The invention relates to a method and a press (1) for producing a tampon preform (2') by radially pressing a tampon blank (2) made of an absorbing material by means of pressing jaws (3) that are arranged around a pressing region, characterized in that the press (1) comprises guide blades (4, 4', 4") for centering the tampon blank (2) in the radial and/or axial direction in the pressing region.