Monster "o" Matic - beyond the edge
Posted by Bruce W. on Sunday, 02-Dec-2007
The real title of this post should be how to improve Chinese junk when you have no life.......
Four years or so ago I decided to investigate rolling my own smokes because of the ever increasing carton prices and health issues with commercial smokes. What I found was that yes, the tobacco was much less expensive but that even the top of the line machines available were Chinese junk that marginalized the tobacco savings with replacement parts costs.
Despite better advice, I started with a Topomatic machine, since I could not locate any Premier machines locally. As a process engineering technician, I know too well that the best machine in the world is worthless if you cant get replacement parts or service for it. My local tobacco shop didn't seem to have any problems getting Tops stuff. So, topomatic rules in my castle.
After learning how poorly the ergonomics of this crank injection machine preform, with carpal tunnel syndrome and my first handle Failure at about 1000 pulls, (the keyed hole in the handle wallowed out after having to tighten it before almost every use, and this rounded off the shoulders on the axle as well) I purchased a second topomatic unit, and took the broken unit to work for some hot roding.
I started with the cheesy Chinese sheet metal stamped handle and the axle assembly. I made a new handle with a piece of 1"x3/16" flat steel stock. I replaced the grab knob with a 2"x1/4"x3/8" shoulder bolt into a 1/4-20 tapped hole in the business end of the flat with a little red lock tite. I copied exactly the axle, replacing it with 440d tool steel. I located the keyed hole in the flat stock handle so that when the machines handle is in the home position (chamber open) the shoulder bolt is slightly below the upper left corner of the machine frame.
The stock configuration started with the knob above the upper right corner of the frame, and when loaded and cycled, the handle drops to the cut/rest position below the lower right corner of the machine, then cycled across the front of the frame to stuff and eject. This just was NOT a comfortable way to operate any way I gripped it. So.....
My configuration started with the handle below the upper left corner of the frame at maybe 300 deg. I hook the I-bolt with my thumb and pull it across the top of the machine to the cut/rest position, (about 10 deg.) and then hook it with my index finger, resting the heal of my right hand on the lower right corner of the frame (which is heavily padded with silicon) and make a fist, injecting the tobacco. I use my left hand to gently pinch the end of the tube at the brass nipple (the stock holder is just above useless) so that the injector can actually penetrate the cotton wad slightly and eliminate completely the voids at the filter I was getting before! This also eliminated the temptation to push down on the handle and bend it. (I have already written a registered letter to Tops with detailed design changes in my name, neener neener neener.....TH PT!) BELIEVE ME WHEN I SAY YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. My guess is that even the high end machines are junk. Don't look for any of the changes I made to apear on a production tops machine. This is EXACTLY like buying a $8000.00 import and puting $20000.00 worth of parts and time in it.
By now, my boss sees I am up to something on my lunch hours. He smokes too. My improvements made it less likely to break, but operation was still rough. My second top o matic stock machine has since failed as well, (handle failure) and I am back in commercial cigarette land.
One thing that nearly put me off of roll your own was the metallic taste I was getting in any tobacco I tried, which was a good experience as I got to taste many different tobaccos along the way. It occurred to my Boss and I that the metallic taste had to be coming from the parts contacting the tobacco itself. Turns out, the aluminum cutter blade was causing most of the noticeable taste, and I was getting residue buildup that caused miss feeds and jambs when it got bad. Putting a mirror finish on the aluminum with 600 grit grinding compound did two things: The metallic taste stopped, and operation of the handle improved a lot! My old nemesis friction.
My boss is a registered millwright/tool maker and made me a new cutter out of hardened steel with a carbide concave cutter/former. I replaced the outer plastic axle boss for the operating handle with one made from mild steel with a Teflon bearing in it, and mirror polished the axle shaft. I also installed a small electronic counter inside so I can log failures.
The end result is this: Smooth comfortable operation with very few failures. I can barely make 80 cigs per hour on a stock machine with 10% failures on a good day. on my "monster o matic" machine I can push 200 per hour with no failures if I drink loads of coffee and I am pressed for time..... The new handle configuration also left me with a place to leave a large pile of tobacco to stuff the slot with without being wiped off by the handle. It has been working so well, I gave my backup machine to my boss who is now a RYO fan as well. The only breakdown I have had since I made this modification three years ago has been the handle return spring broke. It was almost useless, and I didn't replace it. I always flick the handle back with my thumb to drop the cigarette anyway.
Over 6000 smokes made with no failures, or voids I didn't cause. I might get one of the Premier machines and see if there in need of any improvement..... and in case your interested, I use Premier light king size tubes and Wind River Tobacco Co. TETON mild tobacco.
Hope you had fun reading this
Comments [ new ]
- Re: Monster "o" Matic - beyond the edge
- Posted by Captain U-96 aka Mike on Saturday, 08-Dec-2007
I wondered what it would take to Americanize one of these machines! I bought a second one as a backup--just in case, and have been using it the last couple months to get it broke in. I've decided to get the P-47 cutter/compressor; since Mike C. tells me it makes for a smooth operation. Just for curiosity sake what do you think applying your modifications would cost someone to have done?
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I'm thinking about putting a new Super on my X-mass list, since a Premier Supermatic was my first cranker way back when.
I ruined a couple Supers early on in the beginning of my tubing, and I still have the remnants of an old maroon machine I've been thinking of rebuilding someday.
What I'm getting at is I attribute my success with my Topomatics to lessons learned on the first couple Supermatics I condemed to death! Experience is the best teacher for those who fail to read the directions with the intention of following them carefully. Actually; the only major manufacturer's machine currently I haven't had experience with is the Excel! I am truly curious to know what you think your modifications would cost to have done? Thanks for the informative post! I am one who can appreciate your ideas like the cycle counter! Capt Mike
- Re: Monster "o" Matic - beyond the edge
- Posted by chasM on Monday, 03-Dec-2007
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Glad to hear your machining efforts have paid off for you.
Two things that I have found indespensable using the "O"matics:
1. A hopper tray
2. Making the machine stationary (mine is affixed to a lunch tray - which I then affix to my work bench with dowels, so the whole thing removes easily) - this allows me to hold the tube on the nozzle with my finger til the "fill" is perfect (takes some experience, but I would put my near-perfect rate at 95%)
Good luck - Chas
- Re: Monster "o" Matic - beyond the edge
- Posted by Dave L on Wednesday, 12-Dec-2007
A picture of your hopper tray would be nice. Did you glue the four sides together and then glue them to the machine?
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There are tube pinching/holding alternatives. The OP's using it "so that the injector can actually penetrate the cotton wad slightly and eliminate completely the voids at the filter" might be solved with a shorter spoon (without filter penetration there's less stress on the gripper). Unfortunately there's no easy way to increase/control spring tension but you might took at Gripper tuning.
- Re: Monster "o" Matic - beyond the edge
- Posted by ChasM on Tuesday, 18-Dec-2007
Attached is my wooden hopper tray. I affix it to the machine with heavy packaging tape.
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It has a wooden lid to the left of the machine (it just happens to hold 20 finished smokes)
Merry Christmas.
Chas
Trouble posting picute