Have you been spending entirely too much money on cigarettes? There is a solution to this that could save you a significant amount of money! Roll-Your-Own Cigarettes have been around for many years but have recently gained popularity because of the large tax hikes on traditional cigarette brands like Marlboro. This guide will help you in learning about Roll-Your-Own Cigarettes and the methods used to start rolling your own for as little as $1 a pack. Yes, you heard it, $1 a pack.
Pipe Tobacco for RYO Cigarettes
Let’s jump right in and talk about the makeup of RYO cigarettes. The first essential item needed for rolling your own would obviously be a good quality loose tobacco. The common misconception is that when your rolling your own cigarettes that you must use cigarette tobacco. Cigarette tobacco is very expensive as it took similar tax hikes in 2009 with manufactured cigarettes. Pipe Tobacco is a form of loose tobacco that works excellent for making your own cigarettes. In fact, there are many people that say it gives a more pleasant aroma and taste than traditional manufactured filtered cigarettes. Pipe Tobacco can be purchased in many different packaging sizes from 6oz all the way up to 5lbs! People commonly ask, “Well how many cigarettes can you make out of each size bag?” The simple answer: You can expect to yield about 40 cigarettes per one ounce of tobacco. A 16 ounce or 1-pound bag would yield 600 cigarettes or 3 cartons!
Click here for a list of all RYO Pipe Tobacco.
Rolling Papers or Cigarette Tubes
The traditional way to RYO cigarettes was to hand roll the tobacco in a rolling paper. This process becomes very time consuming and tedious, which is why people today now use cigarette tubes. Cigarette tubes allow individuals to make a pack of cigarettes in just a few minutes. These tubes resemble the traditional manufactured filtered cigarettes with the paper and a cellulose filter at the end to draw the smoke through. Cigarette tubes come in two standard sizes just like if you were to buy a pack of Marlboro Reds at the convenient store. 84mm, which is commonly referred to as Kings or shorts. 100mm, which is commonly referred to as well… 100s. Most brands manufacture the tubes in 200ct boxes which is one carton of cigarettes. So if you buy 1 – 16oz bag of tobacco then you would need to buy 3 – 200ct boxes of cigarette tubes.
Click here for a list of all Cigarette Tubes brands.
The Grand Finale… The Cigarette Machine
The moment everyone has been waiting for. We have covered the loose tobacco and cigarette tubes; however how do we actually bring it together and make a cigarette? Some people would argue that the cigarette machine or injector was the best invention ever created, a machine that will save you thousands of dollars every year. The three basic types of machines we are going to cover are electric, manual crank, and sliders. Electric machines are going to be the most efficient as they can make a pack of cigarettes in just a few minutes. Simply fill the top of the machine with your choice of loose tobacco, slide on a cigarette tube, and press the button to inject the tobacco into the tube. Manual crank machines are similar except the tobacco is injected by a hand crank that is manually pulled over by the user. Sliders are usually the least expensive set up and utilized a sliding mechanism that pushes the tobacco into the tube. An electric machine, such as the Powermatic II will be most cost effective and efficient in the long run.
Click here for a list of all popular Cigarette Machines.
If you are tired of paying extremely high prices on cigarettes then give Rolling-Your-Own a try!
When you are smoking a rolled cigarette what would make it run up to side waste a cigarette
It’s pretty well known amongst those that make their own cigarettes that two cartons (400 cigarettes) per pound of tobacco is the standard yield. If you can get 600 smokes out of a pound, you’ve got to be some sort of magician.
The large bags of “pipe tobacco” that people use for RYO purposes were once labeled and sold as cigarette tobacco, and they’re still the same product – only with a wider cut, so they can pass as pipe tobacco, and not incur the outrageous tax increase (2,500% – seriously) that was added to cigarette tobacco by SCHIP (the State Child Health Insurance Program), starting in 2009.
For example, I’ve still got D&R bags that have “this product intended for use as pipe tobacco” stickers covering the “cigarette tobacco” portion of the label. But don’t take my word for it – visit the Daughters and Ryan website, and read the descriptions of their blends (which are from the labels for the blends) that still mention cigarettes.
This whole thing has caused nothing but confusion amongst both RYO enthusiasts and pipe smokers alike, but it seems some people actually do enjoy these RYO blends in pipes, which isn’t all that surprising, as the wider cut changes the burn characteristics, among other things. I sure do miss the days of buying Two-Timer in a cigarette cut, it was the perfect cigarette blend. Now, it burns slower, and tastes different – not to mention it doesn’t stuff into the tubes worth a damn now.
Hopefully someone reads this and it helps clarify things about these giant bags of so-called “pipe tobacco” they’re seeing everywhere. It used to be cigarette tobacco, guys – there’s no mystery to be solved here, it’s just to sidestep taxes, while also bringing more fine pipe tobacco to the table.
Look for the blends with the thinnest cut, heres a few:
Premium Blends
D&R Three Sails
D&R Ryback
D&R Ryback Gold
D&R Sigaretta
D&R Picayune
Peter Stokkebeye
-Danish
-Norwegian
-Turkish
-Virginia
-Amsterdam
Value Blends
OHM -All of their blends
-Gambler
-4 Aces
-Cheyenne
There’s more, you’ve just got to look carefully at the width of the cut.
As far as machines are concerned, the sliding plastic type should never have been created, they’re complete junk. The plastic crank-style are not much better.
The metal crank-style are what you want.
Judging strictly by what I’ve read online, the only electric machines that seem to really be worth the cost is the Powermatic II, but I have no experience with any of them.
I hope someone finds this information useful, as it’s surprisingky difficult to find answers to questions about making smokes with “pipe tobacco” (it’s still intended for cigarettes, but shhhhhh, ok?) on the Internet. This will be my good turn done daily, as it were.
*For reference, I’ve been making my own cigarettes, while saving mountains of cash and enjoying the best smokes you can get for nearly 25 years.
Thank you for the info. Just doing this about a year now but still have questions sometimes. You answered a lot of them.
Interesting, I thought that number was off. I usually get about eight packs out of a 6 oz. bag.
Hello! I bought OHM Bold 6 oz Bag and I got full of a carton of 100s ( +- of a few damaged ones.) I use a manual machine like Top-o-Matic.
Your cigarette is too loose. It needs to be as solid as possible to burn smooth and consistently. Try using more tobacco. Also, if the the tobacco is too old or too dry, it will run. Open the bag, drip a few DROPS of water into the tobacco, reseal it. Let stand overnight. This re-humidifies it. Don’t do this too much because it can make it too damp. It will then rot.
This was really helpful in getting me started a few months ago, thanks!
I’ve since rolled about 10 cartons using these, with zero problems.
(Other than the slight learning curve of how much to “pack” in the rolling machine. But don’t stress, a little “tight” or “loose”, it still smokes just fine, till you get the feel)
1. PowerMatic IV rolling machine – essentially the same as the PowerMatic II.
2. ZEN full flavor cigarette tubes
3. OHM Red tobacco (lb bags)
This combination tastes similar to Camel Reds, but much better.
And literally costs less than a 10th as much in my “high tax” state.
Much appreciated this article and the comments to get me started.
I’m trying to find out the best way to match rolling tobacco and tubes w the type of cigarettes I smoke.. Is there a website or any help would b appreciated.. Im worried about just buying any type. I have done this before and wasn’t happy. I’ve tried many types tubes and many tobaccos and just not happy w taste.. help please w suggestions. Thank u
I think The Good Stuff Tobacco and High Card King-Size Tubes are a win-win every time!
GREAT INFO! THANKS! Would you happen to know what brand tastes the most like Marlboro Gold (Lights)?
OHM Silver is pretty close. I personally use OHM Blue with Zen full flavor tubes. Pretty close to a Marlburo Medium with less bitter aftertaste. I use either a Top-O-Matic T2 or TubeCut crank machine. Internally they are identical. I normally get between 425 and 450 cigarettes per 16oz/1lb bag. Key thing is not to let your tobacco dry out by leaving the bag open while you roll. Generally I put a handful of tobacco in a washed Jimmy Dean breakfast bowl and reseal the bag. Roll about 35-40 cigarettes with that. I use gladware plastic seal top lid containers to let a batch age a day before smoking. Amoritizing the $50 machine over a modest 10,000 cigarettes brings my pack average price to $0.85–0.92 a pack of 20.
Excellent answers and yes 2 cartons per 16oz. When I read 3 I laughed. I have the powermatic 2 and have used it for 6 years issue free, just keep it clean. I have tried all kinds of tobacco and have found OHM to be my favorite, as a menthol smoker and a ban going into effect here on June 1st I actually purchased 10 pounds this month to get me thru a little while before I have to switch back to regular after 38 years of smoking and menthol for last 30 gonna be tough. Good to read someone actually giving factual information online for a change. Stay safe.
Wooh! Thank you for your reply. This article missed the mark on several things. Which is sad. You can tell it’s all a sales ploy. I originally came because I saw the whole “pipe tobacco” is better than cigarette tobacco…. Most of these brands stare death in the face everyday because they are labeled as “pipe tobacco” very few actually were ethical enough to admit they are cigarette tobacco. The ones that do, like Custom Blends, are more expensive because of a tax increase! Nonetheless all the brands you mentioned may disappear from the shelves real soon. I’m not here to challenge you though. More appreciate that you provided honesty on this thread.
I use a metal crank machine and Zen King size tubes, 4 Aces tobacco. These tubes are 250 per box so I get 500 per pound with a little tobacco. I do roll fairly tight.
Wow, I have spent the better part of 2 days trying to find information on how to know what kind of tobacco to buy … and from where!
Rolling your own cigarettes was a lot easier about 45 years ago! I had a crappy little manual machine that did the trick and you could buy tubes and tobacco pretty much everywhere. Sigh.
I can’t find any info on anything in Windsor, Ontario. Nothing!
I’ve been smoking Benson & Hedges or Rothmans pretty much my whole life, but I just can’t afford them anymore. So am looking for tobacco and … well pretty much everything to get back into the roll your own mode. 🙂
Thanks for the info! If you have any recommendations for kingsize tubes and a tobacco blend, I would be grateful for any advice.
Thank you so much for the heads up. I recently started to RYO and was wondering why it was called pipe tobacco. This makes so much sense. Thanks again for the information.
I get close to 550 cigs out of a bag of tobacco.. I was in a shelter, and rolled 1000+ cigs a night. they weren’t loose or under filled either. btw that was 100’s i was filling. I get many more with king size. I’m not a magician just good at what I do.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE INFORMATION AS I WANT TO START ROLLING MY OWN!
2 square ft of dirt will grow 1 tobbacco plant = between 8-10 oz cured or at least 1 carton why buy it grow it! i don’t trust any tobbacco co. to sell me pure tobbacco w/ no addatives or even floor sweepings. be safe grow ur own sav ur seeds spend the winter rollin & smokin
10′ x 10′ = 100sf = 50 plants = 25 – 30 #s = 50 – 60 cartons x $50/carton = $2500 – $3000 saved or ??? don’t need a permit to barter.
Thank you! Very helpful
I’ve been rolling my own for years with just my hands. However I recently ran out of cigarette papers and started using a thin type paper. The secret to no glue is too wet with tongue at all stages of rolling so that the moisture is not pulled out of the final Edge.
I have been using the Powermatic II for over two years now. We prefer to smoke 100’s, however, the Powermatic only makes King Size. BUT, the only difference is about 1-2 mm space at the end without tobacco. Other than that, the only problem I have had with the machine, is if I put too much tobacco in and press the tobacco down too hard, or the tube not being straight. Press the tobacco slightly, just to get it even and let the machine do most of the compression.
I tend to lose an average of one to two tubes per box. Not too bad. I use Cheyanne light tobacco almost exclusively and have had good success with it until the bottom of the bag which has small dusting sized tobacco. This may cause some problems.
That’s strange, my ex used my powermatic 2 with her 100 tubes and never had a issue at all. I will say I tried once for her with 100 tubes and it took about 4 smokes till I got it down perfect.
Have you got cigarette tobacco? I see that you have cigar tobacco! Why cant I find cigarette tobacco?
Cigarette tobaccos are taxed at a higher rate than pipe tobacco generally the cut is the same. So it rolls smokes and tastes the same as tobacco labeled as cigarette. Its a matter of cost
I need rolling tobacco one pound bags &tubes also same machine to roll them
How do I find a comparable tobacco to my favorite store bought cigarettes? Ty!
I kept track and found rolling 100 mm length cigarettes you get 28 cigarettes an ounce or 448 a pound I use a commercial brand of tobacco and a top o matic t2 hand crank machine to roll. If you roll kings you would get more which it appears most estimates you see on cigarettes per ounce are based on King’s Thought I’d mention it for 100s people
Which type of rolling tobacco would b similar to Marlboro menthol lights
Which type of rolling tobacco would b similar to Marlboro menthol lights
Which type of rolling tobacco is similar to Marlboro Reds
Which type of rolling tobacco is similar to Marlboro Reds
Wish type tobacco is similar to Marlboro menthol Gold
Great question, thanks for asking! As for your question, we would totally recommend Good Stuff Menthol Gold Pipe Tobacco! We sell both 6oz and 1lb bags! Here’s the link:
https://www.buypipetobacco.com/ProductDetails.aspx/Pipe-Tobacco/Good-Stuff-Menthol-Gold-Pipe-Tobacco-16oz/
Which pipe tobacco will give the Benson and Hedges menthol taste. I’ve been using Ohm menthol and Shargio 100mm green tubes
I switched to ryo cigarettes over a year ago. Saves a ton of money. I use to pay $75 a carton for Doral silver 100s. I can make my own now for about $9 a carton. I use a Powermatic 3 machine as it has a tobacco hopper and measures out what it needs for each cig, making the process go a lot faster: I can make 5 packs in about 30 minutes. I believe the expense of the machine is worth it as it saves you a lot of time.
quick question: what’s the unusable bits and pieces at the bottom of the bag called and which brands have the least?
Your cigarette is too loose. It needs to be as solid as possible to burn smooth and consistently. Try using more tobacco. Also, if the the tobacco is too old or too dry, it will run. Open the bag, drip a few DROPS of water into the tobacco, reseal it. Let stand overnight. This re-humidifies it. Don’t do this too much because it can make it too damp. It will then rot.
Most pipe tobacco blends are Virginia mixed with Burley, 90% of the major brands you find in stores and online are inferior in the quality of tobacco used. 16oz of tobacco that costs $20 or less is usually if not always, terrible quality tobacco. I blend the following tobacco’s to mimic certain store bought packs of smokes, which are similar to American Spirit Blue & Black and Dunhill International Red & Blue.
Gawith Hoggarth Kendal Gold (Original) Non-Aromatic High Quality Straight Virginia Tobacco as a base blend option
Mac Baren Virginia #1 Mild/Medium Flavored Virginia Tobacco as a base blend option
Sutliff 507C Virginia Slices Mild/Medium Flavored Straight Virginia Tobacco as a base blend option
Mac Baren Virginia Flake Mild/Medium Flavored Virginia Tobacco as a light add on blend
Capstan Gold Flake (Virginia) Mild Flavored Tobacco as a light add on blend
Former’s Bird’s Eye Flake (Virginia/Perique) Mild Flavored Tobacco as a light add on blend
Wessex Gold Flake Mild/Medium Flavored Tobacco as a light add on blend
Former’s Cross Grain Flake (Virginia/Perique) Full Flavored Tobacco as a light add on blend
Beretta Cigarette Tubes (Original & Elite) Chlorine Free Papers (Black Filters)
Powermatic II Cigarette Injector Machine (used for over 5+yrs now)
CVault Large, 2 Liter & 4 Liter Humidity Storage Containers for various blends of tobacco’s used to make cigarettes
RYO tobacco most like Marlboro Menthol?
It’s hard to say since everyone has a different opinion. However, as a menthol smoker myself, I totally prefer The Good Stuff Menthol. 🙂