Experiment with Inexpensive Tin Can Tobacco Press

[Swede]

I got interested in making my own pressed tobacco plug, and read and watched videos mostly requiring a purchase of a noodle maker, or building a wooden box, etc. Wanting to test it first and I try to be thrifty, I decided to use a cleaned out beets tin can thinking the lining is food grade and the removed top could act as part of the press. So, I cut up some on hand blending Perique and Virginia, bought two 2 1/2 inch steel washers, added another washer type piece, then used a big C clamp to compress over 3 days. The last two hours this rig stayed in a box on my deck in the sun. I took it all apart, then used my Victorinox Swiss army knife can opener to remove the bottom of the can. I got a nice thin plug that is 1 ounce of tobacco at 25 % Perique. It crumbled well and smoked good. Needs some aging, but smokable and this was fun. The plug smells right good. Pardon the multiple pictures. Swede

 

[Brewdude]

Good on you Swede for being innovative on the cheap. That pic of the plug looks good enough to eat!




Cheers,

RR

 

[Swede]

Thanks Brewdude, it smells good enough to eat too! Next up is a similar blend but with some Turkish Izmir. Got that see if I liked it straight. It's interesting for sure.

 

[Niblick]

Will you re use the same can now that both ends are free with washers on the outside of both?

 

[Swede]

I could, but probably start with a new can. The intact bottom helped give something to press against. I think the ounce filled about a third of the can, but bet 4 ounces could be done easily.

 

[Blackhorse]

Izmir is almost ALWAYS a worthy addition to a blend.

SWEDE: CONGRATS on taking the time and making the effort to do this…absolutely in the finest tradition of the BoB fellowship. Your experiments will likely enhance other brother’s knowledge and enjoyment. So definitely , thanks for sharing. It’s why we’re here.

 

[Swede]

Thanks Blackhorse, I really appreciate that, and hope it is useful for someone else. I'm still exploring tastes of different tobacco types, so I'm going to study blends that have Orientals and settle on a % of Izmir for the next mix, but don't want it to be forward. That tobacco straight had an incense type of aspect with some dry and maybe best described as sour taste to me, so I would enjoy it as just a hint part of the taste. I kind of like the smokiness of latakia, so eventually may buy some. I have Tennessee dark fired available from a local farmer, so might experiment with it. My next order to 4noggins will include some burley cube or some type of cut too. The Virginia I used smelled real sweet, and the Perique was fruity and pungent, but after pressing, it had a whole new aspect. Now I understand why I've liked VaPers. The really nice thing about being part of the BoB fellowship is reading about what others have experienced, like, and know. Swede