wrapper starts cracking

[bigtattoo79]

Originally Posted by DSturg369

What kind of cigar? Brand/blend/vitola?

Monty white
Opus X

[DSturg369]

No problems Lance. We're just trying to help is all.

[madurolover]

Originally Posted by DSturg369

No problems Lance. We're just trying to help is all.

We will get to the bottom of this mystery!

[bigtattoo79]

UPDATE
The cigar is a: (La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero). The humidity was at: (69%). The cigar did not appear to have any swelling and it did not feel dry. Clipped and did a pre light draw and the draw was great. I did notice that the band was a little loose. So I lit it up and took a good draw and all was going good at this point. I will add that I made sure I did not hot box it at all. I got about quarter way down and noticed the the draw and the band was a small amount tighter (I am thinking swelling). I take 3 more draws and sure enough the wrapper cracked right below the hot end. I also checked the humidity outside and it was 86%.

Feel free to ask anything that I may have forgotten to add.

Thanks Lance

[madurolover]

I would say that with the band tightening up like that you are indeed experiencing swelling due to high humidity.

I would suggest dry boxing your cigars for a couple of days before smking them. Every week I take a few hndfuls and put them in the drybox. If any do not get smoked within 7 - 10 dys they go back in the humidor.

Of course I am also thinking that it is the ambient humidity that is causing the problems.

[bigtattoo79]

Originally Posted by madurolover

I would say that with the band tightening up like that you are indeed experiencing swelling due to high humidity.

I would suggest dry boxing your cigars for a couple of days before smking them. Every week I take a few hndfuls and put them in the drybox. If any do not get smoked within 7 - 10 dys they go back in the humidor.

Well I need to place an order for some beads tomorrow. I think I will go ahead and get the 65% beads and see how that works.

The main thing I was worried about going with the 65% beads is the cigars would be too dry and than the wrappers would crack from handling them.

I thank everyone for all the quick help again the Puff crew bails me out lol.

Thanks Lance

[DSturg369]

Originally Posted by madurolover

I would say that with the band tightening up like that you are indeed experiencing swelling due to high humidity.

I would suggest dry boxing your cigars for a couple of days before smking them. Every week I take a few hndfuls and put them in the drybox. If any do not get smoked within 7 - 10 dys they go back in the humidor.

I agree. You might also want to recheck/calibrate your hygrometer.

[bigtattoo79]

Originally Posted by DSturg369

I agree. You might also want to recheck/calibrate your hygrometer.

I have 2 hydros that are off by 2%. Tested by salt test and with a cal pack. Both test show them + 2%. So I feel I have to trust that.
Am I correct in thinking this?


Thanks Lance

[DSturg369]

If both were recently tested, yes you should be ok there. The only other factor is the ambient humidity that I can see. Dry-boxing should help some.

[Sirhuffsalot]

Lets not forget that sometimes, you just get a bad roll. The roller may have put a slight twist in the binder, or the wrapper roller may have put the wrapper on too tight.

A couple of months ago I was entertaining my soon to be SIL. I pulled two LGC`s out of the humi and we preceded to cut and light. Almost immediately mine started to have issue`s. By the time I was half way through it looked like it had been run over by a lawnmower, (hell yes I continued to smoke it, LOL). His of course was perfect, all the way down.

Both sitting for a few weeks at 65%. Both the same size shape and wrapper.

I`ve had others snap crackle pop, explode. Mayb 4 or 5 in the last half a year or so. It just happens, and I pray it don`t happen to a pricey cigar. Got two Felipe Gregarios in a row once that went bam, one right after the other. That was`nt a good cigar day,

I would think that with the outside humidity going @ 85%, you would have a hard time keeping it lit also?

Cheers,
Randy

[sboyajian]

Originally Posted by bigtattoo79

Well I need to place an order for some beads tomorrow. I think I will go ahead and get the 65% beads and see how that works.

The main thing I was worried about going with the 65% beads is the cigars would be too dry and than the wrappers would crack from handling them.

I thank everyone for all the quick help again the Puff crew bails me out lol.

Thanks Lance

I keep every cigar I own at 65%.. there is nothing dry about it.

[Herf N Turf]

Lance,

I'm just gonna bottom-line you.

Youre cigars are cracking because of humidity. NOT the lack thereof. Trying to keep your smokes at 70% is an admirable goal, but you also have to consider your own climate. You start smoking a stick that is already at its maximal humidity... You smoke it outside, in LA, in the summer... where i's likely 85+degrees and 80+humidity. The climate and the fact that youre sucking into a moist environment; moisture is building up in your cigars and, by the time you get to the band, you've got to the point where everything in the stick is swelling.

If you don't have one, set up a dry box. Put a few sticks in there and try to drop the hygro to about 56% before smoking one. Trust me. This WILL solve your problem.

[Cigary]

Originally Posted by madurolover

I would say that with the band tightening up like that you are indeed experiencing swelling due to high humidity.

I would suggest dry boxing your cigars for a couple of days before smking them. Every week I take a few hndfuls and put them in the drybox. If any do not get smoked within 7 - 10 dys they go back in the humidor.

Of course I am also thinking that it is the ambient humidity that is causing the problems.

Bingo!! I keep my humis at 70% humidity as I tend to open a close them quite a bit. I also dry box just about every cigar I have and keep it in there for a few days before I take em out and smoke.