Cigars splitting open

[RenoB]

I'm baffled. Have had 3 cigars split open during smoking in the past week on 3 separate occassions. Three different brands, same approx size (toro). Kept in the same humi at a rock solid 65% and about 67*. Taken out and put in a 3 finger leather pocket case about an hour before smoking indoors. Kept in breast pocket of my jacket during outdoor travel. Weather has been mild (mid 30's) but still dry indoors (~40%).

One smoked a third way thru before I heard a cracking sound (kinda like those small candies that pop when you put a bunch in your mouth). Looked down and watched the wrapper and binder splitting. Another went kablooye almost immediately after lighting. The last started splitting after about half way thru.

Any ideas what's causing this and how it can be prevented? I'm almost afraid to smoke another one til I figure this out.

[jgros001]

might want to read through this thread:

http://www.clubstogie.com/vb/showthread.php?t=18283

[Pablo]

The above mentioned thread is a good resource.

As well, slap another digital hygrometer into your humidor to verify the temp. Personally, I have seen hygrometers grow to vary over time...as much as 7 - 9 percent.

I would also store your leather case in your humidor. Leather absorbs moisture as well, and can suck it right out of your cigars if it is very dry.

[(909)]

A couple of years ago, I took a CAO Brazilia on vacation with me. It was stored in a perfect 65% RH humidor for weeks before I left, I put it in a ziploc bag for 2 days then opened it and smoked it. About 1/2" in the wrapper began to unravel and no matter what I did, it just got worse. I couldn't figure it out until I realized that being in the California Sierra Nevadas at 10,000' elevation in the middle of August may have something to do with it.

Your problem sounds like it may be weather related and not construction related.

[RenoB]

Originally Posted by pds

I would also store your leather case in your humidor. Leather absorbs moisture as well, and can suck it right out of your cigars if it is very dry.

Excellent thought. A month ago I was doing just that. I stopped doing it because I moved my coolerdor and it isn't as convenient.

It was colder & dryer and I wasn't having any problem. Perhaps I'll just make room for it in my desktop.

[King James]

I've had a few split while smoking with a friend as well. I think it was because it was so cold out and we were smoking outside. And I think the store we buy from keeps theirs at too low of a humidity

[punch]

Originally Posted by pds

I would also store your leather case in your humidor. Leather absorbs moisture as well, and can suck it right out of your cigars if it is very dry.

VERY important. Nothing worse for a wrapper than to put dry thirsty leather right next to it. If you cannot put your leather cigar case or cases in the humidor, then place them in a zip-lock bag with a small piece of damp sponge to keep the leather moist. Make sure the sponge is damp and not wet so that the leather does not mildew.

[(909)]

Originally Posted by punch

VERY important. Nothing worse for a wrapper than to put dry thirsty leather right next to it. If you cannot put your leather cigar case or cases in the humidor, then place them in a zip-lock bag with a small piece of damp sponge to keep the leather moist. Make sure the sponge is damp and not wet so that the leather does not mildew.

Brilliant!!!

I'll be doing this on my next road trip.

[dadof3illinois]

If it's just the wrapper that comes apart then I agree with Paul here and feel your leather case may be the problem, or that your cigars may be too dry.

But if the cigar is actually splitting apart then it very well may be that they are too moist and expanding under the heat thus splitting the cigar.
Most of the B&M's around my area keep everything WAY too moist and i usually need to let them set for 3 - 6 months in my humi before smoking.

Just my

[RenoB]

Originally Posted by dadof3illinois

If it's just the wrapper that comes apart then I agree with Paul here and feel your leather case may be the problem, or that your cigars may be too dry.

But if the cigar is actually splitting apart then it very well may be that they are too moist and expanding under the heat thus splitting the cigar.
Most of the B&M's around my area keep everything WAY too moist and i usually need to let them set for 3 - 6 months in my humi before smoking.

Just my

Yeah, even the binder is splitting. But 3 cigars, 3 brands and even 3 suppliers. The first one was in humi for3-4 months. Second was from a trade here about a month ago. Third was from a cbid purchase more than a month ago.

Problems gotta be with my humi or transport to smoking. My first thought was too humid. Have a second digital hygrometer in my coolerdor that I'll move to my desktop when I get home, just to double check that - but they're both relatively new, salt tested to within 1% and I doubt its a bad reading.

'Nother interesting twist? - robustos are smoking fine, go figure.

[dadof3illinois]

I would rule out transportation to smoking. I mean I've left smokes in the cab of my truck all weekend sitting in scorching heat and sunlight and they smoked fine. I would check my humidor with another hygrometer.

How do the cigars feel before you smoke them? If you squeeze the middle do you here some very light cracking or nothing at all. Are the bands loose or pretty tight around the cigar?

Just doing some brain storming here..... It's starting to hurt too????

[RenoB]

Put a second digital hygrometer in humi when I got home. This morning one reads 66%, the other 65% - temp is between 66* & 68*.

Gars feel solid, except for the La Flor that disintegrated on me immediately after lighting - it felt loosely rolled, but no cracking when I roll them between my thumb and fingers.

Smoked a Cusano 18 robusto on the way home and the wrapper started to peel ever so slightly but was able to smoke thru it. Most of my smoking takes place in either the car or a B&M lounge (too dang cold outside).

I always store and handle mine well but its always mine that crack open. When at a B&M and I pull one out of their humi and smoke it right away - no problem.

[Funnymantrip]

Wisconsin......

I am in FL, and the cold snap we just had. High 30's at night and some breeze was enough to split a cigar on me when I was smoking it on Saturday night.

[dadof3illinois]

Originally Posted by RenoB

Put a second digital hygrometer in humi when I got home. This morning one reads 66%, the other 65% - temp is between 66* & 68*.

Gars feel solid, except for the La Flor that disintegrated on me immediately after lighting - it felt loosely rolled, but no cracking when I roll them between my thumb and fingers.

Smoked a Cusano 18 robusto on the way home and the wrapper started to peel ever so slightly but was able to smoke thru it. Most of my smoking takes place in either the car or a B&M lounge (too dang cold outside).

I always store and handle mine well but its always mine that crack open. When at a B&M and I pull one out of their humi and smoke it right away - no problem.

How tight are the bands on your smokes? This my seem like a silly question but if the bands are really loose then the cigar may be pretty dry but if they are really tight then the cigar has swollen and is too wet. Might be worth noting?

If just the wrappers are coming off then I agree with Paul and they are drying out but if the whole cigar is splitting it's got to be too much moisture?

[MikeZ]

Not being argumentative here...just trying to check my logic.

Originally Posted by dadof3illinois

...if the bands are really loose then the cigar may be pretty dry but if they are really tight then the cigar has swollen and is too wet.

Wouldn't this only be an accurate statement if the cigar was at the "correct" humidity level when the band was put on? Considering that most cigars are rolled with moist leaves and then aged an indeterminant amount of time, there's no way of knowing. A loose or tight band would only mean that the current moisture content of the cigar is different than when it was put on - not neccessarily too dry or too wet.