I'm not sure the mess can ever be entirely eliminated. I have found that since I finally decided to follow directions (hey, what do the manufacturers know!)and was careful to fill the ends of the fill chamber and then loosely (but not sparsely) fill the center, I don't end up with a butt that has the density of a high caliber bullet. I still end up with a bunch of loose tobacco all over my rolling table, though, that I have to constantly scoop back up.
metesky had the people at the smoke shop demonstrate the electric machine for him, and he wasn't too impressed with it (the people at the smoke shop didn't seem to be either). He's at work right now, and I can't remember the specific objections, but I'll ask him when he gets home and let you know, if you'd like.
OK. Thanks.