Why rollers prefer plastic Moulds

[El Presidente]

Over dinner last night with Yasmel he made the point that he very much preferred plastic moulds as opposed to timber ones. When asked if it worried him regarding the loss of tradition he simply said that the only thing that worried him was the production of perfect cigars.

40% of all cigars now produced in Partagas are produced from Plastic Moulds. He loves them because they are perfect and robust and remain perfect as opposed to older timber moulds which through use can be gouged, worn (resulting in thicker or thinner cigars when "pressed"...we often wondered). He is still in awe about how much "pressure" can be placed on the moulds without the hint of a crack or breakage.

He would love the factory to go 100% Plastic moulds as soon as possible but the reality is that they are hellishly expensive. Each mould is colour coded with each colour representing a vitola. Orange moulds = Double Corona's...Light Blue = Sublimes....etc

[Colt45]

Great info - thanks. I am surprised though, that plastic molds are more expensive to produce than wood.....

[El Presidente]

» Great info - thanks. I am surprised though, that plastic molds are more

» expensive to produce than wood.....

He believes they come from Germany. Will find out but definately not Chinese.

[Jimmy2]

Also was told that wood molds also get warped mostly during the months the factory close in the begining of the year.

I think they make a better cigar they never warp or go bad with differant temps like the wood one's.

They have been using them for a while in other parts of the world and look how they cigars smoke?

[CIGARHead]

yeah, i wondered what the rollers thought about breaking tradition. i'd like to hear feedback from an old school roller....they might have some different opinions.

[tandblov]

» He believes they come from Germany. Will find out but definately not

» Chinese.

I hope not, I hate the idea of lead in my cigars..;-)

[Ginseng]

Fascinating. I believe one of the largest makers of plastic cigar molds is based in the United States. I'm going to see if I can find the reference.

Wilkey

[trumpetchris]

» Fascinating. I believe one of the largest makers of plastic cigar molds is

» based in the United States. I'm going to see if I can find the reference.

»

» Wilkey

They are in Lancaster county Pennsylvania I believe.. Somewhere near Amish country. I should know this, being a PA boy and all, but I'm not sure.

[Loki]

» Fascinating. I believe one of the largest makers of plastic cigar molds is

» based in the United States. I'm going to see if I can find the reference.

»

» Wilkey

BLH Industries in PA produce the molds for domestic cigars.

Here's a link to an article from CA.

http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar/CA_Ar...22,1911,00.html

[SmokinLightning]

This is small piece of a larger topic that interests me regarding cigars, tradition vs. progress. I have no doubt more modern mfg. methods could improve quality, but at what point does the end product lose its "mystique"?

For me, part of the allure of cigars is enjoying a finely hand-crafted cigar... something with a lot of tradition and history behind it. The same feeling I get when I view a particularly fine piece of hand built furniture or a coachwork design on a classic auto.

Hypothetically, if machinery were developed that could plant, pick, ferment, blend and roll a cigar that was nearly indentical in look, feel and taste to the original hand-made item, yet be signifigantly cheaper... would you consider this an improvement, or would it take away an intangible part of the cigar that makes them so enjoyable?

Forgive my ramblings, I'm in no way trying to say that plastic molds somehow cheapen the cigar... it just opens up a larger discussion my mind.

[Colt45]

» Forgive my ramblings, I'm in no way trying to say that plastic molds

» somehow cheapen the cigar... it just opens up a larger discussion my mind.

I understand what you mean...... mold material doesn't bother me in the least - if we were talking about

going from molding by hand, let's say, to mold forms as is done, that might take away more of the mystique.

As for total mechanization, it would be nearly impossible, in the least due to weather. But if they could,

and it produced cigars that were totally consistent in blend and construction quality, I'd have to give

it some thought.

[Ginseng]

» BLH Industries in PA produce the molds for domestic cigars.

» Here's a link to an article from CA.

» http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar/CA_Ar...22,1911,00.html

That's brilliant and exactly what I was thinking of. Thanks!

Wilkey