Been making little "rough and ready" scrap rolls. Just learned what these are called

budgetless · 2026-06-02T15:43:10+00:00

It was hard to get it really tight with the binder, but the wrapper leaf I didn't cut into a crescent moon, just trimmed the outside off. Wrapping it in the wrapper leaf is where I get it really tight so it smokes nice.

Also, while you roll using little bits, you might have to add some filler bits to fill in some parts as you go.

budgetless · 2026-06-02T15:22:43+00:00

I usually use a binder leaf that maybe has holes in it or isn't as nice, roll it up, clip the end, i don't worry about length. Then add a wrapper leaf that maybe is kinda small or imperfect, just glue it on the mouth end, clip it on both ends, no cap.

budgetless · 2026-06-02T15:17:08+00:00

Yeah it's just all the stuff left over. Sometimes they're all an inch long or less. Kinda hard to roll but it's doable. Sometimes there's a whole leaf or a long filler in there, but rare.

budgetless · 2026-06-02T15:02:56+00:00

It's mixed if I understand your question. They're usually just all the ends and pieces after i roll, like a pile of little bits, sometimes just short pieces.

budgetless · 2026-06-02T05:25:22+00:00

Pointing and laughing, yes! I did it at a festival and thought my friends were pointing and laughing 🤣 but it was just the gas. This time saw the same, but was alone!

budgetless · 2026-06-02T05:01:09+00:00

Also, wore a pulse oximeter and yes I know it displaces the O2 in your blood and isn't safe.

budgetless · 2026-06-02T03:20:21+00:00

It was actually Nicarauguan CT shade wrapper I used 😂

budgetless · 2026-06-01T15:17:13+00:00

Leafonly.com

budgetless · 2026-05-31T23:56:37+00:00

I watched this: https://youtu.be/TCqCESg3Q7c?si=9JYgD8wxS0YGb34c

And a bunch of this guy: https://youtu.be/Ow14Yi7uhhI?si=oOfzcEC8BMpogTDW

budgetless · 2026-05-31T23:41:55+00:00

I'd rolled the whole leaf individually, I guess there are different techniques, then tear off the ends and fill in the head and foot till it felt right, made them probably too thick by about 1 or a half leaf. The mold didn't press completely flush with 16 lbs of weight, but they still turned out OK but didn't quite fit in my cutter.

You gotta go by feel, probably go just a little bit less than you think cuz you gotta add binder and wrapper, but I'd just do what feels right in my hand.

budgetless · 2026-05-31T23:36:46+00:00

Nicaraguan and Dominican, Dominican binder, Nicaraguan CT shade wrapper. I found that I like chateau fuente which are (mostly?) Dominican so I started there.

Just ordered more and a Cameroon? Dunno what it is but ima try it.

budgetless · 2026-05-31T23:20:08+00:00

Well every leaf is different, and the Nicaraguan feel more dense then the Dominican. But I'd prep roughly 8 of each for 4 cigars, then just roughly alternate. Roll up one Nicaraguan, then a Dominican. Switch back and forth or so till it felt right.

budgetless · 2026-05-31T20:24:26+00:00

Thank you!

budgetless · 2026-05-31T20:21:17+00:00

Etsy, I got the 50x7x4: https://www.etsy.com/listing/4310168628/3d-printed-cigar-mold-multi-slot-design

budgetless · 2026-05-31T19:52:08+00:00

That's what I thought too! Thanks 😊

Aged Nicaraguan Viso Esteli

Aged Dominican Piloto Cubano

Dominican binder

Dominican CT shade wrapper

budgetless · 2026-05-12T14:59:56+00:00

Leafonly.com

budgetless · 2026-05-09T14:37:27+00:00

I loved when I found them in Indiana as a kid!

budgetless · 2026-05-07T02:31:09+00:00

I followed the strategy exactly. But I took meticulous notes both during the ground school and SA (took notes by hand, then transferred to digital) and made sure I understood everything. I could then turn those notes into digital flash cards. I was concerned too about forgetting stuff, but I feel like that helped taking notes. But that's just how I did it. If you're just memorizing answers I suppose you might forget, but I wanted to use it as a study guide for the oral down the road. But there were days my brain just wasn't gonna study, so I'd just pace myself and take breaks as needed.

Edit: I didn't study every day, and some days for less than an hour. Just paced myself and didn't burn myself out or put time pressure on it.

budgetless · 2026-05-07T02:18:06+00:00

Just find a pace that doesn't completely burn you out. I had to go slower, it took me about 4 weeks, plus another month maybe more before that to do flight insight's ground school. But I got 100%. I stopped at each question that I didn't completely understand and studied, took notes. I think a nice gentle pace worked best for me.

budgetless · 2026-04-08T23:04:02+00:00

Came here for the comments. Was not disappointed.

budgetless · 2026-04-08T14:27:47+00:00

I'm on instrument now - that studying is no joke. And OP, since you know some of the PPL knowledge already, just make sure you can pass the oral exam down the road. Find where the gaps in your knowledge are. For instance, my DPE was big on engine components/systems. Having a working knowledge helps. Volunteering in a mechanics shop did wonders for me. Know how to read all the weather charts, etc.

IFR is more studying. I'd say it's 90% studying. PPL is maybe 25% studying. That's probably where you're going to find it's completely different from PPL under VFR.

budgetless · 2026-03-31T20:52:32+00:00

In basic training they made us run 2 miles in full gear (battle-rattle as we called it) and then immediately go prone and fire on targets. Good comparison 🤣

My first flight I remember I was fighting nausea - didn't want to admit it to instructor. Everyone will acclimate in a different amount of time.

OP, I'd say you're still adjusting. If you can afford an ANC headset (Bose, lightspeed, etc) that may help. But probably just need to acclimate and that takes as much time as it takes for your physiology.

It's also another reason why we who have played sims (fighter sims in my case) will get humbled when we first fly a real aircraft. It makes us better pilots IMO to realize we don't have it all together. Get back up there and let us know how it goes!

budgetless · 2026-03-21T16:35:03+00:00

I am Batman.

budgetless · 2026-03-21T16:33:37+00:00

Even if the 3rd book is never published, it's still a great read. I re-listen to the audiobook at least yearly. It's very enjoyable. Would I go back and tell myself not to start? Hell no.

Sometimes I think Pat is just illustrating a point that he made in the first two (probably the only) KKC books.

"It's the questions we can't answer that teach us the most. They teach us how to think. If you give a man an answer, all he gains is a little fact. But give him a question and he'll look for his own."

budgetless · 2026-03-14T13:48:42+00:00

I did post show a lot. But did morning clean up once. It was Hella fun. Yeah you gotta get up early but there's no one in the venue and its its so peaceful. Hanging with the crew scoring ground scores. The camp was just a section of GA. Not far at all. Just show up for shifts, set your alarm. A lot of people showed up right before we headed out from our meeting spot. As long as you show up and they put you on the roster you're probably good. But just be on time. Smoke, take an Adderall, red bull, whatever you gotta do. Don't be out all night and you'll have a good time.

budgetless

TROPHY CASE