"If You Don't Have One of These Injectors, You're Missing Out and there's MUCH MORE"

  There are new even more robust injectors like Republic's upscale T2 Version of the Top-O-Matic, electric injectors (a small few) that work very well indeed and don't chop the tobacco to powder, and of course a few new tubes that meet the high quality and stunning appearance of the VeraCruz line. These we'll discuss in detail either below or in each appropriate section of this magazine. However one product stands out as perhaps being the most transformative as it has the potential of bringing a tremendous number of new converts from package cigarettes. It has always been our strongest advice to this industry to stop fighting over the small piece of the pie that represents CMC/RYO/MYO and instead expand the pie. This was never going to happen as long as this industry continued to beat the negatively viewed drum of CHEAP. With the new tobacco legislation, cost compared to packaged brands has become much less of an issue. For all that time we have stressed quality and moderation over cost. We have tested products from this industry in countries where packaged cigarettes cost LESS than pure tobacco, if you can find it at all. In every case even extremely fiscally challenged smokers realized the superior nature of a freshly injected stick, most profoundly when the tobacco used was of the highest quality. They not only preferred this to their normal brand of cigarettes but would go to great lengths to obtain it, even if it meant significantly reduced consumption.

  Our readers by and large, especially those who choose the higher quality blends, reduce their consumption considerably, regardless of their economic status. Many enjoy consumption reductions as high as 80% and still smoke whenever they really want to. The key here is that among that group, few if any ever smoke because they need to. They have reduced or completely lost (as have I) any addiction to nicotine.

   So it is only natural to look for products that will enable people to enjoy tobacco when THEY choose and not out of any HABIT and part of that process is of course high quality pure tobacco products. Another part, which the machine we are about to introduce will contribute heavily to, is the design of tubes and machines that can help with this transformation. The concept is not new but has never been done with the class and availability that this new machine and the tubes to support it provide. The machine . . . The new EXP2000 Slim Tube Injector. Finish reading this before you click on the video below. It is important to understand how this machine came about preceded by a brief history of prior attempts at slim tube product lines.

   The EXP1000 (the review of which remains below) had a very successful 20 year run in Canada from the mid 70s to the mid 90s, and was reintroduced by Simron International a few years ago. It made a standard stick of exceptional quality and found few detractors except for those who still feel it necessary to make a carton of cigarettes at one sitting. We stringently oppose this practice as it removes the vital freshness of a just injected stick that help to make custom made taste so special. A few people with large hands also had problems with the diminutive size of the EXP1000. I have large hands and it took me only a few injections to overcome this minor annoyance. And the sticks produced were of such quality and consistency that even if some difficulty were to have continued, it was always well worth the effort. We've done plenty of writing about the EXP1000. Its very small size makes it perfect for travel and for those who make just a few sticks at a time, it is truly a marvel. Even some of our friends who make lots of sticks for travel prefer this machine over all others.

   However, what we speak of now is the encore of this great little machine. Yes, the EXP2000. It is a true crankstyle SLIM tube injector. That's right, the slim 6.5mm/6.9mm tube that CTC (Supermatic pre Imperial buyout) experimented with several years ago. The Premier Slim had problems. First and most important of all was that no tubes were available separately. You had to buy the tubes in a kit form that included the injector. Actually it was not all that bad of an idea as the bundled hand injector was so weak that a couple of boxes of tubes could likely wear it out. Even though the slim injector and tubes soon disappeared, there remained quite a number of folks who loved the size. People all over the world struggled to get tubes for their funky little injector.

  In the last couple of years D&R and HBI both decided to began providing slim tubes for those that still had the urge. And they embarked on a project to develop a better hand injector for the slimmer size. (6.9mm was the actual dimension of the original tube, NOT 6.5mm - perhaps it was the nozzle that was 6.5 - we thought - but upon measuring with a high quality micrometer, we found the nozzle itself to still be larger than 6.5mm)   D&R's Ramback Slims and HBI's Laramie Slim are available today in the original 80mm length. But while the hand injector now available is certainly better than the original one (we looked at a dozen prototypes before the final one was produced), it is still a hand injector.

   Most people prefer crankstyles - its a fact of life. The EXP2000 is a crankstyle injector identical to the original 1000 series except that it uses the currently available 6.9mm slim tube. And its injects this tube as easily as its larger sibling, the EXP1000 which injects the standard 8.1mm. In fact, it injects the slim tube even easier as the size of the tobacco chamber of the tube is much smaller and the new machine's tobacco slot is narrower in width but just as long. We've found that longer slot to width ratios are better as the tendency to overpack is reduced. For instance with both the original Top-O-Matic and its upscale sibling, the T2, removing the 100mm attachment works even better for 84mm tubes.

   By mid-summer of this year 2010, the first EXP2000s are due to arrive. The video below give you a look at the performance of the prototype but before you look at it, remember this new machine has been in it proto stage for nearly two years. We shot the video over a year ago and after approving its performance (an understatement), Ron, at Simron began the arduous task of doing the final engineering required to go from exceptional prototype to production line efficient reproduction. We spent hundreds of hours in conversation with Ron on this project and one of the most interesting fruits of our time together came with the idea for longer 84mm slim tube. StVincent USA provided us with prototype tubes and as you will seen in the video, the longer 84 x 6.9mm injects perfectly as well. Also the VeraCruz line, made by StVincent, and distributed by D&R will offer eventually the Nocturne (Brown and Gold) and Midnight (Black and Gold) in the longer slim size. They look even more elegant in this longer, slimmer size. We suspect that after the current inventory of 80mm tubes nears its end, both D&R and HBI will likely opt for the longer tube as well in their own lines.

   This size is going to attract a lot of packaged cigarette smokers from their additive filled brands. The world over, people love slimmer sticks. They smoke much smoother, use less tobacco, and allow those, who have had to traditionally hand roll some of the stronger European Halfzwares into thin sticks, (like Stokkebye's incredible Amsterdam Shag), to inject these wonderful tobaccos into a tube and remain vertical while enjoying them. There are a number of slim cigarettes in the package brand realm and in Asia and Europe, slim cigarettes have a very large following. The same can be said for certain large groups in the US groups - groups much larger than all of current RYO/MYO/CMC enthusiasts. We'll discuss this product much more as soon as the first production run is ready for inspection. Until then watch the video below and take a look at the future. A very elegant one indeed! Click the graphic below to see the video on this amazing machine.

   But we're not even close to finished yet on innovations in the injector field. For a long time (in fact since early 2004 when we shot the first "EasyRoller" video, our experiences with auger driven electrics have been anything but positive. That is with one exception. Two years ago we were approached by Don Roddy of Ace Tobacco Wholesale and asked if we would test his new machine. It was originally named the Rapid Roller (boring) and was green, looking quite a bit like a previous Danish machine. Once we examined it closely however we found that it had all the improvements we recommended for the EasyRoller, such as a larger, much more powerful motor with high torque that ran at very low RPMs. We found right away that this machine did a much better job filling the tube than any we had seen previously. And the tobacco not only stayed in the tube, but the excess tobacco in the tray after injection was barely altered from its original state. Still we found a few problems with ash dropping off and a bit of an uneven burn. Over the next two years, Don and I spoke nearly daily and he kept at it, further improving the motor, slowing it down even more. Finally he addressed the actual shape, length and spacing of the tines of the auger. After a lot of experimenting what resulted was what we consider the best electric auger design possible.

   The tension arm (that determines how firmly the tube is held during injection) was yet another innovation. Sure all auger machines had them but this one really worked. More on that in a minute. But first regarding the auger. Having solved the motor power (at no small expense) and RPM issue, when Don turned his full attention to the auger, he found that slight deviations in taper along the length of the auger produced unique results. He optimized those deviations and created for the first time an auger that truly pushes the tobacco into the tube with little or no chopping of the strands. We have probably 50 augers here from different stages of his development and I must tell you this extra effort in auger design paid off big time. We encouraged him to patent this design, it was that unique.

  As to the tension rod, one can adjust it so that a tube will slip off the long nozzle easily with only a slight pull, or tighten it down so tight that you can lift this pretty heavy machine by the tube alone. As the tension increases so does the tightness of the pack. And at the extreme end, one can pack a tube so tightly that you cannot draw any air through it. So what would be the point of that. Well for those people who still insist on making a carton at a time or more, you can make a stick that is much too tight to smoke immediately but a week or two later, the stick draws just fine. It really is common sense as folks who make even a case full of cigarettes and carry them around for a day or two begin to find the tobacco becomes looser in the tube as time passes. This is partly (along with fresh flavor and moderate consumption) why I prefer making sticks only as I want one. With the new AceTobacco machine you can make sticks that will be just right after two weeks or more storage and if you carry around a cigarette case full, you'll find little if any loose tobacco at the bottom of the case. For me I prefer making them at a normal tightness and smoking them as I make them, but this machine is far more versatile than my own particular methodology would ever need.

  The machine has undergone a couple of new namings. First the Oldham and now soon to be the Plantation. It is a beautiful yellow and black machine and is by far the quietest electric I've yet seen. The auger slips right out for cleaning and the front cover comes off by loosening a single screw to clean the very small amount of tobacco dust that may accrue over a long time. Every part of this machine has undergone immense engineering and all of it was done here in the US. Yes the final production was in China and it represents some of the best work I've seen from Asia. But this is no off the truck private labeled import. It is all American in design and as stated before, is the result of an incredible amount of design, engineering, labor. and TESTING. It is unlike any other electric auger injector and is built to last a really long time. Service from AceTobacco is outstanding in case you need something but I doubt you will. It is our usual practice to put videos in the MultiMedia section of this magazine but these first two injectors are so special that we place the link for the Oldham/Plantation video here as well. Watch as we put this remarkable machine through its paces. A couple of other things about the video. We will show more of this machine in the Multimedia Section because it is so versatile. One thing this first video does not show is how smooth the end of the auger is. You can literally but your finger against the spinning tip of the auger and not get cut. This smoothness of the auger tip is but one other reason why this machine is so kind to the tobacco as it runs through it. Enjoy the video. Much more to come on this machine.

   About the time we first saw the Magnum injector we have shown you below, there was another injector, actually a fairly old design from the 70s, that we came across. It bears the name EXP1000. Now this injector is unusual in many ways. First, it is a two-step crankstyle injector (compression and injection are handled separately). This strategy is one we have been advocating for some time as it simplifies the work the injector must do and puts less strain on its internals than an all-in-one motion approach. Of course, our concern was it would not be quite as fast but more on that in a moment. t

   Simron International now makes this machine. The same family has been involved with it from the beginning (mid 60s). It carried the name the Corona Cigarette Machine in the very early 70s and was extremely successful in Canada for more than a decade as such. In the 80s. RJR - MacDonald (the Canadian division of RJR) licensed the design (in reality it continued to be made by the same folks but was renamed the EXP1000). Again, this machine apparently flourished in Canada for some time after that but got almost no attention in the US. Even with sales exceeding a million units over the period, for more than 10 years it has been out of production. However, the man whose family started the Canada-based Orleans International and who worked for the company from the age of 13 has once again begun production. Ron Moscovitch is his name. It's a name you will hear a lot here in the future. Ron is our kind of guy, a man with vision and with an extremely well combined sense of quality and logic. First though, a bit more background.

   When the Orleans company had finally had enough of cheap, across the border importation of American cigarettes (Canadians for years would cross the border for US cigarettes as the crazy tax hikes started there before here) as well as reservation shops which were killing the RYO business in Canada, his father retired and Ron, in 1996, moved south to Florida where he began Orleans Group International. With a partner, he created this very successful cigar and accessories business from the ground up. In 2007, Ron and partner sold the company. However, after receiving some pretty complimentary assessments on this rather old machine from industry insiders (including our first impressions) at the TobaccoPlusExpo in April 2007, Ron decided to come out of a very short retirement and jump into the CMC (MYO) fray. We received a machine a week after the show ( a 15 year old sample that still worked amazingly well) for more extensive testing. With capital from the sale of Orleans, Ron reassembled and/or  rebuilt the original tooling, made some tweaks and improvements and is now on the road to producing what may likely become the most successful single design in injector history. We saw the first few of the new production runs in September and have given them our typically brutal, but fair, attention. Haven't been able to break one. More importantly, they produce sticks of exceptional quality and do so consistently with a surprisingly large range of tobacco cuts and moisture contents.

  Above we mentioned the speed of the injector and, surprisingly enough, the two stage design is only slightly slower than the best single stroke crankstyles. We suspected that this would be the case as I've written about the two stage for many years after first seeing one of Arnold Kastner's (CTC) original but larger designs in 2001. What we did not know (until 2007) was that such an injector design was once on the market. We just missed it. It had disappeared before I found my first Supermatic in 1996 and was never really available in the US anyway. There will be much more background later on Ron and the history of this machine. However, it is time to first justify my statement above: "what may likely become the most successful single design in injector history."

  It is, at times, tough to compliment one machine, especially to this degree, knowing full well it may hurt the sale of another machine which may be just as good. We see these devices in real time and spend a lot of time with them before we write about them. We've seen more than a dozen designs since we wrote about the Magnum injector below. Most were very poor performers including ALL electric designs save the Magnum as well as the multiple stick injectors that have more Gee-Whiz factor than merit. The Magnum is at its final stage of critically acclaimed quality control consistency and will very soon be available. There were some problems with the first 200 mass production models but final adjustments, slight to moderate design changes, and improved work by the Asia mass production facility will result in an electric machine that does all that the prototype offered and more. The other injectors in the picture that heads this page are quite simply the best mechanicals in the world. With the dramatic improvements we covered below in both the big Blue Supermatic and the Top-O-Matic, as well as our continuing love affair with the Excel, one might wonder why we rave about yet another injector. The EXP1000 is special in that it does not compete directly with any of these machines. In other words, whether you have a TOP, Super, Excel, or Magnum, you simply must have one of the EXPs. Pretty serious hype you may think, but let me tell you why.

   The EXP1000 not only easily makes exceptional sticks, but is harder to break than any of the above mentioned machines due to its simple design. However, along with its simplicity, is the most important factor - its SIZE. This machine is less than half the size of an Excel. Quite a bit less. With its sturdy, shorter components and much reduced operating angles, it is nearly impossible to overfill and, even when you manage to do so, no damage is done. The photos you've been looking at as you've read this show the machine. The photo below as well as the page heading photo (the little black thing above the Supermatic and to the left of the Excel) shows the relative size of this amazing tool. The fact that it is so small (and works so well) makes this a machine that anyone who travels will want. It is certainly worthy of the challenges of full time use but it is the size again that makes this one so special. Even the well made box that very safely holds it measures only 5 3/4" by just under 5" and a tidy 1 1/2" high. Note the animation (above left) we produced for those that haven't the bandwidth to view the full videos (which will be up by Jan 3rd). The compression stage is very easily accomplished with a pinch between thumb and forefinger. The front slide injection part (though reminiscent of the old Laredo injector which was a true pain in the butt to use) is nearly effortless, even with very tightly packed sticks. It should retail for less than the Excel; at this time estimates are about $23. In fact, as much as we absolutely love the Magnum, you can have all four of the above injectors (Supermatic, Top-O-Matic, Excel and EXP1000) for about the same price as the Magnum. You would never be stuck for lack of a machine. The Magnum and the EXP1000 are both ingenious designs. Both will do 100s as well as Kings or shorter (as will the Supermatic and Top-O-Matic). In fact, all of the great injectors we recommend here are studies in ingenuity. However, no matter which one you prefer, the EXP1000 will grace the tobacco tables of nearly every injector owner. It comes with a TWO year warranty and fits in a coat pocket. The nozzles have been wisely reduced in size (following our constant urging for the whole injector industry to do this) such that even undersized (within reason) tubes fit nicely.

   Now I've been traveling a lot lately both in the US and internationally. This injector has seen 5 countries and nine states. Of course tubes are always the hardest part of the injection experience to get mobile. I usually arrange to have tubes shipped ahead for extended stays or put them in plastic boxes in checked baggage. All of my other injectors get checked as well but this one goes in the carry on. I never thought a front sliding injector could work this smoothly. The spoon has no serrations. I'll show you more detail in the next day or so. The simplicity of the innards will amaze you as will the videos of just how well this thing works. For today, I'll say goodnight and encourage you to read the reviews below, which by the way will be likewise updated in a day or so as the machines covered have received a huge amount of use since the piece was first written in June of this year, and have all been even more impressive than I would have believed possible just two short years ago. For the convenience of retailers and distributors only, we put the link to the Simron International site below or you may simply click here.

   New and slightly above on the left is a link to a very short video we put up so folks could see this machine in action. A longer much more detailed video will be in the MultiMedia Section soon. This one is under 5mb and should be downloadable (if you are a bit patient) even without a broadband connection. Simply click on the graphic. This machine has already received vast praise from many of our readers and is probably the most successful introductory injector in history. No bugs, no problems. It performs just as advertised and at around $23, it is a great bargain. Remember, while it is small, it is very easy to use even for folks like me with large hands. We'll be taking this to Las Vegas for the TobaccoPlusExpo show in April. Sure we are taking other machines as well, as there are some other new ones including the revised Magnum (see more on the Magnum below), but I can't imagine NOT taking an EXP1000 everywhere I go. There is also a new model (EXP2000) that will accomodate the new reborn slim tubes that D&R and HBI now have. More on this as well. But in general . . .

  The Slim tube project of CTC's past (the Premier 6.5) never really took off. Partly because the tubes were not available separately, but mostly the hand injector that came with the kit was pretty weak. Still a lot of people liked the slim idea and we've been working on the slim rebirth for a couple of years with several manufacturers. The Indonesian company that made the original hand injector has done a wonderful job in upgrading the new one. It is still a hand injector but works better than not only its predecessor, but better than almost any hand injector we've seen period. The slim (ostensibly 6.5mm but that was from the very beginning NOT the actual diameter - it's closer to 6.8mm) tube smokes very mild and uses a lot less tobacco. St Vincent USA is making the tubes for both D&R (Ramback) and HBI (Laramie). Again more on this below as well as in the Filter Tube section. The point here is that once the new EXP2000 is fully ready, finally the slim will have a great crankstyle to fill it. We expect this size will gain significant market share with the help of an injector that works as well as the EXP line and tubes of the quality StVincent is famous for. Even so we suggest until then, you pick up a box of slim tubes and the current D&R or HBI hand injector. You will really like the experience. More on the EXP 2000 after the Vegas show. and there will be, next year, a new VeraCruz that will not only be slim but longer (84mm black tube) than the current 80mm slims. Pretty exciting stuff. Given the choice, the slim tube is my favorite smoking medium - a longer one even better for me. And soon I will be able to fill it even more easily.

   Just when you think things can't get any better as far as injectors, companies surprise you. We've been extremely happy with the major injectors for some time. No, they were not perfect and with misuse could too easily be broken. That's why we've carried, at the bottom of this page, the recommendations you've seen there for years now. It has helped enormously. Both manufacturers and consumers have been saved time and money by paying attention to this information. In fact, much of it is now contained in the instruction manuals provided by the two main manufacturers of full size crankstyle injectors. Republic and Commonwealth/RBA/Imperial.

   So what is all the new excitement here regarding injectors? Well in two instances (of the four that have really hung in there over time to prove their worth), the two most robust designs have taken what we feel is a significant leap forward in quality and utility. The aforementioned four being the Premier Excel, Premier Supermatic, and the black sheep of that group from RBA, the Supermatic II (more on the Super II a bit later in order to explain our reference as it being the black sheep), and of course the now excellent Top-O Matic from Republic. Now this section has not been updated in some time as we waited to see what these two manufacturers would come up with. No real point in writing about an unchanged product and there still exists no real competition to the machines mentioned above. While that, as you will see is changing a bit, we still felt it necessary to wait until some of the things we and our readers have found lacking in even these finest of machines were addressed. First point is and has been of course the size of the nozzle that the tube fits on. We've reported in the past and continued to notice the diameter of these nozzles seemed keep growing. Slightly to be sure but at the original specs of around 8.0mm (to accommodate an 8.1mm tube), there was little wiggle room.

   With the fact that on occasion, certain runs of tubes are slightly undersized, we saw a minor disaster in the offing. We started a couple of years ago experimenting with reduced sized nozzles and found that there was no physical reason a tube had to fit tightly on the nozzle and moreover we found that indeed such a tight fit was, more likely, a problem waiting to happen. Our testing showed that nozzles as slim as 7.6mm worked every bit as well as larger ones and that this reduced size allowed for tube variances and would even accommodate the excellent Rizla Cigarette Size tube easily, which had begin to languish in its sales. With the Excel as a test bed, (mainly because the nozzle is a removable assembly and not glued or welded in place) we discovered a lot of such benefits to the smaller nozzle.

   Since we know the manufacturers so well and can have very discreet yet pointedly frank discussions with them, we began making recommendations. We've noted before that the return spring on these injectors was unnecessarily stiff and that this was no doubt responsible to some degree for extra pressure on the internals of these machines. In fact, we found that removing the return springs altogether made these injectors not only much easier to use (a great difference in the force required to inject a stick) but that indeed the weaker spring or no-spring-at-all samples we were testing were practically unbreakable. Even overfilled injectors seemed to survive better and since overfilling and then forcing any injector is the principal cause of damage, we found this to be most enlightening. Return springs are useful in making sure the relatively fragile spoon does not come out during transportation and storage as it can be easily bent when extended, but other than that, the beefier return springs of the past were of no benefit.

   We continued to make our recommendations and today find that all of the most recent injectors tested from both families have indeed weaker springs and most importantly, the average size of the nozzles today hovers around 7.8mm. Suddenly tubes (at least most) no longer have to be rotated into position and thus the overall speed of injection is enhanced. Placing a fragile, tight fitting tube on a nozzle has driven many people to distraction and once the edges of the tube is scored or bent, the process becomes even more arduous. Well no more. With the ~7.8mm nozzle and weaker return springs, the modern injector is a whole lot easier to use.

   However, there were still annoying things about some injectors that bothered us and our readers. They were also of concern to the manufacturers as too many machines kept coming back for repair. The repair operation for an injector is a fiscally losing proposition, if at least done right. Injectors work as a system and replacing just one part will often lead to other parts having problems or more often reveal the fact that other parts may not have been functioning as designed. So repairing often involved replacing most of the parts of an injector, which is both time consuming and expensive. We've found and have had a lot of agreement between ourselves and those who repair machines (a small number of top notch tobacco shops actually repair these machines in-house as well as the factory authorized service facilities) that the H-Link assembly as well as the cutter even on the most robust Premier Supermatics and Top-O-Matics were to varying degrees vulnerable to stress and therefore could lose critical alignment. If these machine were used with great care following the well known recommendations, usually this was not a problem. However tobacco being the exceptionally diverse substance it is and with the great diversity in moisture content and cut of various tobaccos, even a well schooled person could put excess pressure on these systems. No, not enough to break it instantly like in the past, but over time this added pressure causes slight damage which compounds. Eventually with no catastrophic single occurrence, the machines would suddenly loose their smoothness, their efficiency and eventually their capability to inject. Now add to all of this the inherent tendency of some to tinker with the machines, and you have a recipe for frustration. Our recommendation has always been to replace a faulty machine with a new one. If still under warranty this is a no-brainer but, even if not, these machines don't cost THAT much compared to what you were likely spending for name brand junk cigarettes. Part by part replacement adventures often prove to be pennywise and pound foolish and should be left to those few with nothing better to do with their time. Proper use of good tobacco in good condition in these machines for the vast majority of people results in very long lasting tool. Still there were issues that needed to be looked at.

   These kinds of issues were much more complicated to address than simple spring changes and nozzle diameters. Basically the H-Link assembly needed to be tightened. The rivets, fitting slots and screws that held this rather complex mechanism together needed to be looked at by the designers and beefed up. We noticed on some prototypes sent to us by other potential manufacturers that were intent on making very similar designs, that the most frequent problem we experienced (discounting of course some of these "prototype knock off" machines would come with, say 8.3mm nozzles, upon which no tube would fit), was they had very loose H-Links. The rivets were not secured far enough below the material they passed through and screws and screw holes were not a tight match. In some cases even a sample that appeared to be assembled correctly and would dry inject (no tobacco) quite well, once tobacco was added, failed to function at all. We are not an engineering firm and we have only rudimentary machining tools that work well enough for rough prototype work only, so it was up to the actual manufacturers to try to accomplish a fix to some of what we were seeing in the way of potential weaknesses.

   As with most of our contacts and consulting with manufacturers, regardless of product, the result was outstanding. The newest Top-O-Matic may be the most robust, smoothest working crank injector we have seen. The very newest Premier Supermatic is right there with it. What follows is our analysis of the significant improvements to these two machines.

  However let me first say that with nozzle size reduction, the latest Premier Excel remains the most ergonomic and size-convenient injector available. It is still my favorite for the relatively small number of sticks I require each day and I recommend everyone should have one for travel and will find it even optimal for many at home. The original Platinum (Silver) version prototype I was presented with 6 years ago still sits in my office and still gets daily use. It continues to make perfect sticks, though I did change out the nozzle to the 7.6mm test samples and have removed the return spring completely. When I travel, I take either it (after replacing the return spring for its own spoon safety) or a new Blue Excel. It is all I need. However no doubt some of you will like to make more sticks than I do at one time, even though the taste of a freshly injected stick is far superior to one that is even a day old. Also with the changes we are about to discuss with the newest Premier Supermatic and the Top-O-Matic, these two machines are so much easier and satisfying to use than their already excellent immediate predecessors that they are worth the extra room they take up when traveling, especially by car. Much more detail follows on these top performers and their verified latest upgrades, but first . . .

   As promised my comments about the Supermatic II above should be quickly addressed. We find this machine (for us now - each person knows best their own need) lives in a rather strange middle ground of price and performance. Yes, it is a full sized cranker but the plastic base with the all metal mechanism seems to exhibit a funny feel. It doesn't seem as solid as an Excel, not to mention an all metal Premier or Top-O-Matic. Its price is somewhere between the Excel and the larger all metal crankers, but not enough is saved to make it a truly cost effective compromise to the metal Premier Supermatic or the Top-O-Matic. Even more puzzling to me is why any normal user would prefer it to an Excel. Now I must admit that I've seen Supermatic IIs that have been optimized by a great tobacco shop in Michigan that perform as smooth as glass. And I have had a few samples show up from the factory that were superb as well. However even these I would not prefer over the Excel (partly because of size) or the heavier/sturdier all metal top of the line models. I cannot pretend that everyone agrees with this assessment but most of the complaints we get about injectors concern the Super II. These machines are often bundled with special offers that include tobacco and tubes, which likely accounts for a lot of their distribution and consequently many of the complaints come from those who got the machine ostensibly free with either their first order or as part of a mail order marketing scheme. People new to MYO/CMC are the most ardently disappointed with these machines. Nonetheless, the ~$20 range that separates the Excel from the All metal Supermatic or TOP machine is so narrow that a $30 machine that has questions seems to be as stated above, a bit of a black sheep. This machine has been around a long time and perhaps it has more dedicated fans than I am aware of, but I suspect that it remains because it is there and has been for again, a long time. I'd like to hear more positives from our readers about this machine so perhaps I can get a handle on why it exists at all. With the all above said, the Supermatic II still remains at worst, the 4th best injector in the world. There is no other injector we have seen that can come close to it other than the Excel, Premier Supermatic and Top-O-Matic. So this is not a strident criticism of this machine. We just wonder, given the availability of the others why it still finds an audience. I do know that shops that do repairs on this machine can do so much more easily than repair an Excel for instance, but I've not managed to break an Excel in 6 years. I await your responses on this issue. I'm sure the manufacturer would like to know your thoughts as well.

  I had a conversation at lunch last week with an old friend who lives near here who is in the organic foods business. He knows tobacco and injectors very well, yet he told me he gets about 8-9 months use out of each Excel. He prefers it to the other designs but manages to wear one out every year. I showed him my 6 year old Platinum prototype and he was astounded at how well it still worked. So being always just too damn curious to let things lie, I asked him to specify his injecting procedures and quantities. He doesn't smoke a lot more than I do but he travels a lot by air. Consequently he tends to inject more often larger amounts of smokes at one time. He hates taking an injector with him (I ship them ahead to my destinations rather than carrying them when flying. Too many baggage inspectors are quite disturbed when they see an injector for the first time or see one in a security scanner). Whatever! It comes down to the fact that my friend likes very moist tobacco and injects several packs at once when ready to travel, the more moist tobacco lasting longer in the stick. This is no doubt why he has more problems with the Excel but would likely have a similar experience even with the big metal cranks. That is until now. And this is the tag line for what follows.

   The newest Premier Supermatic and Top-O-Matic (they may not be in your local shop yet and I would insist that when you buy either machine, you ask a couple of questions to make sure you get the latest models - if not, ask for a discount). First, the newest Premier Supermatic has a plastic cutter. Plastic!? That right. compare the photos to see the difference.With today's modern petroplastic (Acetal in this case) compounds, very tough components can be made. It is also much easier to achieve tighter tolerances during stamping and molding compared with the aluminum alloy cutters of old. The new plastic cutter on the Supermatic looks a lot like the older metal ones but has a dull, flat look rather than shiny finish. That's the machine you want.

   The pictures here should help to, at a glance, identify the differences. Again notice how shiny the older model's cutter is. The second photo of the older cutter was taken with more contrast so you can see the scoring marks made while injecting and when the part was made. Both machines have been used for an almost identical number of injections. You may also note that the tube length adjustment lever on the older model is more of a brass color - the new one appears more silver. The older cutter was very good but this new plastic one is a great improvement that fits nicely with the other upgrades you will read about below. This new cutter is much sharper, much better fitting and much more efficient at doing its job. Combine that with noticeably enhanced internals (H-Link and all mounting components) that are much harder to "wiggle" and you have a precision machine that is as close to "effortless" during injection as one should need. RBA/Imperial did not have to make these improvements. The Supermatic has been outstanding for a long time. However, as is often the case in this industry, money and effort is expended to make better products because it is the right thing to do. Perhaps the existence of the Top-O-Matic was a bit of an incentive to do so, but it is my take that the folks at RBA and Imperial take great pride in making the best products possible and are willing to allocate the resources necessary to accomplish this. And of course with these new design elements, the repair frequency and thus after costs should be significantly reduced. This new Premier machine is the finest, by a good margin, ever produced in this brand line.

   Smooth as silk, cuts excess tobacco extremely clean, and the plastic does not attract or absorb the tobacco juices and thus build up of tobacco grunge that the older model was known for. This build up on the cutter often was the first cause of the beginnings of weakening of the alignment of the whole machine that could later lead to ultimate failure. Not nearly as pertinent as refraining from putting ANY downward pressure on the crank or forcing jammed tobacco, but still a factor. In our video section we demonstrated how to clean the older cutter with a dull object (preferably wood though we used a dull butter knife VERY CAREFULLY) to keep it moving in a perfectly straight line. However some folks would gouge the softer aluminum and some would never clean it at all. Some would put enough downward pressure on the cutter while cleaning to begin to put it out of perfect alignment. Please remember that we do everything to our test sample machines to duplicate the worst case scenario any machine may be subjected to.

   No, we don't overfill them and break them, as that experiment only had to be done one time to see its consistent impact and consequences. But other subtleties need to be explored from time to time to see if design improvements can be made. Again, I am a very curious sort. With no residue sticking to the very "slippery" surface of the new cutter and with a substantially tightened and reinforced H-Link assembly (including again all rivets, ports, holes and bolts/screws), the newest Premier Supermatic should outlive the already long lived older model by a considerable factor. Frankly, I can't see how you could break one. Too moist of tobacco or too much dust from dry tobacco is still a threat, but the enhanced internals are far more forgiving than before. Simply put, follow the directions that come (very detailed now) with the machine and those suggestions that remain at the bottom of this page and you will likely have this new version for many years of trouble free injection. Still, if it is your intent to make mass quantities of cigarettes at one sitting so that you can consume said mass quantities, we can have no empathy for you. Injecting is so quick that to pre-make large quantities (cartons) of cigarettes at once is just plain silly. And again we repeat that if you are making them for your friends, manufacturing cigarettes for others without a license is a serious crime with serious, non-negotiable penalties.

   The new TOP machine that we got much earlier was an even bigger surprise at the time. We missed last year's RTDA show where the first of the new TOP design was displayed. About a week after the show, Republic called me to ask if I had seen the new model. I told them I heard it now had a handle to hold on to (that some people who called me after the show thought looked a bit gaudy) but other than that I had not heard any real detail. They sent me one immediately. I'm not sure what I expected as the TOP machine was nearly a clone of the Supermatic from its start. It was always a bit taller and easier for my large hands to hold on to, it was heavier and with some recommended changes (nozzle size and return spring tension), the first TOP-O-Matic was already a worthy entry. I hate comparing similar products in reviews as there will always be those who ask, which one is best? It is hard to answer questions like that when two machines are so similar and user's actions with the machines are so varied. They both were good and our readers agreed. Some liked one better than the other but there was never anything close to a consensus.

   With the improvements that came later to the Supermatic, there may have been some distance separating the two machines. But Republic's machine arrived well before the upgraded Supermatic. And this machine was absolutely phenomenal. Not only did it have the aforementioned handle (shown in the series of graphics here) but they had enhanced the H-link assembly and all moving parts as well. The newest Top-O-Matic (with the handle) suddenly became the most impressive injector we'd seen to date. While the Premier, with its later upgrades, once again narrows the difference to ostensibly zero, at the time we were blown away (and still are) at the smoothness and efficient manners of this newest version of the Republic injector. At the time of this writing, the handled version of the Top-O-Matic may not be in all inventories as the last group of previous models obviously have to be sold first. But if at all possible shop around until you find the new one - the one with the handle. Because it is heavier than the Supermatic and the rubber pad is so adhesive even to wet surfaces, the effort required to inject a cigarette is almost zero. This includes the compression stroke as well. The new TOP machine also has a very sharp, precise cutter. The nozzle, as with the Supermatic runs about 7.8mm so all standard tubes fit easily on it and even those slightly undersized glide on without effort. We have videos of these two new machines in the MultiMedia section so you should check them out if you have the broadband speed.

   Since the newest Supermatic was not ready for us at the most recent NATO show, (now called the TobaccoExpo) the Top-O Matic was the most easily used machine we had at our booth. All four of the above mention injectors were there on our table but the TOP got the most attention. You should know what a Tobacco show is like to put all of this in context. There are many thousands of attendees and nearly a thousand exhibitors. Since we sell nothing at these shows, our information and demonstration dedicated booth gets enormous attention. At any one time there may be a hundred people clogging the aisles to see what we are up to. I like to talk with each one but have found that that is no longer possible. I used to simply attend the shows and wander around, seeing those who I needed to see most, but was always ambushed on the way by folks who wanted my opinion or just wanted to chat. We have a very large number of friends, manufacturers, retailers, distributors alike that we enjoy being with. However when we agreed a couple of years ago to have a booth, I had no idea how trapped I would become behind the counter. Consequently for this last show I had ten, expert-in-their-field, people from various companies in the industry (who had chosen not to exhibit) with me in the booth. Even with all of that help, we were overwhelmed. However, though most people cannot inject with my skill and stream allegory simultaneously, it was interesting to see how these less skilled folks could handle the demonstrations. They almost always used the Top machine unless someone would request to see another of the four. (To remind you, we had the Excel, Supermatic, Supermatic II, and Top-O-Matic as well as a number of brands of tubes, plus handrollers and papers). I had a high def DVD similar to the videos in our MultiMedia section running constantly to handle the overflow, but the people who come to these shows want to see me do my thing. They know I have no dog in the fight and while the manufacturer/exhibitors are busy writing orders, which often prevents them, to varying degrees, from doing detailed demos, we are dedicated to that task solely. I wish I would have had the newest Supermatic there as well but the old one held its own. It was simply the case that the Republic machine was so incredibly smooth and reliable and easy to use, that it got a lot of the attention. And it deserved every bit of it.

   For instance, one of the things I like to demonstrate is the technique for tapping a stick down after injection. With the new TOP machine it was hardly necessary at all. No matter which tobacco I used, this machine packed the fill tight against the tube filter plug to a degree that almost no tapping was required. That is the first thing I tested on the newly arrived upgraded Supermatic a couple of week ago. And it showed the same ability to more tightly fill the tube; tight all the way to the filter plug. And by doing that, the entire stick packs more firmly and evenly on both machines. This is a stunning development in injectors. It will make those new to the method more quickly successful and save us old timers a lot of wrist work and explanations of what is indeed an art, not a science - tapping. While the spoons on both of these injectors show some slight changes, it is the heavily enhanced internals and improved cutters that produce this magic.

   Another innovation that is particular to the TOP-O-Matic is its strategy for handling 100mm tubes. Unlike the Supermatic's post/ timing release lever, the new TOP machine uses a removable insert to lengthen the tobacco chamber (shown at left above). This works very well. Though the machine has the necessary tube release contact post, it plays no part in determining release points for various length tubes. This reinforces the fact that this machine will fill the filter plug area firmly with nearly no tapping. Yes, the tube does release but it is a combination of the tube release (the little rubber post that squeezes the tube against the nozzle) and the fact that the tobacco, once firmly placed against the filter element, work in unison to push the tube off. In other words, the tube stays on longer until the tube chamber is filled more tightly at the filter plug than before. The only issue with this is to make sure you don't lose the insert as you need it in place to inject King-sized tubes optimally. As you can see in the photo, it has an easily loosened knurled knob that secures the insert in place. This insert must be placed precisely in its correct position for the cutter to move forward (for King Size), but this is very simple. And again, the rubber bottom mat that has been a plus on the Top machine since its inception remains very plush.

    So before you ask "which one does he like better?" let me say that it is a very close race and even depending on the widely varying techniques of the user, it would be impossible to make an unqualified statement of preference. Before the upgrade, the Supermatic would have taken second place to the upgraded TOP machine. With it, it is very hard to have a favorite. If you like the smooth operation that a heavier machine like the TOP exhibits perhaps the TOP. However, the new Supermatic, though lighter, has improved so much that it is equally as smooth. It may move around a bit more when injecting, but that tendency is only temporary, especially from the standpoint of trying the TOP, with its very useful handle, first. So to avoid a complete cop-out I will make the following recommendation. For the price of a couple of cartons of brand name cigarettes in most states, you can have a Top-O-Matic, a Premier Supermatic, and a Premier Excel for travel or for smaller hands (although the handle on the Top-O-Matic solves that problem as it is very easy to hold on to). That way each machine can be rotated into service, especially after heavy injection sessions to allow them to dry out. Much like pipe smokers rotate their pipes. You know we do not encourage injecting large quantities of sticks at one sitting. We are very stubborn in our recognition that nothing beats a freshly injected cigarette. However, I KNOW from our many emails that a few of you like to inject "mass quantities." I think it is unwise and can lead to increased consumption and by the time you get to the last few that you have massively injected, you will taste a difference - a loss of flavor. Even so, having all three injectors means you will never be without the means to make a perfect cigarette and likely will never again need to purchase one.

   We are really impressed with these two new machines and suspect that once people get their hands on either the upgraded Premier Supermatic, and/or the new Top-O-Matic with the handle, word of mouth among your friends and within the industry is going to make it difficult for either of these companies to keep up with the demand. Are we impressed, you bet we are!  And going one step further, just imagine how wonderful the first experience of injecting will become for the new folks coming from packaged cigarettes. These machines are ostensibly foolproof and the last vestige of skill required to make a solid stick (the tapping down part) will fade from necessity significantly. Watch the market grow. The need for tinkering, which I always refuted anyway, should be of no concern to new patrons to this methodology. These machines don't need anything but the considerations at the bottom of the page.

Electric Injectors

   I suppose even with 3 minute packs possible with a good cranker like reviewed above, some folks will want even more ease of use. We get lots of letters about electric injectors (which by the way are really not much faster or even any faster than the crankers). However, we also get letters from folks with certain disabilities that prevent them from using two hands to hold down a crank style. There are ways to build a platform holder to grasp the machine that will hold a Supermatic or TOP-O-Matic in place well enough to use it one handed. But there still remains the problem of how a one handed person is going to build such a holder. There is only one machine (and we've seen them all and tested them all extensively now), that really works. It works even better than the best crankstyles, and is nearly as portable. The others, for the most part, we will not mention here. They know who they are and many of our readers know who they are as well. Suffice it to say, I honestly thought that a truly useful and cost effective (big consideration) electric was likely still years away. The worm drive Easy Roller-like injectors that we looked at has changed from a plastic auger to a spring auger but still turns too fast and thus chops the tobacco such that it will fall out of the tube. Even very moist tobacco won't stay put for long. If you smoke the stick immediately some of these machines might satisfy but a newer, smaller and less expensive machine of that design, the Fast-Filler, is the closest to being able to put tobacco in and keep it there - for a while at least and its price is likely to be much less than any of its current competitors. After extensive (weeks) testing, we produced a private, highly detailed video for the manufacturer and distributor to help them optimize this machine and if they do, it will work likely quite well and at a price that won't offend. The other machine we mentioned in past Injector pages that costs a ridiculous amount of money, we have yet to see function as advertised and, not doing negative reviews, we will leave it at that. We've seen several samples (none from the manufacturer) and none fill completely or put the tobacco in the tube such that it will stay put as well as any of the above crankstyles. We simply say this. Until now - right now, we have yet to see an electric worth the money or effort.

   HOWEVER . . .there is one - of a radically new design and it will be available soon  - in the next month or so - that we mentioned above. We have a video on it now in our MultiMedia section and will show some graphics below for those that don't have broadband. This machine is so new and different that when one of the principals of the company that makes it approached me at our TobaccoExpo 2007 booth in April, my first reaction was Oh Crap - not another electric. I was very busy with scores other people so while I yapped on, this man waited for over an hour to see me. This should have told me something but even I sometimes have biases that are hard to overcome. Fortunately, he did wait and we had his machine at the booth for the remainder of the show. I cannot begin to tell you how much attention it grabbed. I made over 1,000 sticks with it over the next few hours and every person who witnessed this display wanted one. They did not even care what the cost. They wanted it. Why you may ask, - well what follows should explain the excitement.

The Magnum Injector
Latest Magnum Update at Bottom

   Back in 2001 when I met extensively with Arnold Kastner at the CTC facility in Montreal, we spent literally whole days brainstorming on possible injector designs. Arnold (who recently passed away - you will find a memorial to this genius and valued friend in our Review Section in the next couple of weeks) pretty much created the platform that transformed the original LaFrancaise French injector to the path of its current design, the Supermatic. His father first brought it in to North America but Arnold's engineering powers really got this whole industry going. There has been no greater pivotal influence on MYO/CMC than Arnold Kastner - period.

   During our discussions, there were a number of questions I had as to certain elements of injector design that seemed to me rather dated or at least pretty staid. The first was the spoon and the second was the strategy of one motion injection. Some of Arnold's earlier designs for mass producing cigarettes by cheap labor in China were units that had a separate compression stroke. The injection stroke was a separate operation as well and by separating these two functions, a much more robust machine could be built. Millions of cigarettes we made by workers using these machines (at right) and put into packs. Arnold told me that this was in the late 30s. Most everything, especially the compression stroke, worked in one plane, in other words a straight line. Because the compression is the most energy intensive part of injecting, his machine, a single stroke, allowed one to compress the tobacco incredibly well. In fact, you could crush nearly anything in this vice like design. The injection stroke was a simplified dual lever (more like an Excel) but had great strength and leverage as well. However, what we focused on, given that the compression stroke was easily accomplished from a design standpoint, was why not make the injection part of the system a straight line as well. Even more to the point, why not make the already tightly and accurately compressed roll of tobacco (if you will) the only thing that enters the tube. No spoon to take up space as it carries the tobacco into the tube - no spoon to drag out some of the tobacco as it leaves the tube. Simply a push rod to smoothly push the tight tobacco roll such that the tube would not begin to release until the tobacco itself was tightly compressed against the filter plug.

   Again, the push rod would need not enter the tube, only the freshly compressed tobacco roll . We must have made 100 drawings of various designs (I still have them but for patent issues I can't show them to you here - at least not yet). We never got to the point where we could build a prototype as Arnold was already retired and he and I got in enough trouble screwing around with paper and pencil while everyone else at CTC was hard at work. It was fun and all kept their sense of humor. Even Gary, Arnold's son-in-law and CTC's head, had a grin on his face as he watched his wife's father grow more excited than he had seen him in years. What a great and noble bunch that CTC groups was. I still see Stephane David as he now runs a beautiful new tube plant for Republic and thus comes to the shows. His wife Tamara and he remain an important part of my extended family. Anyway since then, I have designed many prototypes (and I mean by designed, I mean sketched and built wooden and metal prototypes to prove the efficacy of the two stage, straight line, push rod injector. I've worked with other manufacturers on prototypes as well. But I had no idea of the magnitude of the surprise I was in for.

  Flash forward to April 2007, once again the Vegas TobaccoExpo show:

  The man who so patiently waited for me was Luigi Derose. He and his partners - some of whom were evidently designers or engineers for CTC, had come up with a design (after several years of hard work) that I was about to see. Again I remained skeptical, that is until he made the first stick. What resulted may change this industry forever. A perfect, very hard packed cigarette (really firm just like a manufactured cigarette) that needed no tapping - none! In fact the machine's design is so innovative that the excess tobacco, if you over fill the chamber, sticks out of the tube so firmly that cutting it with scissors is simple and very precise.

   If you put in just the right amount, a perfect, solid stick is made and if you put too little in, you just have to put the tube back on (or leave it on if a whole lot too little tobacco has been used) and run the machine one more time with more tobacco and it completes the fill perfectly.

   The design is also such that one could inject a nearly UNLIMITED length of tube. Want a 300mm cigarette, this machine will do it - you only need the tube. Now a 300mm cigarette would look weird to say the least, but the point is that 100s are just as perfectly filled as King-Size. Or 120mm or whatever comes next in the pace of rapid new tube design. Again no tapping, the draw is still perfect (actually better) and it is really difficult to get any tobacco to come out of the stick no matter how hard you may try to flick it. It works best with tobacco of proper moisture but dry tobacco and moist tobacco work better with it than any crankstyle and exponentially better than any electric to date. Further, it has onboard rechargeable batteries as well as a power supply that is for the US (and North America/Canada). When plugged in, the batteries recharge as you are using the machine. I took it to Yosemite for a week and never had to plug it in. The day+ that I used it at the show I never had to plug it in. The designers claim at least 7 cartons (1400 sticks on one recharge - not all at once) but I got a hell of a lot more than that over quite a few days. In fact, the only time I recharged it (besides briefly plugging it in to test the power supply - wall-wart type) was when I finally had to send it back. I had it for nearly a month. So lets look at some graphics and then you can watch the videos of the Magnum in the MultiMedia Injector section if you have the bandwidth.

   As you can see the machine is a beauty to behold. It looks like the walnut wood dash panel of a vintage Jaguar. This thing would never need to be kept out of sight. The power (on/off) button is at lower right on the machine and  . . . well here is another graphic showing some of the simple controls. The operation is so simple that one must look hard to verify that all you have to do is fill the chamber, put the tube on and pull the chrome lever towards you. The machine automatically compacts the tobacco at which point the push rod engages and drives the tobacco roll into the tube. Again the tube has a release pressure setting on the bottom of the machine (a simple Phillips head screw) that will hold the tube more or less tightly depending on what is needed for each type of tobacco. This release mechanism is not timed by hitting a post or any other strategy that needs internal adjusting. It simply holds the tube at various firmness levels until you are satisfied with the degree of packing firmness. As I said, in its default setting, this machine packs the tube very firmly but not so much that the draw is the least bit difficult. The result is an extraordinarily smooth smoke, the tell tale sign of a truly good cigarette. The tobacco tray recess shown is part of the machine and you can put enough tobacco there for ten sticks or more. The tobacco chamber is considerably longer than the crankstyle machines though it is a bit narrower. The result of this is that one need not pack down the tobacco firmly at all. Simply distribute over the length of the chamber, push it down lightly, and as much tobacco (after compaction) is pushed until the tobacco roll hits the filter element and begin to push the tube off the machine. This is the design I always envisioned and I am really gratified that it works. So its not my design. I don't care. It is what I wanted and the folks who made it are far more gifted in actual mechanical engineering and construction than am I.

   As the machine finishes its injection, the carbon fiber rod comes to rest as shown at left. To begin another injection one only needs to push the handle up and away and the motor engages to drive the rod back into its starting position. (See at right). Now it is at this stage that the machine is in its most vulnerable position as the rod sticks out quite a bit to the right. The length of this rod is one of the secrets to this machine's success at filling any length tube. After the injecting session is over simply closing the lever (towards you) which brings the rod to the first shown position (again above left) and turning the machine off allows for very safe storage. Yes, the rod still extends a bit but this is a very tough rod, 21st century materials all the way.

   Now about the tobacco chamber. It is longer than any other injector. As stated above, this allows the user to much more easily put in tobacco and though it is more narrow (which one might assume would make it harder to fill) the need for pressing down the tobacco so that it tightly fills the chamber is not necessary. Regardless of the cut, this machine is uncannily fast, and as mentioned above as well, the fill can be adjusted perfectly or continued if more fill is needed. With only a couple of practice runs, I was able to estimate pretty accurately the amount of each cut of tobacco to use for a perfect stick, though I still preferred to overfill it a bit so the the extra tobacco had to be trimmed with scissors from the tube. Doing this, the ends of the cigarettes I made were sharp and perfectly clean cut. Again this allows for a very even burn from the first puff and is still much faster than tapping.

  For our one handed readers, the weight of this machine and its solid rubber feet keep it in place so that one hand is all you need. Yes putting a tube on with my right hand was hard (using the standard position that I would use with a normal injector), but obviously one can turn the machine at any angle to use it best. And though the Magnum compression phase does compress the tobacco quite a bit, an equal amount of compression occurs as the tobacco enters the tube. Again tobacco is all that enters the tube. The rod never reaches into it. Compression is assured to whatever setting you wish. Other electrics claim adjustments for this but I've yet to see one where the adjustment really works very well, if at all,  which is the least of their problems. With this machine, due mostly to its simple and straightforward design (literally everything works in a straight line - just like Arnold and I supposed) minor adjustments are simple and highly effective.

   The motor is very robust and never heated or even paused. The rechargeable batteries are very long lasting and the power supply is there if needed occasionally. The rod uses two rollers to drive it as they sandwich the rod between them. The pressure the rollers exert is likewise adjustable from the bottom with the slight turn of another Phillips head screw. An extra rod is supplied but I can't see how it would be needed unless you break it off which is no easy feat. If anything, one must remember not to peer down either hole where the rod comes out. A poke in the eye will be your reward. But most people know better to look down the barrels of anything that might project something. At least I hope they do.

   I have no doubt that this thing will sell like crazy, but I know you are dying to know the cost. $450 No - $300 No - $200 No again. Without sounding anymore like an infomercial, the Magnum is expected to retail around $150. No pre-purchasing schemes, no down payments to wait in line. This is a real product that will be marketed with the integrity it deserves. It is a very robust machine weighing 5 pounds or so. Its footprint (form factor) is only a bit larger than conventional metal crank injectors but a bit more room is needed when injecting to accommodate the extending rod. And it is gorgeous!

  While I don't NEED one of these as I smoke very little by most standards and my Excels and the other incredibly fine injectors mentioned in the first part of this section do very nicely indeed, there is no doubt I WILL have one. Even though it is fast, the real benefit I realized came when I was late for a round of golf. I had to make some smokes quickly while I answered emails. With this machine one need not concentrate solely on cigarette making. Just put a bunch of tobacco in the recessed area and pull the handle towards you. One hand if necessary. Of course you have to put the tube on, but the nozzle is small enough to make it very easy (though I've recommended the maker reduce its size a bit more to make tube fitting even faster). And you have to sweep tobacco each time into the chamber but this is a very easy task as packing down of the tobacco is only minimally necessary. Not having to tap down the finished stick saves a whole lot of time and before you realize it you have a whole days worth of smoking pleasure. And the smokes I took in my case did not lose one bit of tobacco as I bumped around the course. For those of you without broadband connections we show you here a rough animation so you can get a basic idea of how this machine works. Keep in mind that the stick you are seeing made at right is no illusion. No tricks here. The stick is a firm as any manufactured cigarette with no soft spots anywhere along its length. I made it just a tidge too long so I could cut it off neatly. My way!

   The first 200 machines will be in country in a month or two and 10,000 more within 6 months to a year. Every distributor, and retailer who we showed this machine to was ready to buy it on the spot. For those we did not see personally, a video was provided so they could see it in action. You may see a portion of this video suitable for streaming in the Injector Section of our Multimedia Video Site. Keep in mind that this is a prototype. From the first production model run (the first 200) we will test everything all over again to make sure our observations and recommendation holds. However, after getting to know the folks making this machine quite well over the last few months, we find them to be every bit as picky as we are. Rest assured nothing will go to distribution until the production line models are completely identical in performance and feel and look to the unit you see here. It is also important to note that the sheer simplicity of this design will make consistency in manufacturing historically simple.

   Visit the Multimedia Section for a more comprehensive video of this marvelous injector in action. There are also new videos of the newest Top-O-Matic and newest Supermatic as well. The world of injectors is very good. Enjoy and read the injector recommendation below. They are critical to the long term success of your machines.

Magnum Update April 2008

   We intended to do a comprehensive assessment of the less than stellar introduction of the Magnum. The first 200 production machines (of which I got 4) have seen problems. Part of the responsibility lies with the QC team that was supposed to inspect every single machine in Canada before these first 200 were shipped. Obviously that did not happen as aggressively as was wise. Now many of the problems reported in various circles were simply failures to read the instructions - like plugging the machine in for 12 hours before first use to make sure the batteries were charged. However there were other problems, some the result of inconsistent adjustment and assembly from the Asian factory. There is simply no excuse for not taking the time to completely vette the first 200 machines. TSP Tobacco products is suffering the ill will that all visionaries enjoy with a casually inspected new product, especially one that is so capable and whose prototype was so spectacular. The good news is that all of the problems have been identified and as part of our trip to the TobPlusExpo in Vegas, we have arranged a full day to work with TSP and others who are knowledgeable about this machine to communicate and test all of the fixes that are necessary. For instance, unlike the prototype, the batteries are the first connection for the power supply. In other words the batteries must be functional for the unit to operate on AC power. We find that to be undesirable as rechargeable batteries can have a variable life. Since changing the charging module to work the other way around is evidently difficult (like a dead cell phone battery or camcorder, where even if one removes the batter entirely, the device will still function when plugged in,) it is our recommendation that this machine lose the battery completely. It will become an all electric plug in unit. It will save weight and some cost but even at that what is important is that the machine ALWAYS function when plugged in.

  Bruce Gartner of Tobacco Outfitters in Michigan, received the prototype from us last year and for a week ran it constantly between his 5 stores in demonstrations for his customers. The prototype worked perfectly, even injecting shake particles that no other injector will handle. Bruce and his team are without question the most knowledgeable people we have met regarding crank injectors. Their work (optimizing) with the Supermatic and TopOMatic produces results few if any others can accomplish. Hell, they can even make a Super II sit up and sing, something I had to see for myself to believe. After they received 50 or so of the mass production units, we spent several hours on the phone with them discussing what we felt were the first steps to be taken to fix these Magnums. They took it even further than my original quick fixes.

   For instance the tobacco cutter on the new machines did not recess completely into/under the case, thus making the tobacco chamber a bit too narrow. The result was that some people had difficulty filling them and consequently packed them down too firmly. This machine is designed to need only a light sweeping of tobacco from a feathered pile into the chamber to fill it properly. It does not need to be packed down at all. Or at least that was the way of the prototype. So people, feeling they did not get enough tobacco in, packed it hard. By lengthening the slot the handle opens into (when the machine is opened for filling), the cutter did recede far enough to make filling easy. However, Bruce found that the cutter/handle assembly could be adjusted without this rather crude carving of the handle slot. For those that have the machine, I recommend carving (with an X-acto knife) the slot until the handle will travel far enough to make the cutter disappear under the case lip (when viewed from a vertical position). This does work and all 4 of the machines I've done this to, work very well. Others have reported trouble with the nozzle adjustment. This is always going to be a necessary adjustment as the softness of the rubber piece that squeezes the tube against the nozzle makes it vulnerable to temperature change. If adjusted when cold, once the rubber piece gets warmer the rubber expands, thus holding the tube so hard that the paper tube can tear. The adjustment screw needs to be replaced with one that can be adjusted frequently. The sheet metal/wood screw type fastener has too large of tines which can cut into the assembly and strip the hole, making long term adjustment difficult at best. Again a small thing but this change needs to be made.

   Also the nozzle itself is too large by today's standards. We recommended (at the very beginning) reducing its diameter by at least .2mm (which all other manufacturers have done with great success). Now the nozzle stock was purchased and formed years ago for the prototype so we understand why the smaller dimension was not possible with the first 200. The nozzle is in spec with the old dimensions but as you know we found that nozzle diameters were too large in all machine, hence the changes we recommended and were carried out. The next Magnums will have the smaller nozzle, will have no batteries, will have a better nozzle/tube holder screw and assembly. Also even as I write this, just before leaving for Vegas, some even newer design changes have been relayed to me by the folks at TSP, most notably to address the tenuous angle of the arms that support the rollers. Bottom line is that this injector will be every bit as good as the prototype and in fact, much better - which is a tall order. The next batch of machines will live up to what both Bruce and I (and Luigi and company) feel is the incredible potential of this machine. But we have a lot of work to do in our brainstorming session that will occur in Vegas. Luigi, one of the principals of TSP will be there as well. We're going to get our hands very dirty.

   So until we know more, be patient. Do the small fixes but resist taking this machine apart. It is our recommendation that any disassembly of the future machines by private individuals will void the warranty. This machine is not for tinkers but it has to be delivered in a condition that needs no tinkering. If you don't like the one you got, send it back. About 25% have been returned so far. Those keeping their machines will be offered a new version as soon as they come in. But first we all have to not only do the work to identify ANY further problems, and fix the ones we all observed, but Luigi and company will have to go to Asia to supervise the implementation of the changes and personally train the Quality Control component there. When tens of thousand of these machines begin to arrive, TSP cannot possible check every one. So the Asians have to get it right - every damn time. As a note to what was originally the anticipated price of this machine, with a falling US dollar and skyrocketing fuel costs, the Magnum will have an expected MSRP of $200 and an MAP (Minimum Advertised Price) of $170.

   There will be more news as to parts and repair facilitation soon. Below is a table that shows the handle slot fix for those who have no other problems with their machines that are not directly related to overfilling (due to difficulty in filling easily). I might add that some of the so called fixes by people posting on various sites are so ridiculous that I won't even give them attention here. Yes there were some bad machines, but the 4 I got (after the fix) worked perfectly. The rod is simple to put into place though does require a bit of force, but that problem is one of the things we will see cured in Vegas as well. However the fact that some people started adjusting the tension on the rod before they even had a problem is typical of some. In fact with the new design ideas, it is likely the rod will last for years and certainly won't need adjustment. We know for a fact that SOME of the problems reported were caused by those who can't wait to take something apart. You can't design anything that is completely FOOL- proof - the emphasis on the word FOOL. We have shot hours of video but will wait until all things are addressed in Vegas to make sure our videos reflect the latest and final efforts. For now here is the handle/cutter/slot fix. A great majority of the reported problems had to do with too much pressure put on the rod due to over packing - a direct result of a too narrow tobacco slot. And then of course the tinker figured the rod needed tightening because the overpacked chamber caused the rod to slip. It is no wonder that automobiles today are made such that even minor adjustments are nearly impossible for the end user and cars now have chips (E-PROMS) that will determine if any unauthorized adjustments are made (of if revs are exceeded) and a host of other things we all, at one time or another, used to do to our vehicles.

   This machine can makes sticks of such quality that they rival anything mass produced as to firmness and consistency. It is brain dead easy to use and for some, their experience has been quite positive. And to beat a familiar drum, we're told one guy, who did a pretty good video of the machine, was said to have injected seven cartons at one sitting. We've not verified that timeline nor seen the video, (we have no reason to view consumer videos of machines that we have looked at extensively at all stages of development and in all stages of assembly), but if true, that is just simply absurd. No machine can handle that kind of stress over time, and those that make so many at one time are both missing the freshness aspect of CMC as well as naively expecting machinery in this price range to perform at that level of abuse. Two packs at a time max, using tobacco of proper moisture content. Then let the machine rest until all tobacco residue has been removed or dried out. Why anyone would claim they don't have the five or ten minutes per day to make their sticks for the next day is beyond me. Yes, we did make many more than that during testing but that was for the purposes of determining possible failure rate. Even that many cartons in a month suggests usage that is way above the norm for most of our readers, who now enjoy a much more moderate approach to high quality tobacco. And, as mentioned over the years, if some are intending to make cartons for friends, better get a good lawyer. Cigarette manufacturing is a serious, highly regulated business with catastrophic penalties for those that cut very expensive licensing corners. This machine is about convenience, high quality sticks, and yes, ease of use. It is not a cigarette factory. More when I return - Doug

The photo above shows the cutter still exposed when the machine is in the "open" position	The photo above shows the cutter fully recessed after the slot has been lengthened
Surprisingly this little bit of difference in the handle slot opens the chamber for proper fill	Again this type of Xacto is about the only cutting tool you can get in this tight space

  There is more to come regarding the rebirth of the slim 6.5mm injector and more. Some will be in the FilterTube Section, some here but for now (right now) I am off to Vegas to work on some injectors. However just one last worthy introduction. You've all seen the Easy Roller video we placed at the head of our MultiMedia Injectors Section. Well we've looked at (as mentioned way above) quite a few auger driven injectors since then. The Fast Filler we will show you. Parts of the video we did for the hopeful distributor so they could see how badly that machine chopped up the tobacco  - a trait similar to the Easy Roller and all the rest.

   The folks who designed the Easy Roller went out of business and a Danish Group (IM Designs) took up the design. They called it the Quick Roller. The first of these various colored units were little better than the original. They kept sending them to us and we continued to explain to them the problem. Inge at IM was to send us a newer version last year but it never came. Though we've seen them sold on European sites, we figured IM would rather not expose their machine to our testing. The machines of the past ran at too high of RPM and had too little torque produced by the motor. The wire auger was a slight improvement but without a low rpm/high torque motor, these designs were just too damaging to tobacco. The chopped tobacco continued to fall of of the sticks.

   Well, to our surpirse, the other day the latest Quick Roller showed up. It took me several days to look at it as I was skeptical. However this latest iteration has all the design improvements we asked for. The motor is MASSIVE, the internal power supply has a transformer that would be the envy of audiophile grade musical components. The unit is heavy, the motor weighing in at more than twice the original. We show a picture of the QR here. The color is the same as the 2006 unit but the controls are different. And the performance is truly outstanding. It is whisper quiet and runs at a very leisurely pace. The tobacco is not chopped up significantly at all. Well show you a video demo when we return but we wanted you to see it, not in small part because of the obvious effort IM has put into this newest design.. Pricing is likely to be in the $200 range but with the US$ versus Euro debacle, that is to be expected. Suffice it to say that this unit is by far the best we've seen of this design. It works and does not damage the tobacco and even with the more powerful but slower pace motor, the speed of stick making is quite respectable. So readers, meet the latest 2008 version of the Quick Roller. To repeat, this is unlike any worm drive injector you have seen. Yes there are some other imitators out there (like the Royale which is supposed to be designed by its seller but in fact we were contacted by the manufacturer recently with the exact same machine with just a different name on it). So just like there must be 25 Supermatic clones around, these designs are similar but not matching. We've seen nothing like this version. It is heavy . . .man!  Did I say it was massive?

Critical Usage information for the Supermatic, Supermatic II, Excel, & Top-O-Matic

   The RBA/EFKA Canada/Imperial/Commonwealth line of Supermatic, Supermatic II, and Excel injectors have given a boost to the make your own industry like no other single product line. With the introduction of Republic Tobacco's Top-O-Matic this industry of necessity grows even more in influence and credibility. These company's commitments to quality, reliability, and customer service continue to set a standard to be followed by all other accessory manufacturers. But even with all of the above true, some people are still having trouble with these marvelous machines. Since 1995, we have been using, taking apart, tinkering, and making recommendations for the design of these machines and, in reality, we find little left to criticize. We share a lot of reader input as well with these manufacturers in the spirit of cooperation to make even better products. However, there are some parameters that must be followed in order to have your machine last as long as the ones we use, which is to say effectively, for many years. Although some of the following information is already included with each manufacturer's instructions, we felt, knowing most folks hate reading directions, especially regarding products that appear so simple to operate, that an instruction/recommendation sheet from RYO Magazine might further aid those who manage to miss/lose the existing directions for use. What follows should be read carefully by all users of the aforementioned machines, including and especially friends who may only wish to use your machine once.

The Premier Supermatic, Supermatic II, Excel and now the Republic Top-O-Matic machines are without peer in the world of crank-style, table-top tube injectors. However, as robust as these machine are, they, like all precision tools, must be used knowledgeably and with care. By strictly adhering to the following simple recommendations, the trouble-free life of these machines can effectively be extended indefinitely. Print it out if you like.

1. Read all directions that come with the machines and save them for future reference.

2. Never allow anyone not trained in the use of these machines to use them. I cannot over-emphasize the fact that the single largest cause of injector failure is its use by someone who has not been trained by the owner of the machine or read the instructions that come with each machine.

3. We have seen first-hand, many people putting downward pressure on the injector handle when injecting. This WILL invariably cause problems. Always use smooth and even force applied horizontally to the machine, never putting weight on the handle during the injection process.

4. Use medium to fine-cut tobaccos of medium to long length, never pipe tobacco type cuts or other very short cut, bulky blends.

5. Never use tobacco that is overly moist, or overly dry. The overly dry category includes the powdery tobacco residue often found at the bottom of tobacco bags. This "Shake" will definitely jam the injector. In the humid summer months you can assume your tobacco will often become too moist - so watch it carefully and dry as necessary before injecting.

6. Finally should your injector become jammed, or even require a little more pressure than normal to inject, STOP immediately, open the injector "crank" and clear the tobacco chamber using a non-metallic probe. Follow this up with a few dry injection motions (no tobacco). Forcing the injector when jammed with tobacco is the primary cause of failure in all injectors. Don't forget to clean the nozzle as well as it may be plugged.

7. These machines have warranties that are a minimum of one year up to a Lifetime warranty on a few Premier Supermatics. However, if you follow the above procedures, as well as adhere to the instructions that come with each machine, you will most likely never need to send a machine in for service. 

  Item # 3 above addresses what is considered a relatively new problem, but we suspect that this problem may have surfaced previously as a manifestation of the difficulty in holding down the original metal Supermatics.. That older model had no rubber base and this fact alone may have contributed to an ergonomic issue for many people who subconsciously exerted downward force when they were cranking the machines in order to keep them from sliding around. The new Premier Supermatics and the Republic Top-O-Matic have a rubber base that will hold the machine in place. Republic has addressed the "downward" pressure issue in their instructions as has RBA/EFKA. Nonetheless, the little black grommet/gasket/fitting that rests between the crank handle and the base is made of a hard plastic material that will deteriorate if stressed. The Excel, which is smaller and much easier to hold is recommended for smaller hands. However no injector handle should ever receive downward pressure and no injector should ever be forced. These two simple premises (and the others above) if followed, will result in a very long life for these machines.

   As a last note, all of the above is written with a huge amount of gratitude that is daily expressed by our readers, as well as we at RYO Magazine personally, for the efforts of those manufacturers in the MYO industry who, often at great financial risk, continue to provide significantly improved and evolutionary products to help make the case for MYO/CMC. The possibility that one's first experience with making their own sticks will be a negative one, is quickly dwindling. the ed.