Dog Rockets

[Wardjrz]

Today I have rolled my first 6 Dog Rocket Cigars. Pig ugly might be a better name though. I might change my home made label from Dog Rocket to Pig Ugly.

I've had my tobacco leaf for just over a week now and been watching videos of how to roll cigars. There are lots on the net to view that give some really good advice. Today I decided it was time to give it a go.

Here are a few pics of the leaf and process:
The leaf:
Dog Rocket 001.jpgDog Rocket 002.jpg
I got 7 sample packs of leaf so that I could try different flavours. I'd advise you to go for more filler, and an equal amount of binder and wrapper. I think I may have underestimated the amount of filler I need.

Next pic is an in progress photo.
Dog Rocket 008.jpg
Apart from the leaf I have bought a rounded edged kife and really sharpened it. This makes cutting the damp leaf easier. If it isn't sharp it will tear rather than cut.
I also bought a plant sprayer from my local garden centre.

I got some edible glue from ebay and have watered it down. If I don;t like this I'll go for powdered unflavoured pectin.
The wife hasn't seen I've used the underside of our bread board yet or the rolling pin.

These show my first 6 attempts. One of them looks good the rest are reasonable or acceptable at best.
Dog Rocket 009.jpgDog Rocket 010.jpg

Things to note for when I use the rest of the leaf:
Allow more time - it took me a long time though I guess I'll get quicker.
Wear latex gloves - my hands stink of tobacco leaf and have picked up colour from the damp leaves that just won't wash off.
Dampen leaves about 2 hours before I intend to use them.
Don't bother with the cigar press for now - It was hard enough getting a shape let alone one that was exactly right for the cigar press.

Now I need to keep rolling every now and then for a few days,
Stick 'em in the freezer,
Let them defrost, dry out and then put them into my Tupperdor for a few months.

I enjoyed it and will have another go with the rest. I think I'll get about 20 from my sample pack with some wrapper leaves leftover.

[kevree]

Rolling you're own ?

Wow....seriously impressed !

Let me know how they smoke........very curious.

Once I can post some stuff I'm moving I have 2 vintage blocks of Jose Gener - Hoyo de Monterrey tobacco which might work well in the 'roll your owns'.

[smokin_e2011]

Cool stuff, good job dude...

[Motormadj]

Well, I was intrigued and amused by the title! lol.

Then quite impressed......... and ultimatley await the exciting results!

Well done.

[bigbarneyhotdog]

Well done! Send a couple to the Aye Aye Reviews Gents for a video review

[Wardjrz]

Thanks for the comments.

Not sure I'd give these to anyone, at least until I know it wouldn't be a complete waste of time.

I don't know when they become smokable, or enjoyable to smoke.

[molecularstudent]

Mate, they look fantastic Free hand as well! I haven't even attempted that! You should fire one up now....you won't regret it...Unfortunately mine have started to taste strange, but apparently this is normal...they say to either smoke within one month of rolling or wait a year...
Yes I agree, they are very time consuming to make!!
As for the mold: I'd use it...yours is a figurado shape no? If you take a bunch of filler and break it off (both ends) so that the length is about one inch longer than the mold, then with the pieces you broke off put them into the bundle but with more on the 'fat' end of the cigar. Make the bundle slightly fatter than the mold. If you hold this filler carefully you should be able to roll it up in a binder leaf. Remember that the binder leaf doesn't have to be perfect! Then force it into the bottom part of the mold. You will be very surprised how much you can get in there, at first I was underfilling mine. Then clamp the mold down and after 30 minutes open it up and turn the cigar 90 degrees to get rid of the ridge which is caused by the mold. Are you spraying your filler leaf? If you are, you should leave it dry, it should crackle when you are bundling it up. You will have a perfectly shaped cigar which makes the wrapper leaf a million times easier to put on I hope you don't mind me giving you some pointers and hope you didn't know all this already!!
Oh and you should get a pizza cutter Makes things really really easy Can't wait to see the progress!!

[Mozwik]

Very cool, looking forward to more posts.

[cigarsam]

Look forward to your first taste review! Very impressive effort

[Dherm]

Put me down for a box. Ill be your first customer

[Wardjrz]

Mate, they look fantastic Free hand as well! I haven't even attempted that! You should fire one up now....you won't regret it...Unfortunately mine have started to taste strange, but apparently this is normal...they say to either smoke within one month of rolling or wait a year...
Yes I agree, they are very time consuming to make!!
As for the mold: I'd use it...yours is a figurado shape no? If you take a bunch of filler and break it off (both ends) so that the length is about one inch longer than the mold, then with the pieces you broke off put them into the bundle but with more on the 'fat' end of the cigar. Make the bundle slightly fatter than the mold. If you hold this filler carefully you should be able to roll it up in a binder leaf. Remember that the binder leaf doesn't have to be perfect! Then force it into the bottom part of the mold. You will be very surprised how much you can get in there, at first I was underfilling mine. Then clamp the mold down and after 30 minutes open it up and turn the cigar 90 degrees to get rid of the ridge which is caused by the mold. Are you spraying your filler leaf? If you are, you should leave it dry, it should crackle when you are bundling it up. You will have a perfectly shaped cigar which makes the wrapper leaf a million times easier to put on I hope you don't mind me giving you some pointers and hope you didn't know all this already!!
Oh and you should get a pizza cutter Makes things really really easy Can't wait to see the progress!!

Chris
Keep the advice coming, you're a few months in front of me so anything that can help will be great.
Will they be smokable once they have dried out?

I did dampen the filler, I'll leave it dry for the next bunch.

Yes my mold is figurado shape. I'll give it a go. I tried it but struggled to get a shape and fit I was happy with.

Hand rolling wasn't that tough really, once I had a shape I used the lid off a cigar box to roll the stick back and forward to keep it nice and smooth.
I think I need some stronger glue - as I am rolling them every couple of hours the wrapper was lifting a bit.