Ciennepi 2018 Grow Blog

[Charly]

Good job Ciennepi !
Your leaves have a very nice color, well done.

 

[ciennepi]

Thanks. The thing that amazed me more was the dark dark brown colour almost black of the Nostrano ligero leaf. And before the kiln period!!!

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

Before the kiln? Wow. It is all very nice.

 

[Levi Gross]

I have finish all the curing of this year.
Now I will begin the kiln off all the leafs probably in three rounds.
My kiln hold perfectly well the temperature due to its isolation ( double panel of XPS 5+4 cm) but it is small in volume and the leafs hung up in hands take up too much space. So I will try to kiln the leafs in high case in closed poly bags to keep the humidity up. Every week I will bring out the bag and open briefly to outgass it and let come in new oxygen.
Yesterday I prepared the poly bag for the kiln. To close it I cut in piece those plastic back that hold togheter the paper sheets. I find it more practical than the clothespin.
View attachment 26507
Before I mist slightly the leafs with plain water to bring in high case.
This are some example of different leafs.
This is Vuelta Abajo volado.
View attachment 26508
This is Vuelta Abajo ligero. Notice the more intense colour.
View attachment 26509
And this is Nostrano del Brenta ligero. Notice the almost black colour
View attachment 26510

I like seeing another member with a paint brush on his table! I too use a paint brush to clean leaves with and it works wonderfully!

 

[Charly]

Thanks. The thing that amazed me more was the dark dark brown colour almost black of the Nostrano ligero leaf. And before the kiln period!!!

Yes, Nostrano produces some very dark leaves

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

Mine are all lighter than yours right now. They've been I the kiln for a week.

 

[deluxestogie]

I purchase clothespins 20 for a dollar, so an alternative needs to possess remarkable traits. Have you tested the plastic binder clip at kiln temp? I would worry that it might soften, and no longer secure the bag. (Of course, I'm kilning in large bags that are left open.)

While my Nostrano del Brenta produced nearly black leaf, it was never strong. Only mild and tasty. It was never cigar-like in aroma, though rich and enjoyable. I seem to recall that it color-cured quite dark (with a gray-green underside), then kilned to a even oscuro on top, and deep maduro on the underside.

Bob

 

[ciennepi]

This is the kiln packed and ready to go.

In a few day I will see if the plastic back can hold the temperature, otherwise I will come back to the woods clothespins.
I set the temperature control to stay between 51 and 52 C (124 and 126 F ). Is it OK?

 

[Charly]

Great !
Just check if there is enough place for the air to circulate between all the layers, to get an equal temperature everywhere

 

[deluxestogie]

51 and 52 C (124 and 126 F ). Is it OK?

Perfect! I wish my kiln had such thick insulation.

Bob

 

[ciennepi]

In these first day of kilning I have seen that the heater are on for about 30% of the time with the kiln in my garage with a temperature of about 7 C (44 F). Are comparable with yours kilns?

 

[deluxestogie]

Yes, that is similar. My kiln sits in an exterior corner of my enclosed back porch. Even though the porch is open to heat from the house, that corner always has a very cold floor and wall during the winter. During summer, the kiln heat tends to run about 1/4 of the time. As the weather becomes bitter, the heat is sometimes running almost half the time.

Bob

 

[ciennepi]

Thank you.
This evening I'll open for the first time the kiln to see if the plastic back can hold the temperature and if the poly bag can hold the humidity. The hygrometer probe inside the kiln read 20% UR ! Very very dry.
If all is OK the nex opening can be made every week.
Just for fun I calculate that one month of kilning, with the time of operation and Watt of the heater, cost me 4 Euro (4 $).

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

Thank you.
This evening I'll open for the first time the kiln to see if the plastic back can hold the temperature and if the poly bag can hold the humidity. The hygrometer probe inside the kiln read 20% UR ! Very very dry.
If all is OK the nex opening can be made every week.
Just for fun I calculate that one month of kilning, with the time of operation and Watt of the heater, cost me 4 Euro (4 $).

If you, like myself, have trouble preventing the kiln from drying out, consider putting the tobacco in a food grade bucket instead of bags. Or put the bags into the bucket.

 

[ciennepi]

Results of the first reconnaissance:
1- the plastic back have take a slight set but can hold the poly bag closed well. I will see if the situation stay stable in the future.
2- the poly bag, also simply rolled up, can hold very well the moisture. The leafs inside are all in high case though the UR of the kiln air is about 20 %.
3- the isn't trace of mold ever with the high umidity of the leafs.
4- from the open bag exit a slight ammonia smell, that I know is normal in the first period of kilning.
Because it's all right the nex opening will be in a week to turn the position of the bag (there is a fan inside the kiln but I prefer rotate the bag in various position).

 

[Charly]

All these indicators mean you are doing everything right

 

[deluxestogie]

Next week, be sure to check for water collecting in the bottom of the bag.

Bob

 

[ciennepi]

Today hiking on the mountain and then rest on my mountain hut. I smpked for one hour outside this good cigar. The temperature are chilly, about 0 C, but the sun warm enough.
Capa Virginia Gold, capote Vuelta Abajo seco and tripa Vuelta Abajo seco and ligero. All of the past year grow. One of the better cigars that I rolled until now.

 

[CobGuy]

In the mountains with a good cigar that you rolled yourself ... priceless!

~Darin

 

[ciennepi]

You are right! Sometimes to be happy we need very few things.