Quote Originally Posted by NeverBend View Post
The cork absorbs the shock of metal hitting metal. The weight 'cushes' rather than crashes when it contacts the pressure plate. EmperorZurg perhaps could add specifics from his design notes.
I put cork on there for a variety of reasons, none of which are all that insightful to the art of tobacco pressing given that I really didn't know why the press was needed or how it was to be used. Pete just said he needed a gravity press to hold a couple ounces of tobacco to simulate tin pressure so he could see what a blend was going to taste like after it had been packed into a tin for a while.

So for the record, here's the 'why' behind it...
1) I had a scrap of cork gasket material on hand (for that matter, the entire press was made of various shorts and drops)
2) I didn't know if the weight would be used as a hammer or not but it made sense to dampen the 'clack' if it was.
3) It's easier to tear the cork off if it's not wanted than to come up with a piece to glue on later
4) I figured Mrs. Bend would kill Mr. Bend if if he gouged up the counter with that heavy weight.
5) I didn't want the weight to scratch up the follower plate.

That's pretty much it.