Couple of good threads:
Really Easy Perique Press
This thread can serve for discussing various press arrangements, specs, the Perique process itself, and results any members obtain (from whatever Perique method they try). Although Perique is a named variety of tobacco (which makes a great, mild cigar filler, even without kilning), in this...fairtradetobacco.com
Making Press-Cake
Part 1. Press cake differs from flake in that it is shredded tobacco which has been pressed, where the latter is pressed plug which has been sliced. Why make press cake? Two reasons: it's easier to blend with, and it's easier to evenly apply pressure to. Here is my mold. I cut a piece of...
It would appear to me that you have made a common newbie error, gone about it the hard way.
It would appear to me that you have made a common newbie error, gone about it the hard way.
We have all done this at some stage, so don't worry about it. Follow Knuckleheads links and all will be good. Meanwhile what you've done will be okay. Ask questions, someone will help steer you in the right direction, read through the forums, have a smoke, but most of all have fun and enjoy enjoy your new hobby.
Cheers Oldfella
To rehydrate my leaves for desteming I mist them with water and put them in a plastic bag, leave for 24hrs or overnight. To destem them is easy, I get my sister to do it,
she says that she finds it therapeutic. Anyway here's what we do, hold the main stem at the bottom and tear down pinching as close to the stem as possible. I only use it for cigarettes so it doesn't matter if it tears. I have seen other posts about this so stick desteming in the search engine and see what you find.@PNW_Piper, did you take photos of the roll out of the twine?
