Pressing Time For Red Virginia Tobacco

[Stinkerpipecigar]

Fellow tobacco enthusiasts,

I am seeking a bit of advice on pressing time and duration for a cake of steamed Red Virginia tobacco. The tobacco has been cased and steamed with my own home harvested honey and filtered water at a 1:1 ratio by weight. I have further created a spice topping in an alcohol vehicle. I am looking to marry flavors throughout and create a cake with enough resilience and body to be guillotined into thin flakes and rubbed into ribbons. I've read numbers ranging from 20 to 30 minutes at 1200 psi up to 3 weeks at a variety of lesser pressures. Thoughts and advice would be greatly appreciated. I know the group has a wealth of knowledge. I thank you in advance.

 

[GreenDragon]

The best results I’ve had with pressed cakes is with moderate weight and longer pressing. Too high pressures result in bricks that are almost impossible to cut.

I apply weight until I start to see a small amount of liquid expelled from the stack and then leave for a week or three. I’ve used a cheese press, a lever press, barbells, and a shop vice all with good results.

 

[Stinkerpipecigar]

The best results I’ve had with pressed cakes is with moderate weight and longer pressing. Too high pressures result in bricks that are almost impossible to cut.

I apply weight until I start to see a small amount of liquid expelled from the stack and then leave for a week or three. I’ve used a cheese press, a lever press, barbells, and a shop vice all with good results.

Thank you for your helpful input.