Torpedo's and cut

Another newbee Q. Is there a certain spot on the torpedo to make the cut on the cap or, is it just where you like it. I got a few and never smoked them before.
Thanks.

[stanthetaxman]

Morning Patrick
I like the Torps because I can cut them to the ring guage I want to put in the mouth. I tend to cut it a little short, creating a smaller ring in the mouth. As a general rule, you can always cut more off, so I'd cut short to begin with?!

Morning Stan, Thank you for the reply. I was getting ready to cut the whole cone off but, what you say makes sence. Make it to fit your like's. I am getting ready to go home for the day and you all are just getting started. It's been a good day for me so, I guess all of you will have a good one. Hell, Rocketman is getting ready to go to sleep by now.

[stanthetaxman]

I don't like a big ring-guaged cigar, so getting a 52 ring torp and being able to cut it "down" to a 44/46/48 ring is sweet, for me!

[KevinG]

You need to be careful that you don't cut too much off. If the cap is completely gone, the cigar can unravel.

[6clicks]

I usually start by clipping a fairly small piece off the head. I do that primarily because I don't like a smoke with a really loose draw. If the draw is too tight I recut it and try again. If you're careful you can very often get it just right . JM2C.

[mc2712]

I tend to cut a small till I get to the draw I want.

[Phantom57]

A quarter inch is pretty much standard for the torpedo and belicoso. Much more and it will unravel. The idea is to concentrate the smoke. If the draw is too tight, adjust humidity.

[CJ20]

I love having torpedos... you get to choose how big you want the cut to be. Try some various sizes to find out which one you like. There is not a certain place to cut the torpedo

[billybarue]

IMO, All good inputs.

I've read the reason for the popularity of the tipped cigars (Torps/Belis etc) is the ability to concentrate and direct the smoke onto the palate where you want it. Do I buy that, not really. I typically don't like to pay the extra cost of construction on torps, belis, perfectos, pyramids, diademas becuase I don't really care about directing a smaller/thinner stream of smoke to a specific part of the palate. But I do admit I find all the tapered vitolas mentioned above aesthetically more pleasing to look at.

Back on point - you might try the "Dickman" cut. Honestly that is what it is called by Lew Rothman over at JR Cigars. I can't remember the specifics of the name, but it was after a friend of his I believe from long ago in the cigar industry.

In brief, the "Dickman" cut is at an angle or on the bias. As recommended, start with a smaller cut - you can always take off more. The angle cut allows more surface area to be exposed than would otherwise be the case if you cut straight across a "tipped" cigar.

I find I always use this cut on Torps, belis etc. One interesting thing is if you get a tight draw you can do an angle cut on the opposite side you just made your "Dickman Cut" instead of cutting on the same side and taking of more of the tip. If you cut on the opposite side of the first "Dickman" cut it looks like an inverted "V" cut on a parejo. And, of course, V cuts on parejos benefit from opening up more suface area on your cut. Becuase, again, they are on an angle.


FWIW, $.02

[nativetexan_1]

I usually use a V-cutter (cheap $2 job) and find that two perpendicular cuts, with the cutter set down on the head as far as it will go, work just fine.

[AspiringGent]

The other day I found myself caught with a torpedo and a punch. Ended up biting off the tip, then adjusting with the punch, using it sortof as a knife. Any suggestions for this situation?

[Sovereign]

Originally Posted by mc2712

I tend to cut a small till I get to the draw I want.

I do this as well. I like to keep it as small as possible while keeping a nice draw

[Baddog64]

Same here

[fiddlegrin]

Originally Posted by AspiringGent

The other day I found myself caught with a torpedo and a punch. Ended up biting off the tip, then adjusting with the punch, using it sortof as a knife. Any suggestions for this situation?

Seems like the best thing about a punch is the smallness of the tool for portability. "But every coin has another side..." Cause a punch just isn't that great for a torp/ Beli? Pyr/Perfecto.

Seems like you did the best you could with what you had.

On a tapered end I have taken to gui-cutting straight, then V-cutting the new end I just created.

In the field with nothing else, I can acomplish the same thing with my Knife although it isn't as civilized...