I'm using the melodioso Cremosa kit from WLT.
I thought I'd share some pics of my first roll.
I have watched a few rolling vids before, but I didn't watch any right before I rolled as I was eager to get rolling and had limited time. So probably did something a bit wrong.
This is with the binder on.
With the wrapper.
I wrapped it in paper to shape and dry it
After removing the paper.
I didn't really cut much off from the cap end. In hindsight, I probably should have. Even though the bit that is cut off can be rolled into other cigars, there's something that feels wasteful about cutting chunks off. I'm wondering now whether it's needed to allow proper air flow (more on that later).
Because it was a bit loose near the cap, I used a strip of wrapper to tighten it a bit...
This is what it looked like when cut for smoking.
As you can see, there's a hollow through the center.
Smoking it:
I'm not sure if it was still a little damp. It didn't feel it particularly. I used the filler and binder straight from the bag, only cased the wrapper.
It took a little effort to light. Then for a fair chunk of the length, I would have to puff it quite aggressively to get some decent smoke. At about halfway through, it started smoking much better. But later on I noticed it was burning down through the middle like an inverse cone. Obviously because of the hollow through the center.
Overall, I was quite happy with it, for a first roll. But have identified areas that need improving.
I'm open to any suggestions/advice that you guys have.
First issue, is the bunching. I just layered them on top (book?) and rolled them up (cut the ends and placed them in the middle first). This rolling is what left the hole in the middle. I either need to roll it much tighter at the start, or change to a different style of bunching.
I also should have cut off an inch or two of the cap end, would this have helped the draw?
Something else that I messed up, when I rolled the binder on, the foot was on the right.I orientated it so the veins ran along the length. But when I came to the wrapper, I carefully took one leaf out of the bag, cut the main vein out and placed one half back into the back while wetting the other half. Only after it was wet that I realized I couldn't orient it with the underside of the leaf facing upwards AND the veins running along the length. It seems that when you get to wrapping, there's "Left" and "right" handed sections.
So I turned the stick around so the foot was on the left and applied the wrapper. But then of course I was rolling it backwards to how I'd done it with the binder. It felt like I couldn't apply as much pressure to get the wrapper tight. Not sure if this would effect the smoking much, or just the aesthetics. Lesson for next time, get all the leaf out first and check they fit together.
I probably should have left the wrapper to soak up the water for a bit longer. I only sprayed it once I'd finished putting the binder on. It was ok, but the scrap that I left wet overnight for the cap was much more pliable.
Ok, that's it. Like I said, please do critique it. If there's something I've missed, or something you think I should do differently.
I thought I'd share some pics of my first roll.
I have watched a few rolling vids before, but I didn't watch any right before I rolled as I was eager to get rolling and had limited time. So probably did something a bit wrong.
This is with the binder on.
With the wrapper.
I wrapped it in paper to shape and dry it
After removing the paper.
I didn't really cut much off from the cap end. In hindsight, I probably should have. Even though the bit that is cut off can be rolled into other cigars, there's something that feels wasteful about cutting chunks off. I'm wondering now whether it's needed to allow proper air flow (more on that later).
Because it was a bit loose near the cap, I used a strip of wrapper to tighten it a bit...
This is what it looked like when cut for smoking.
As you can see, there's a hollow through the center.
Smoking it:
I'm not sure if it was still a little damp. It didn't feel it particularly. I used the filler and binder straight from the bag, only cased the wrapper.
It took a little effort to light. Then for a fair chunk of the length, I would have to puff it quite aggressively to get some decent smoke. At about halfway through, it started smoking much better. But later on I noticed it was burning down through the middle like an inverse cone. Obviously because of the hollow through the center.
Overall, I was quite happy with it, for a first roll. But have identified areas that need improving.
I'm open to any suggestions/advice that you guys have.
First issue, is the bunching. I just layered them on top (book?) and rolled them up (cut the ends and placed them in the middle first). This rolling is what left the hole in the middle. I either need to roll it much tighter at the start, or change to a different style of bunching.
I also should have cut off an inch or two of the cap end, would this have helped the draw?
Something else that I messed up, when I rolled the binder on, the foot was on the right.I orientated it so the veins ran along the length. But when I came to the wrapper, I carefully took one leaf out of the bag, cut the main vein out and placed one half back into the back while wetting the other half. Only after it was wet that I realized I couldn't orient it with the underside of the leaf facing upwards AND the veins running along the length. It seems that when you get to wrapping, there's "Left" and "right" handed sections.
So I turned the stick around so the foot was on the left and applied the wrapper. But then of course I was rolling it backwards to how I'd done it with the binder. It felt like I couldn't apply as much pressure to get the wrapper tight. Not sure if this would effect the smoking much, or just the aesthetics. Lesson for next time, get all the leaf out first and check they fit together.
I probably should have left the wrapper to soak up the water for a bit longer. I only sprayed it once I'd finished putting the binder on. It was ok, but the scrap that I left wet overnight for the cap was much more pliable.
Ok, that's it. Like I said, please do critique it. If there's something I've missed, or something you think I should do differently.
