Top-O-Matic

[meflin]

The Top-O-Matic is my main machine. I had a Premier Supermatic (C) that was a lemon that a friend rebuild into a very smooth machine, but the handle on top is the killer for me. My friend loaned me a spare TOM while he worked on my super. While the super was smooth as ice when it was re-worked the handle on top was a must have for me. I ended up trading the re-worked super for the TOM I had borrowed. Both of these machines are top of the line choices tho.

Meflin

[El Ropo]

Been using a TOM for over a year now, stuffing mostly kings. It works great if you know how to stuff it with any type of cut. Been through lots of D&R stuff (two 14oz bags of Cockstrong is the highlight), Ohm, Golden Harvest, PS 701, PS Norwegian, TGS, Kentucky Select, 1839, Farmer's Gold, Criss Cross, NCS House Blend (very nice baccy, clean flavor), Largo (bleh), and Vision Hunter (Decent for the price)

It's still working like a champ, and stuffs perfect smokes every time.

[DougE]

I have two TOM's. One is the old style with the selector switch (like the SM), which I've modded with SM parts and one of the ones with the handle. Both are great machines and will stuff anything I put through them.

[mrnjlw1090]

I've been using the TOM since I started MYO three years ago. Got one a month after I started, which broke about one month after using it. The screw in the tobacco chamber holding the tube release fell out. I believe that somehow the threads on either the screw or the chamber were cross-threaded or stripped. Got an Excel a week later, and then another TOM a month after that.

I was just thinking if there is a place you can still order the old style TOM from somewhere.

[DougE]

I was just thinking if there is a place you can still order the old style TOM from somewhere.

If you mean the first type with the selector switch, probably would have to try and catch one on ebay. The second type "with handle" is still available from LLBS as well as the T-2 according to their website.

[CTsmoker]

I was just thinking if there is a place you can still order the old style TOM from somewhere.

If you mean the first type with the selector switch, probably would have to try and catch one on ebay.

Believe it or not, i have seen these really old machines still collecting dust on the shelves at a couple places. The same situation probably holds true in most states. It's just a matter of finding the store that still has it.

[DougE]

I was just thinking if there is a place you can still order the old style TOM from somewhere.

If you mean the first type with the selector switch, probably would have to try and catch one on ebay.

Believe it or not, i have seen these really old machines still collecting dust on the shelves at a couple places. The same situation probably holds true in most states. It's just a matter of finding the store that still has it.

I'd probably try and negotiate a deal on one if I saw one myself. They aren't much out of the box, but mod one by chopping the spoon and swapping the cutter out for a plastic supermatic cutter and ya got one fine stuffing machine. I also went with the SM H-link, which is made a little heavier. My old one is smoother and actually handles the larger pipe cuts much better then my TOM with handle.

[meflin]

An old school TOM = a supermatic doesn't it ? why not just get one of those.

Meflin

[DougE]

An old school TOM = a supermatic doesn't it ? why not just get one of those.

Meflin

Even with the cost of modding, I'm still under the price of a SM. The parts are cheap .......... actually, my total cost on the old machine came out below the price of a TOM with handle.

[SmokinKat]

I've had my TOM for almost 2 yrs. Stuffing for 2 of us both king & 100's and me being a pretty heavy smoker, it's seen a lot of usage. I broke the spring about a year ago but bent the end & put it back on and it still worked great.

Now I'm starting to have problems with the tube release (I think that's what it's called). The little screw doesn't seem to get loose but the arm shifts throwing the timing off. It's not a huge problem but just when I get it set up good it seems to shift again. It then takes a few tries to get it set back right. It'll work good for several packs maybe even a carton before getting shifting again. It's a royal pain when I'm in a hurry.

It's been worked hard and I think I have a tendency to put downward pressure while cranking which doesn't help it. It's the first and only crank machine I've used so can't compare it to anything else but it's been pretty good overall.