi...n-Durex-Cigar-Mold-for-10-Cigars/402222517998

Thanks everyone for all the help!

 

[deluxestogie]

Ring size is simply 64ths of an inch, measured as the diameter. So on a flat image, the diameter of a mold is its width.

Bob

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

@FmGrowit, That is an impressive collection!

@MarcL That was exactly what I needed!

I am thinking I will start with a wooden one because of the cost is far lower. Maybe one day move up to a plastic. Theres so many different options on size, its hard to choose. A lot of the time on ebay, people are not very descriptive and make it hard to pull the trigger on some items.

I found this plastic one https://www.ebay.com/itm/50x5-Cannagar-mold/164158559674 , but I don't believe it is to be used for cigars. At least not the ones were rolling. A lot of the wood ones I see have torpedo chambers or maybe small diadem shaped. I guess I am looking for a mold around $30 that has the corona shape or close to.

Not many people list the ring size of the cigar. is there a good way to estimate? Say the mold is 12 inches long, 2.5 inches high and and has 10 cavities.. Or just check this one out and estimate the ring size. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Vi...n-Durex-Cigar-Mold-for-10-Cigars/402222517998

Thanks everyone for all the help!

That first one you link is poorly designed. Notice how the two sides are meant to butt-up to each other, rather than interlock? (compare with the ones that Marc linked) this will cause lateral pinching of your binder leaf, unless if you under fill.
But then again it's used for rolling "canna..."cigars, not "tobac..."cigars, so maybe a tight roll isn't as important for the intended user.

 

[kmcogar]

@ChinaVoodoo yeah, i was thinking that. just needed confirmation. Thanks!

 

[MarcL]

@FmGrowit, That is an impressive collection!

@MarcL That was exactly what I needed!

I am thinking I will start with a wooden one because of the cost is far lower. Maybe one day move up to a plastic. Theres so many different options on size, its hard to choose. A lot of the time on ebay, people are not very descriptive and make it hard to pull the trigger on some items.

I found this plastic one https://www.ebay.com/itm/50x5-Cannagar-mold/164158559674 , but I don't believe it is to be used for cigars. At least not the ones were rolling. A lot of the wood ones I see have torpedo chambers or maybe small diadem shaped. I guess I am looking for a mold around $30 that has the corona shape or close to.

Not many people list the ring size of the cigar. is there a good way to estimate? Say the mold is 12 inches long, 2.5 inches high and and has 10 cavities.. Or just check this one out and estimate the ring size. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Vi...n-Durex-Cigar-Mold-for-10-Cigars/402222517998

Thanks everyone for all the help!

That is how I started.
That plastic is printed. There are others with larger aggregate which are not as smooth as that one. Without a good side image showing the flat mating surfaces it can be hard to determine the crease generated by it. Early and frequent rotation can help a lot though.

That wood has spacers added to the peg sections suggesting an effort to bring the cavities back into round.
The key to Bobs method is flat image. Most imagery are below 52 mm which distorts it. so, when sizing there's some guessing and some comparing to get there. when you have it in your hand it can still be hard to measure. You could ask them but y'know, 64ths, that could work.
Durex molds tend to be below 46 or so to 32 maybe. The first image looks pretty flat. they are 13 inches long so by sizing it up on the screen, thats how its measured.
When I look at it, I'd say 38 but, thats w/o a ruler. Sometimes they will write the size right on it.

At a price like that, its sounds good. Pressing that could mis-align it. by putting spacers in between the cavities would sure it up.

A lot of these have been in a dusty basement or something and smell like it. Mine did and I was able to get it out.

Lets see what all is out there to be had. I'll have to come back to it at this moment.

Durex Wood 10 Cigar Mold/Press Vintage Antique Collectible | eBay

<p>This is a Durex Wood 10 Cigar Mold/Press Vintage Antique Collectible from Peters mfg company. Condition is Used. Shipped with USPS Priority Mail.</p>

www.ebay.com

RARE ANTIQUE DARK WOOD CIGAR MOLD MUST SEE NO RESERVE WOW | eBay

THIS IS A ANTIQUE AUTHENTIC DARK WOOD CIGAR MOLD MAKER. IT IS ABOUT 13” LONG.

www.ebay.com

 

[MarcL]

On my "That is how I started.". Pulling the stiff trigger ended when what I thought what was going to be a fail turned out to be workable.

My first one was a little rough in the way that two of the cavities where so badly warped they had to be removed to render the rest usable.

My second was gifted. Badly warped and painted. it doesn't get used.

Then I had my eye on these otto type small perfecto molds. They had some gaps, some warpage. They where Hemingway sizes. short story, best seller, work of art .. I bought them. After cleaning and a little tuning, (scrape sand) with a proper pressing, they worked very well.

What I'm saying is that I came to the notion that most of what I was concerned about was workable.
I found that they like to be under pressure whether filled or not. Even new wood molds can get moody.

When I got my hands on some plastic though, wow, very nice to work.
I will agree, there is something to the craftsmanship in working wood. And wood does dry faster.

 

[kmcogar]

@MarcL great responses! Helps me a lot. Have you written a book yet? Cause you sure know your stuff. I like the idea of plastic but I think I’ll start with one of those inexpensive wood ones for now. I’ll probably refurbish it a bit.

Its interesting to me how everyone says wood dries out the Cigar better. I have it in my head that the cigars shouldn’t be too dry. Is there a scientific method to testing it for dryness? I know the humidor should be at about 70 degrees F/70% humidity, so those comments just had me raise an eyebrow. My house is fairly dry right now with the cool weather. So I feel like my hand rolled ones dry out quick either way!

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

If the pressed, unwrapped cigar is too moist when you apply the wrapper, it won't totally hold shape and will be all lumpy.

 

[MarcL]

You should be able to find the 70/70 rule subjective.
I found that depending on the RH in the air, cigar and, the temperature where I smoke also, perhaps to a degree the components in the cigar, can dictate optimal performance.
If I smoke around a bon fire, I'll bring up the RH in the smoke.

The higher case in the leaf enables us to best forum the cigar. Like ChinaVoodoo states, applying a wrapper while the doll is to wet it will tend not to hold its shape.
Letting the dolls dry before wrapper application really helps so much. If done right, you can smoke it right off the table. (ROTT)
If its wet enough when the wrapper goes on, it seems to never dry.

The science that has to do with your query is, your own hands on ability through trial and error to know. The environment your in, the preparation done and methods used. Relationship building with the leaf. You can do it!

 

[kmcogar]

@ChinaVoodoo @MarcL good to know! My first couple of rolls looked great but then the next day the wrapper looked a bit loose. I guess that’s cause I wrapped them while the filler/binder was still wet. I’ll have to try it after I let it dry and see if it prevents the wrapper from coming off the cigar

 

[MarcL]

@kmcogar Be sure to soak up this thread. https://fairtradetobacco.com/threads/first-rolls.9315/#post-169068