Touching up your cigar

[njsarge]

Does anyone else have to do this?

I find myself occasionally having to do this to some cigars. For example I smoked a AF don carlos yesterday, burned perfectly no touch ups required. Tonight I am smoking a Fonseca cubano limitado that required a couple of touch ups to prevent it from tunneling. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Volusianator]

Not to often I'd have to touch up a Don Carlos, they're pretty spot on. However, unless a cigar tunnels VERY badly, I'd not bother with it, it'll usually correct itself. If it does canoe on you, hold the cigar so the faster burning part is on top and slower on the bottom. I know you'd think the other way around as heat rises, however, more effective to help correct a tunneler is having small amount of hot ash fall from inside the cigar to the lower portion that's burning slower...it'll help correct it.

 

[njsarge]

Not to often I'd have to touch up a Don Carlos, they're pretty spot on. However, unless a cigar tunnels VERY badly, I'd not bother with it, it'll usually correct itself. If it does canoe on you, hold the cigar so the faster burning part is on top and slower on the bottom. I know you'd think the other way around as heat rises, however, more effective to help correct a tunneler is having small amount of hot ash fall from inside the cigar to the lower portion that's burning slower...it'll help correct it.

Thanks bro. I will have to try that technique.

 

[Headbanger]

I am anal about the burn and find myself touching up maybe too often.

 

[Proud Bear]

I often smoke outdoors in slightly breezy to windy environments. If the conversation gets going well or if I have an amazing smoke I often forget to rotate it in my hand so that it will burn evenly with the wind. This causes me to need to touch up my cigar.

Otherwise, I almost always allow the cigar to correct itself.

Bear

 

[jmatkins]

I often smoke outdoors in slightly breezy to windy environments. If the conversation gets going well or if I have an amazing smoke I often forget to rotate it in my hand so that it will burn evenly with the wind. This causes me to need to touch up my cigar.

Otherwise, I almost always allow the cigar to correct itself.

Bear

That covers it.

 

[caudio51]

I am anal about the burn and find myself touching up maybe too often.

Ditto

 

[Trumpetchris]

I have to retouch sometimes when I'm outside. Otherwise, I'll try to let it do it on its own. Sometimes, you just gotta waste some butane!

 

[dpricenator]

I corrected my Burn issues with lower humidity. I thought iiwas storing at 70%, but that turned out to be 73% and have since lowered to 64% and can see a world of difference.

 

[Ratbert]

I am anal about the burn and find myself touching up maybe too often.

Yep, same here.

Regarding Wade's post, I always forget which way to rotate so that it evens out...faster burning portion up or down...50/50 chance of getting it right I guess. :dunno:

 

[Volusianator]

Yep, same here.

Regarding Wade's post, I always forget which way to rotate so that it evens out...faster burning portion up or down...50/50 chance of getting it right I guess. :dunno:

Slow side to the bottom. Now this is what a cigar smoking chemical scientist told me, not sure you can always believe those propeller heads. But he's a very good friend of mine so I gotta give him a little slack.

 

[jwintosh]

with regards to a cigar 'running', i'll tap (stamp) mine on a hard surface to the point of breaking the unlit portion open, exposing it to air. then i relight,,, as for tunneling, i'll tap (stamp) it down before i relight....

 

[Angry Bill]

ONly time I have issues is when it is breezy outside. Other than that, rarely have to touch up.

 

[caudio51]

Slow side to the bottom. Now this is what a cigar smoking chemical scientist told me, not sure you can always believe those propeller heads. But he's a very good friend of mine so I gotta give him a little slack.

I do that all the time, I think it's BS. Sometimes it kinda works, other times not at all.

 

[no_substitute]

I let it burn free. It's just going to end up as a pile of ashes anyway.

 

[vperlman]

Lots of good info here. Also, purging (blowing out through the cigar) will help correct an uneven burn, at least to some extent.

The reason for slow side down is that heat rises, causing the air to rise up away from the top of the cigar. The cigar needs oxygen to burn, so the botth ends up burning faster. Counter-intuitive, I know, but it works.

 

[VirginIslander]

my understanding was that you put the slow burning side down because the smoke rising displaces the air in the topside allowing more airflow into the bottom, thus allowing the O2 to let the bottom burn faster. Usually works for me.

 

[Le Buzz]

good tips.. i usually dont have any burn issues. the brands i smoke are known for impecable construction (tats, fuente etc.) which imho contributes to an even burn. that and rotating your cigars in your humidor to ensure each cigar is humidified evenly.

but sometimes i will come across an uneven burn... and if its not too bad i will place my faith in the cigar and give it a chance to self correct. usually works for me :cbig:

 

[OneRand]

I smoked a Casa Torano outside last week that burned way uneven for the first half, but at an angle, so it tasted fine and eventually corrected itself.

Great advice, Wade. I ended up putting slow side down, but figured more air blowin on it would help slow it down, but this may be bull