Rolling Machine Primer
Introduction
A rolling machine is a device made for simplifying the task of
rolling your own cigarettes,
tobacco or
otherwise. There is certainly a
venerable tradition in rolling by hand; however, the
speed and
ease with which you can roll using a machine is tough to beat, not to mention that you can learn to roll absolutely perfect
joints using a rolling machine with little or no
experience.
Rolling machines come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but most function basically in the same way. The most common type of rolling machine is a small, hand held version with a frame made of clear
plastic or
acrylic, two plastic
spindles mounted on the frame, and a tough plastic belt that wraps around both spindles. Variations range from simple
rolling mats to complex metal boxes with
ejector levers and other such
nonsense. The simple clear plastic machines will be the focus here, as they're
cheap ($2.00 - $10.00), small, and nicely
utilitarian.
You can
usually find rolling machines and
rolling papers at most gas station
convenience stores. Your local
tobacconist may also have them, but many people find it much more
fulfilling to buy their
drug paraphernalia from a
head shop.
So, how do I use it?
Most of the time when you buy a rolling machine there aren't any
instructions with it, which doesn't help the
first timer because the machine itself isn't exactly
intuitive. However, using the machine is simple enough to break into
Three Easy StepsTM:
- Load the machine - open the rollers, tuck the plastic belt down between the rollers, and fill the resulting trough with the goods.
- Roll the core of the joint - close the machine and, either using just your thumbs or your thumbs and forefingers, roll the rollers toward yourself until the plastic belt makes ¼ - 1 full rotation around the spindles, depending on the density and amount of substance you packed in.
- Roll the paper around the core - with the machine still closed, put your rolling paper in between the rollers, glue edge at the top and facing you. Roll the paper into the machine (using thumbs and forefingers, rolling toward yourself) until the gummed edge is almost in the machine, whereupon you lick it and then roll it in, too.
That's it. Open the machine, and out pops the
fruit of your labor. Hopefully you'll get a perfect joint from the deal. But let's not leave that up to
chance....
The primary thing to remember is that the inside of the joint needs to allow good
airflow in order to burn. If you roll it too tightly, you'll end up with the "
unsmokeable brick" that won't let enough air pass through.
Rolling too tightly is where most people are likely to go wrong at first. It's an easy mistake to make, but even easier to fix:
just don't turn the rollers so many times! Rolling the belt only halfway around or less will make a
dramatic difference in the quality of your
sticky.
A few other tips to
keep in mind:
- Use the right amount of weed and/or tobacco - if you use too much, the joint will roll too tightly and will be hard to smoke. If you use too little, you'll get a sorry, skinny little joint that will cause you shame and embarrassment. You know you're using too much if the rollers are hard to close or exceptionally hard to turn.
- Roll the belt and spindles evenly - if you place your thumbs flatly across the tops of both rollers and pull down (towards yourself) in short, even strokes, you'll have the best results.
- Pinch the rollers together when rolling in the paper - this helps the plastic belt grab the little bugger and pull it through.
- A perfectly rolled joint will be about the diameter of a commercial filtered cigarette, maybe bigger, and should be somewhat springy if you squeeze it, like a commercial cigarette. It should smoke slowly and evenly, and should provide an easy draw.
Also, if you're serious enough about
smoking up to buy a rolling machine, you might also consider a
spice grinder. Spice grinders are handy not just for simplifying the task of
breaking up your
stuff, but also breaking it into the perfect
consistency for rolling into a joint. These grinders can be found in
head shops and are usually cheap. Well worth the purchase price,
and then some.