SLB's hard to open

[TheLiquidGator]

I store many sliding lid boxes in my humidor. Most open just fine, A few of them become very tight and difficult to open. Right now I have three boxes of Des Dieux that are so tight I cannot even wedge them open as i fear the back of the box might pop. These are the only tight ones I have found recently. They are from 2013-2014.

My first thought was maybe the humidity is too high and expanded the wood. But, most open just fine and the humidity is OK.

The larger concern is getting them to open with damaging the cigars. And finally getting them to slide easier in the future.

Is this a problem for others? Any one have any tips? Thanks, David

[El Presidente]

I store many sliding lid boxes in my humidor. Most open just fine, A few of them become very tight and difficult to open. Right now I have three boxes of Des Dieux that are so tight I cannot even wedge them open as i fear the back of the box might pop. These are the only tight ones I have found recently. They are from 2013-2014.

My first thought was maybe the humidity is too high and expanded the wood. But, most open just fine and the humidity is OK.

The larger concern is getting them to open with damaging the cigars. And finally getting them to slide easier in the future.

Is this a problem for others? Any one have any tips? Thanks, David

I come across tight SLB a few times every month in the warehouse, If you can, get a chisel and at the top of the box "jimmy open" enough of the lid so that that you can get a finger grip on the lid at the bottom of the box. Slowly does it in the"jimmying", Now pull.... pull again. It will eventually come out.Be careful sliding the the lid back in.While easier the more times you do it, it will likely always be a problem.

All my boxes are at the same RH so the problem isn't ,moisture content here but poor box construction.

[brutusthebuckeye]

I have a JL2 box with an extremely tight lid I just sanded down the edges and it worked fine then...

[TheLiquidGator]

Thanks Pres and Buckeye. I might have to invest in some sandpaper.

[Habana Mike]

Yep, I've had a couple of cabs I needed a crowbar to get open. While I just used the 'jimmy' method with them sanding the edges down a bit sounds like it would do the trick.

[Cornell]

Is this a serious thread?

[Fuzz]

Is this a serious thread?

I don't see why not. It is a legitimate question. I myself have had very tight SLB lids in the past that were a bugger to remove.

[HarveyBoulevard]

Funny enough this topic just came up. I had a box yesterday (the first ever) that was so warped, I had to pry it on and off and nearly wrecked a few sticks in the process.

It was an Upmann box...can't remember what vitola and too lazy to go look right now. Wasn't the humidity. Just poor wood or poor craftsmanship.

[raymond5737]

I love this place! You can use this advice in more situations than just with your cigar boxes. Say for example the zipper on your pants gets stuck...

What is the solution without looking like a putz or a stalker? Try the crow bar approach albeit with a smaller tool.

[SCgarman]

The reason why I prefer dress boxes, besides box pressed square cigars.

[Cornell]

I don't see why not. It is a legitimate question. I myself have had very tight SLB lids in the past that were a bugger to remove.

Never said it wasn't legitimate but I mean really? What do you do when a flat piece of wood is stuck in another piece of wood?

You pull.

[Fuzz]

You asked if this was a serious thread. I answered it is. Sometimes there is a better way to do things than using brute force. And you will never know unless you ask. Plain and simple.

[MrGTO]

I just figured the box wasent ready to be opened yet...

[fabes]

I just figured the box wasent ready to be opened yet...

I like this!

[CaptainQuintero]

I've a box of pl Robusto that is like a safe, the guys at the factory must have used a mallet to close the thing

[sengjc]

Haven't encountered this problem per-se.

Admittedly I have come across some tight ones but with some perseverance and coaxing, I managed to gain entry to these boxes eventually.

[PapaDisco]

I love this place! You can use this advice in more situations than just with your cigar boxes. Say for example the zipper on your pants gets stuck...

What is the solution without looking like a putz or a stalker? Try the crow bar approach albeit with a smaller tool.

"Smaller tool?" Speak for yourself Raymond!

[Ginseng]

Yes, of course. Be in this long enough and you'll see it. I usually take my pocket knife and wedge the top open a bit then grip and pull. I have had some pretty skewed cabs and getting the lids back in can be harder than taking it out.

Wilkey

[jacksfull]

Never said it wasn't legitimate but I mean really? What do you do when a flat piece of wood is stuck in another piece of wood?

You pull.

Ah ha! Excellent! P-U-L-L

Thank you!

I took your advice and managed to get my SLB open. Not that the lid was tight or anything. It slid right out. But I did employ your suggested method nonetheless.

HOWEVER, once I got it open I found all the cigars inside were plugged. It's like someone purposefully put a cap or something over the end of every single one of them. What should I do?

(Sorry folks. The Spiderman stuff tends to rub off in smartarseness just after reading it. But seriously, I agree with Cornell. Was this a problem that really warrants seeking professional advice?)

[Fuzz]

Real simple solution. If you don't like the post, don't comment.

[kevfi]

Real simple solution. If you don't like the post, don't comment.

. ??