CRANK VS HH
Posted by TOECUTTER on Friday, 28-Dec-2007
JUST THOUGHT ID PICK YOUR ALLS BRAIN BEFORE THIS FORUM
(WHICH WILL BE MISSED), ENDS. WHAT IS THE ADVANTAGE OF A CRANK INJECTOR OVER A HANDHELD (RAYO TWIN) WHEN I CAN MAKE A PACK OF NICELY STUFFED SMOKES IN UNDER 10 MINUTES?
ARE THEY THAT MUCH FASTER? I DONT HAVE LOOSE CHERRIES, GET A CONSISTENT DRAW, AND LIKE I SAID, A PACK IN LESS THAN
10 MINUTES, CASUALLY. IVE ALSO HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS WITH THE ZIG-ZAG HH ($7.00) MACHINE ALBEIT A BIT SLOWER. BEEN SYOIN FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS AND WONDER IF A MATIC WOULD HELP VERSUS THE COST. APPRECIATE ANY HELP.
DAVE Z
Comments [ new ]
- Re: CRANK VS HH
- Posted by dan b on Saturday, 29-Dec-2007
In my limited experience, the crank-style injectors biggest advantage over the HH's is speed, because they don't require repeated tamping the tobacco into the chamber. Also, HH's seem to be prone to underfilling tubes, even after overfilling and repeatedly tamping tobacco in the chamber.
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I started with a ZigZag PrecisionPro, since it was advertised as being able to make KS & 100's. But, the reality for me was that it didn't make fully packed KS, even with repeated packing/tamping. Usually I'd end up dropping in a little extra tobacco into the chamber after injecting, then manually push & pack it into the end of the tube with a hobbyist paint brush handle to get it fully stuffed, so that it would be near flush after tapping. I averaged about 20 minutes or more for 10-12 cigs.
I then went to a Rizla 'cigarette size' kit, the HH injector was a remarkable upgrade from the ZZ (perhaps because of the smaller chamber) the quality of the device seemed to be a huge step-up, harder plastic with a more positive feel, the sliding pieces seem to be of a teflon like substance, and it gave much better results. The minor drawbacks are that it really ONLY works with the 'cig size' tubes (which aren't available to me locally), and the nozzle is a little too long, which can cause tobacco to hang up in it when removing the tube (so again I'd be poking the tobacco in the nozzle into the tube with my paint brush handle). I averaged about 20 minutes for a pack with it.
I've only had my Top-O-Matic for a couple weeks now, but wouldn't want to go back to the HH's for an extended time after using it. I'm still mostly using the 'cig size' tubes with it (after sanding/polishing the nozzle) although I have also used KS tubes (Gambler, Zen, ZigZag), the biggest plus for me is that it there is NO TAMPING REQUIRED and it usually overstuffs (I like a firm pack). 4 or 5 hard taps after injecting fully packs the tube to the filter and generally gets the tobacco flush or nearly flush with the end of the tube. I make a pack in about 10 minutes with it, and that includes tapping (and trimming if necessary).
Since Lil Brown, and a few retailers like Costco, sell the TOP for under $35 (and the box includes a certificate for getting $10 worth of coupons for TOP tobacco & tubes), cost shouldn't be much of an issue. However, if you can make a pack in 10 minutes with your HH, and are fully satisfied with the results I can't give you any good reason for upgrading to a crank machine.
- Re: CRANK VS HH
- Posted by mike c on Saturday, 29-Dec-2007
since I am up and in shock, I suppose trying to brainstorm on how to reverse Dave's decision (again?)......anyway, this would be my comment on that
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the tobacco slot
THE SLOT
and the way it stuffs more perfectly, tighter, more consistent, but to me the very very biggest deal is the SLOT
after you get used to using a machine and you go back and use the plastic slider HH, it is like being a cave-man trying to start a fire.....you want to laugh (trying to put the tobacco into the HH, versus putting it into the chamber of the machine)
when I came here about a year ago I made the hugest defence for HH's, and I almost hope my words are gone, because I was wrong