make the dough excessively sticky and cause forming problems. Typically, Comtec
recommends that the weight of water in your dough recipe not exceed 25% of the
weight of the flour in your recipe. Since water weighs approximately 8 pounds per
gallon, that would mean that we suggest no more than 1 gallon of water for every 32
pounds of flour.
1.5. Dough has been over mixed
Typically, the less that dough is worked, the better it will perform in a Comtec press.
Comtec recommends (1) Mix your dough with a cake paddle rather than a dough
hook. The paddle works the dough less than the hook. (2) Only mix your ingredients
until they are blended. Do not over work the dough.
Symptoms of overworked dough include dough that shrinks back after being pressed
and dough that is excessively sticky.
1.6. Upper die half is not tight to the machine
If the upper half of a Comtec die is loose, your pressing results will be unpredictable
and inconsistent. Do not over tighten the die retaining bolt, but you should not be able
to rotate or “wobble” a die with your hands if it has been properly installed on the
machine. Additionally, good die maintenance involves keeping the mating surfaces
between the top of the forming die and the hub that it connects to clean and free of
any build up.
1.7. Bottom half of the die is not secured with thumb screw
For proper die operation, the lower portion of a Bottom Crust Die Set must be
securely fastened to the rectangular Travel Plate that it rests on. The bottom half of a
forming die is attached to the travel plate by the thumb screw that can be found on the
side of the travel plate, just below the lower die half. If the lower die half is not securely
fastened to the travel plate, pressing results will be inconsistent, uneven and
unpredictable.
1.8. Excessive buildup in mating surface between machine and upper die half
Keep the top of the forming die and the hub that it connects to clean and free of any
build up. This buildup can cause the die to press unevenly, and inhibit heat transfer
between the machine and the forming die, causing sticking problems.
1.9. Excessive build up between lower die half and travel plate
The lower die half should sit level and flat against the rectangular travel plate. Any
damage or build up on the die or travel plate can cause uneven, inconsistent and
unpredictable pressing results.
1.10. Top crust forming table not completely secured
It is important for proper top crust formation that all three screws be used to fasten
the top crust forming table to the rectangular travel plate. One of the screws is the
thumb screw on the side of the travel plate. The other two are underneath the travel
plate and attach vertically to the underside of the top crust forming table base. All
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