If you roll your own cigars, you were probably able to identify this month's item with ease. It has many names, but it's most often referred to as a cigar mold. It's also called a cigar form or former. (Click here to see why.)

It's used to help the cigars retain their shape while the tobacco dries. It's made of two pieces (a top and a bottom) that detach, with the rolled cigars resting inside. The mold is put in a cigar press (see below) to allow the tobacco inside the cigars to dry.

Here's a pic of a cigar press we ran across in Mexico. It's a pretty simple device that needs little explanation. According to the shop owner, the cigars remain in the press for several hours. When they're dry, they're ready for packaging. Note the stack of cigar molds to the left. For a larger view of the press, click here. To see the "roller" doing his thing, click here.