Purging - Catch 22

[andrewsutherland2002]

Originally Posted by cab28

Would you purge them in a box?

Would you purge them with a fox?

[demiurgic]

yes, tunneling happens quite frequently actually. After reading your posts, I think it's because of
a. I am blowing too hard while purging.
this is true, I like that gunk OFF so I give um 'ell. not anymore. I will try the dandelion technique.

b. I live in near 100% RH weather. It's damp here, period. This may make the stogies go out after they are resting in between puffs. I try for the puff a minute by the way, hard as it is.

Otherwise, I do not purge right at the beginning. should I do this while lighting the foot?

thanks!
demi

[Kaisersozei]

Originally Posted by vicvitola

I usually start by getting all the ash off then I will heat the end with my torch as if I was just lighting it. Deep breath and blow through the cigar steadily, then barely touch the end with the torch. If I get flame coming off the end right away I'll take the flame away and continue blowing air though the cigar until the flame goes out completely. I'll then set the cigar down in the ashtray for about a minute before starting to puff on it again.

I've never really had any relight issues with the cigar going out using this method unless I was already having them before I did it. I used burn off/purge a lot when I first learned about it. Anymore I have come to appreciate the concentrated flavors when smoking and also have discipined myself to allow longer intervals between puffs. That alone allows for less of the overly concentrated bitterness. Sometimes however you just need to do it but I find that for me it's maybe once per cigar if that anymore.

That's pretty much exactly the way I purge & smoke, never had burn problems because of a purge.

[scrapiron]

I seem to have tunneling issues fairly often as well although family members sharing a cigar from the same humidor rarely have an issue. I don't think mine is from purging but wonder if it could be from not drawing in hard enough??

I don't usually purge until I've had an issue or relight.

What do you think?

[Coz77]

Heres a good tip I got awhile back from cheaphumidors.

Originally Posted by cheaphumidors.com

If your cigar starts to get a bitter taste to it as you near the
end, or perhaps if it went out and you are relighting, tap the coal
end to clear as much ash as possible. Then take a butane torch and
hold the flame so it goes directly into the ash. Hold it there
until the entire ash becomes white hot (generally about 10 - 15
seconds. Of course this does not need to be done if the cigar is already lit).

Then put the cigar into your mouth and put the flame a
short distance from the coal. Blow through the cigar fairly hard
(no, we're not trying to launch the white hot coal to the other
side of the room). When you start blowing you will create a
yellowish-orange flare. This color will change as you continue to
blow. When the flare goes to blue or clear, the cigar is ready to
smoke. There shouild be very little harshness . It should taste
GOOD!!

[Addiction]

I have never experienced this but I typically find myself purging due to heat issues ratehr than taste issues.

[ky toker]

I admit it, I merely purge for the afterburner effect. Light, removed lighter, and see what goes out 1st - cigar torch or lungs.