[jlong]

I roll my own with a Topomatic. I've had it for 4 months and roll an average of 1.5 packs a day and it has held up really well. Just clean it after rolling. Leaving tobacco in the chamber can lead to corrosion. Lubricating the mechanism with light oil helps. Just a light single dab at each pivot and slide point with sewing machine oil on a tooth pick and no more. Over lubrication attracts dust and can jam the mechanism.

The number of packs per pound depends on the cut of the tobacco and how tight you pack the machine. Packing the chamber too tight can damage the injector and the cig is hard to draw on. A fine or shag cut is denser and it naturally packs tighter. Coarse cuts do not inject as well as fine and medium. Of the fine cut blends I've tried, Bali shag, Peter Stockkeby, and Drum are best tasting. They are most expensive. Gambler, Top, Premier, and Bugler are medium cut and you use less packing. Mc Clintock and Midnight special are coarser cut and do not inject so well. I do not pay attention but it seems I average 2 cartons a pound using medium cut tobacco.

Some rolling tube filters are denser than others. The dense filters are hard to draw through. Premier full flavor tubes seem denser than Gambler full flavor rolling tubes. Top or Gambler tubes are what I like best.

Taste buds vary so you need to experiment. It's hard to recomend a brand or blend. What I like can taste like crap to the next person. Experimenting with 3/4 OZ pouches is best. Burleys and Turkish blends are my favorite. I have settled on Gambler full flavor red or turkish and Premier full flavor for everyday smoking. They are inexpensive, inject well in the machine, and taste pretty good. For occasional premium smokes, I like Drum best.

Pipes and Cigars is a good on line dealer. I have been buying tobacco from them and they ship promptly. They sell a large variety of RYO blends.

The recent "buy before Apr 1st" rush has caused shortages throughout the industry so you have to make compromises when out buying. Also be prepared for a shorted internet order with a back order notice.

I also smoke a tobacco pipe and the blends with high nicotene curb my cigarette craving.