As with one of the previous reviews, I’ve had some lengthy experience with one of the hand-cranked tube feeders. Mine is the Top-O-Matic, and seems i had similar disappointments for some time, until I ordered a hand roller, which let me figure I had nothing to lose trying to tweak it a bit. Still, not perfect, trying to get that tobacco all the way to the filter of a 100mm didn’t seem to be in the design, although when i first got it, I had to use King Sized tubes, which after some amount of learning curve I was able to pack pretty well. After some time, and looking into other products, reading reviews to be sure I was getting something worth the money, I stumbled on a review that helped to more closely resolve that problem getting the tobacco closer to the filter.

Now, there’s something needed to be said about the tobacco being used; then of course it also seems moisture, dryness, even current air conditions, such as humidity all seem to factor in when trying to use any sort of tube roller. I even bought one of those pocket size models, another “Top” product – best thing to come out of that was the spatula that it comes with (very handy packing tool – that, and a good set of tweezers). At first, I was using cigarette tobacco, and after doing the math, it seemed I was mostly doing this rolling as a hobby, because if I was to pay myself the difference of buying already made cigarettes, and the efforts of making them, I certainly would have been better off getting a second job on the cheap and just buying already made ones, instead. Then I started trying the “dual-purpose” tobaccos, and have experimented extensively, pretty certain there are several out there that are even easier to work with than cigarette tobacco, I’ve found a few I like, but most of that is a bit of personal taste, so I’d recommend doing some amount of research in that vein, to anyone: it’s brought the math into better perspective, such that by making a couple packs an hour makes it worthwhile, and I can do that on the hand crank, so guess it’s all good, now.

The thing that helped with the hand cranks, getting closer to the tip: well, there’s a few things that was left out in that review, but i already realized after so many bags of tobacco that there’s always going to be very small particles for a good percentage of the bottom to every bag, so i would save that to be used as “filler”, just to mix it in with that half of the cigarette closer to the filter, and use only the largest particles for the opened end of the tube, where you would light it. The added review that helped get to the tip, can’t quote word for word, but was easy enough, once it got mentioned to be an epiphany that has helped immensely using hand-cranks: “preload the tip” was about all it had to say – put some of the smaller particles into the well area, not a lot, but enough to fill up that tip area that sticks out where you’re going to hang your tube onto – push that little bit towards the exit without having a tube on it, but block it (it’s not safe to have fingers there, but i would, and when i felt the spoon making gentle contact I’d just pull back) – now i got a little extra tobacco where I’ll need it, to get closer to the tip. Doesn’t guarantee to make it, and usually still had to pack and pinch it down a bit, but it was a lot better after starting to do that, than before without the preload.

Now, this electric; had lots of reservations here. The reviews were fair, and i felt badly for that guy that had it always jamming and breaking, but to be honest I have assume he had some factors working against him, those of us with some more experience have probably figured on. Otherwise, my worst fear was getting it to load a 100mm, without being able to preload as described above with the hand crank. After that epiphany, for my hand-cranker, it was pretty clear an electric would not be as easily controlled that i could just have it stop where i wanted, to do that preload, and then fill the well for packing into the 100mm tubes. I suppose, one of the factors not yet mentioned, are the tubes themselves; while there are really not a lot of varieties to fulfill my desire for Menthol 100mm, and i still struggled often with what was locally available. Online, I finally found “Zen” brand tubes, and am so grateful I did – another review once mentioned how the use of tubes being 20mm wide was too small, well, I guess I found what that guy was looking for – wider tubes – BIG difference, even with the hand crank.

Well, I was feeling as prepared as i could be, and hoped for the best – so, I have to say, i think i found it! I have had this machine, barely 24 hours now, and I’ve packed at least a half of a cartons worth of cigarettes. Scared myself a couple times when i jammed it, but to be honest, a well packed cigarette will be “riding a fine line” to what might jam a machine, so you just have to get a feel for…

Read more

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 

Was this review helpful to you? 

|

 Comments (3)