Cigars Cracking?

[Golfman]

I noticed that some of my cigars wrapper leaf is cracking. Anyone have an answer to why this could be? The humidity has been relatively constant but the temp has been fluctuating a little bit. Thanks for the advice

[fireman43]

My first guess would be the humidity, but you covered that in your OP. How recently have you calibrated your hygro? I ask only because most of the time when you get wrappers cracking it's a humidity issue more often than not.

[bama]

I would do a calibration test to make sure your humidity reading is accurate. Good luck.

[Boston_Dude05]

I believe the RH% is too low. What are you storing at?

[Golfman]

i have a digital hygrometer so accuracy should not be a problem, and ive been checking the RH almost everyday and keeping it steady. I have 65% beads and the hygro is reading 65 so i think that should be spot on. I know for a fact they didnt come cracked cause i had a La Gloria Cubana in there and it cracked recently and before the cubana i had a Triple Ligero Hansotia in there and it cracked as well.

[tzaddi]

My I can't see the cigars but could they be splitting? Splitting from taking on mositure too quickly. Sometime this can happen with some delicate wrappers and larger ring sizes, the foot takes on mositure faster than the body can equalize it. Just quessing.

[MeNimbus]

I have had some crack on me as well. They are all different vitolas. The humidity was too low and inconsistent. After some PG solution that solved the problem. I have also added some 70% humipaks to my humidor as well.

[stogie_kanobie_one]

Are they cracking when you smoke them? Sometimes I've seen this when you light up in really cold weather....

[Jeebus]

Some wrappers are thinner than others and are therefore more brittle and susestable(sp?) to humidity changes. They might have also been rolled too tightly so when they expand with the heat of smoking, they will crack. my

[inept]

Maybe the humidity spikes or tumbles at night? I've had humidors in the past that seemed to keep a steady RH but could actually vary substantially during the day. This was causing my cameroon wrappers to split. I didn't even realize that this was the problem until I bought a digital hygrometer witn a max/min function.

[n2advnture]

Originally Posted by Golfman

i have a digital hygrometer so accuracy should not be a problem, and ive been checking the RH almost everyday and keeping it steady. I have 65% beads and the hygro is reading 65 so i think that should be spot on. I know for a fact they didnt come cracked cause i had a La Gloria Cubana in there and it cracked recently and before the cubana i had a Triple Ligero Hansotia in there and it cracked as well.

Typically, inexpensive digital hygrometers can be off from 1% to as much as 10%. It is highly recommended to calibrate your hygrometer annually as well as replace the batteries once a year and low batteries can give false readings as well. To calibrate, simply use the instructions below.

How to Test and Calibrate a Hygrometer:

1. Fill a milk bottle cap or other small container with salt, and add a few drops of distilled water - NOT enough to dissolve the salt, just enough to moisten it. You want the slurry to be thick and pasty.

2. Put the cap inside of an air tight zip lock or plastic container along with your hygrometer. Then seal the bag or container (Tupperware works well).

3. Wait 24 hours, then check the reading on your hygrometer without opening the bag or container (or quickly open the container and check if the container is not clear).

If the reading is 75%, then your hygrometer is accurate and no adjustment is required.

If the reading is not precisely 75%, then adjust the hygrometer to 75% by turning the screw or dial on the back. This must be done immediately after removing from the bag or container, before room conditions cause the reading to change.

If there is no screw (or dial) to recalibrate your hygrometer, then you will just have to remember to add or subtract the difference between the test reading and 75%, in order to determine the actual humidity level inside of your humidor. For example, if your hygrometer test reading was 80%, then subtract 5% from the readings you get inside of your humidor, to determine the actual levels of humidity (e.g. a reading of 70% inside your humidor equals an actual humidity level of 65%).

Hope this helps
~Mark

[kenstogie]

Originally Posted by MeNimbus

I have had some crack on me as well.

I think that's a different forum

[n3uka]

Originally Posted by kenstogie

I think that's a different forum

http://www.theplumber.com/

[jitzy]

golfman, ive been having that problem if i go outside its still a little to cold out here in long island to be smoking with no isues.

ps were do you play im a sunday and monday bethpage guy myself

[mosesbotbol]

I've notice that on cigars that went dry at some point remain brittle even when properly humidified. A friend of mine gave me about 10 cigars to hold to for when he comes over. A few RASS, 5 pack of Trinin RE's, a few Monte's... All were in sad shape when I got them. Put them in cabinet about a month ago and this weekend, I went to look at them, and they still felt brittle around the cap. Month should be long enough to humdify them, and they are not normally brittle cigars...

Just something I noticed...