Mats & Other Rolling
Rolling by hand is a skill. Rolling well every time is a skill plus the right bit of kit. This collection holds 8 rolling accessories, all of them from RAW, covering a bamboo rolling mat, a cone creator filling tool, a hands free heat resistant holder and a set of wooden cigarette holders in sizes from 1 1/4 through to kingsize. In stock items start at £1.99.
None of these tools change what you are rolling. They change how consistent the result is, which matters most to anyone who finds hand rolling fiddly or who wants every roll to burn at the same rate. The sections below explain what each type does and which paper size it works with.
Rolling mats
A bamboo rolling mat is a strip of thin bamboo slats bound together so it rolls up like a small blind. You lay the paper and the filling on the mat, roll the mat rather than the paper itself and the slats keep everything even along the whole length. The result is a straight, evenly packed roll without the pinching that fingers tend to introduce at one end.
Mats are the cheapest way to improve consistency and they are the easiest to learn on, since the mat does the shaping for you. Keep it flat when not in use rather than curled, because bamboo takes a set over time.
Cone creators and filling tools
A cone creator works the other way round. Rather than rolling from flat, you form or load a cone shape and pack the filling into it from the open end. The tool holds the cone upright while you fill it, then tamps the contents down evenly. It is the fastest route to a tidy result if hand rolling has never quite clicked. It is also far easier to use one handed than a mat is.
Holders and the rest of the range
The hands free heat resistant holder does what the name says. It grips a roll so you can put it down without balancing it on a rim or on the edge of a tray. Wooden cigarette holders take a different approach again by giving you something to hold rather than pinching the paper directly, which keeps fingers away from the tip and keeps the shape of the roll intact as it burns down. RAW makes these in several lengths so they can be matched to the paper size you use.
Matching tools to paper size
Paper sizes are the thing people get wrong when buying accessories. Kingsize and kingsize slim are the long papers, 1 1/4 is the middle size and single wide is the short one. A holder or a cone tool built for kingsize will not grip a 1 1/4 roll properly and the other way round. Rolling mats are the exception, since a mat simply needs to be as wide as the longest paper you use. Check the size on the packet before ordering a holder.
Looking after bamboo and wood
Neither bamboo nor untreated wood likes water. Wipe a mat down with a dry cloth or brush the slats out rather than rinsing them, since soaking will warp the bamboo and loosen the binding. Wooden holders benefit from a gentle clean with a pipe cleaner or a cotton bud through the bore every so often, which keeps residue from building up and affecting the draw. Store both somewhere dry and away from direct heat.
Buying rolling accessories from Vapestore Direct
Smoking accessories are sold to adults aged 18 and over only and orders are age verified before dispatch. UK delivery is free on orders over £20, which is worth knowing given how low the individual prices are here. Mats, tools and papers are all cheap enough that combining them into one order makes more sense than buying separately. Call 07827 210361 between 8.30am and 4.00pm if you need to check a size.
Rolling accessory questions
What does a rolling mat actually do?
It shapes the roll for you. Bamboo slats bound side by side hold the paper and the filling in an even cylinder while you roll the mat rather than the paper, so the result is straight and packed the same along its whole length. That evenness is what makes the burn consistent. It is also far easier to learn on than rolling freehand.
Is a mat or a cone creator easier for a beginner?
A cone creator is usually quicker to get results from because you fill a formed cone rather than shaping anything yourself. A mat teaches the motion of rolling and gives more control over how tightly the finished item is packed. Plenty of people own both. At these prices trying each one is not an expensive experiment.
How do I clean a bamboo rolling mat?
Keep it dry. Brush loose debris out from between the slats with a dry brush or wipe it with a dry cloth. Do not rinse or soak a bamboo mat, because water warps the slats and loosens the string binding them together. Store it flat rather than rolled up tightly, then it will not take a permanent curl.
Do cigarette holders come in different sizes?
Yes. They are made to match paper sizes, so a kingsize holder takes a long roll while a 1 1/4 holder takes the middle size. Fitting the wrong one means a loose grip or a roll that will not seat at all. Check the size printed on your papers first and buy the holder that matches it.
What is a hands free holder for?
It holds a roll upright and steady so you can set it down without balancing it on the edge of a tray. The heat resistant construction means the contact point does not scorch or deform. It is a small convenience rather than an essential, though anyone who has lost a roll off the rim of an ashtray will see the appeal.
Do I need to be 18 to buy rolling accessories?
Yes. Vapestore Direct sells smoking accessories to adults aged 18 and over only and every order is age verified before it is dispatched. Identification may be requested. The policy covers mats, tools, holders, papers, tips and trays alike, so the same rule applies whatever the basket contains.