Seeking answers

[eef]

I have been scouring this site looking for answers to some questons, and have found many, but here are some I am still curious about...

1. Humidors. Is it imperative that when you buy a new box of cigars that you put it in a humidor? Can you keep the box sealed and then put the cigars in the humi when you are ready and open their cedar box or packaging? I mainly ask because if you run out of room in your humidor, is your only option to buy or make a new one?

2. Lighting. I have read a couple descriptions of proper cigar lighting technique. SO far I have gathered that you hold the cigar (not in your mouth), and you light it with a butaine lighter by letting the flame heat the tilted cigar, but the flame does not actually touch. DO this and turn the cigar until there are some nice embers going and blow on the end of the cigar until it seems to be lit. Let it burn and cool down for about a minute before smoking. Please correct me if I'm wrong...

That's about it for now, I'm sure I'll have more later. Thanks in advance for the generous advice and friendly help. You guys are the bees knees.
-eef

[BayouDawg]

Hey that "bee's knees" comments doesn't match that thrashing avitar! what gives?

Anyway...

1. Yes, you will have to keep them controlled and humidified somehow. You know, ziplock bags work great, but you must new some form of humidification device. Actually, when I receive a new box I usually set it along with a hygrometer in sealed ziplock bag. After a day I have a feel for what conditions they were stored at before shipping. Does this work? who knows...just another one of those 'gar rituals we all have. My advice: Set up a coolerdor and be done with it.

2. Lighting. Eh, much ado about nothing IMHO. The method you described is what is commonly prescribed. I like to toast mine first. Just don't put a big flame to it as that scorched the foot and makes the smoke taste like burnt s*&t. My advice: whatever it take to get a straight burn without roasting the foot.

Bd

[eef]

Bees knees. Heck you guys are the cat's pajamas!

Thanks dawg, about lighting- I guess, what I am really trying to understand is the WHY of the technique... So like you said try not to scorch the end. This semms hard to e with this butaine lghter that shoots fire like a blow torch. What are some signs you're lighting correctly?
-eef

[shelvingunit]

Originally Posted by BayouDawg

1. Yes, you will have to keep them controlled and humidified somehow...... My advice: Set up a coolerdor and be done with it.
Bd

1. Good advice, especially if you plan on buying boxes. Just make sure you get a cooler big enough.

2. Thats the way I light mine and from what I know that is considered the "proper" technique.

[shelvingunit]

Originally Posted by eef

Bees knees. Heck you guys are the cat's pajamas!

Thanks dawg, about lighting- I guess, what I am really trying to understand is the WHY of the technique... So like you said try not to scorch the end. This semms hard to e with this butaine lghter that shoots fire like a blow torch. What are some signs you're lighting correctly?
-eef

Just hold the lighter far away and move it closer until you see the stogie start to ignite. Then move the flame around the foot (or rotate the cigar) to start thing burning evenly. If you dont spend too much time on one spot it wont get scortched.

You know its done correctly if the cigar burns evenly.

Now...there are also some other factors that would make a cigar burn unevenly and has nothing to do with your lighting technique. If the cigar is stored improperly you may have tunnelling problems or, if the wrapper leaf is not high quality you may get an uneven burn. The temp and humidity outside also effects the burn. I was smoking a Punch PC right after it rained and the humidity outside was very high. The cigar tunnelled about 1/4 of the way down and the burn was terrible. The wrapper just soaked up the moisture in the air and did not want to stay lit. It was a 98 Punch PC and the first 1/4 inch was awesome and the rest sucked

[BayouDawg]

Well, I've always just used a regular butane lighter, not one much for the torches. What you really don't want to happen is the foot to catch fire (easy to do). That's why the "how tos" emphasis so much caution. The turning is so that you get an even light around the edge, and and thus a straighter burn and less canoeing.

I like to toast the foot to warm it up, then I usually use the old turn-and-light except I do it to the right edge of the foot rotating the edge through with the flame just kissing the edge. Check it and touch up as necessary.

Practice a LOT!

bd

[BayouDawg]

No kidding, it's amazing how much a difference high humidity makes!

Originally Posted by 1f1fan

I was smoking a Punch PC right after it rained and the humidity outside was very high. The cigar tunnelled about 1/4 of the way down and the burn was terrible. The wrapper just soaked up the moisture in the air and did not want to stay lit. It was a 98 Punch PC and the first 1/4 inch was awesome and the rest sucked

[eef]

Thanks that makes a lot more sense. It always helps to understand why your doing something rather than just being told what to do.

If I have to result to makeing a makeshift humidor- where do you buy humidifiers? I have never had a need to purchase such a thing... are they cheap. The only humidifier I have ever known of was that huge one my mom used to put in my room when I was sick and it would blow smoke at me in the night like a snarling dragon hell beast. I assume there must be something different if they fit in zip lock bags.

Is this something I can just get at wal mart?
-eef

[ju1c3r]

Originally Posted by eef

Bees knees. Heck you guys are the cat's pajamas!

Thanks dawg, about lighting- I guess, what I am really trying to understand is the WHY of the technique... -eef

Why the even burn:
If it was for esthetics, we wouldn't care. But that isn't the case. An uneven burn affects the taste of the cigar.

A cigar (especially one with a thick ring gauge) has many different leaves, giving the cigar the desired aroma and flavor. The ideal situation is to have all the leaves burning evenly so that the cigar gives the intended flavor that the original makers/rollers intended to. Different part of the leaves (filler, binder, wrapper) has different flavour to it. Also an uneven burn can be harsh at times (giving the burning sensation).

Check this out for a good read:
http://www.cigarnexus.com/counsel/burn/

[Roger Miller"]

Try this info on humidification eef:
http://www.cigargroup.com/faq/#5.1
read 5.1 through 5.5

Oh, and book mark this page -- lots of info there

_____
rm

[eef]

Thanks again guys, you're all much too kind.
-eef

[kamikaiguy]

Guys sorry I'm so late. You covered all the basis. There is nothing i can add except welcome.

[eef]

thanks- I have already read many of your posts to other newbies and have found them very helpful. You appear to be a black belt in "Lung-Fu".
-eef

[eef]

...except cigar smoke doesn't enter your lungs but hey give me some credit for trying to be clever.
-eef

[IHT]

i just light my cigar... i don't do much song and dance about it. i use to, never noticed anything special or if it changed a damn thing about how it smoked..

i stick the cigar in my mouth, use the lighter, slowly rotate the cigar as i take small steady puffs. i don't seem to have a problem with "uneven" burns. i've lit cigars so bad before, while driving, and guess what, they end up burning evenly if it's a good cigar. so, i don't feel that a special "ancient chinese secret" to lighting a cigar makes it burn even/uneven. it's the cigar: proper humidity, how it's rolled, the veins, etc.