I need some advice on my cigar burns

[Isaac]

So I am storing my cigars at 68F and 65%. In most of my cigars I get a nice even burn for the first half of the cigar. Even line all the way to the half way point. Now once I get half way, it seems that the cigar start burininv inward, and the wrapper never catches up. Even with relights of the cigar it just starts burining inward, and it produces a very hot smoke. 

All the cigars have been acclimated for months, so it’s not like there was a swing in temps or humidity. 

[chris12381]

So I am storing my cigars at 68F and 65%. In most of my cigars I get a nice even burn for the first half of the cigar. Even line all the way to the half way point. Now once I get half way, it seems that the cigar start burininv inward, and the wrapper never catches up. Even with relights of the cigar it just starts burining inward, and it produces a very hot smoke. 
All the cigars have been acclimated for months, so it’s not like there was a swing in temps or humidity. 

How frequently do you draw on the cigar?

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[Isaac]

7 minutes ago, chris12381 said:

How frequently do you draw on the cigar?

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk
 

That’s a thought call. I would say not too frequent but enough so it isn’t going out. 

[RijkdeGooier]

Difficult to say anything definitive on relatively little information.

Does this happens on all sizes and ring gauges? When do you tap your ash? Do you purge? 

It sounds like your cigars are getting hot in the centre but not so much on the outside, so maybe you should try to smoke one cigar a lot slower that your current tempo and see what happens. About one draw a minute might give you a different result.

[chris12381]

I only ask because your storage sounds just fine, so I'd look elsewhere. 

It's been my experience that a cigar will forgive frequent overdrawing in the 1st half and right around the 2nd half, the heat that is generated can cause wrapper splits and/or tunneling. 

Some people say no more than a draw a minute.  You could also turn your draws into shorter "puffs" to reduce the heat generated.  

You can try this "training tool"  to help you slow down (if that is the problem).  I have had friends swear by it when I sent them the link after they told me all the cigars I gave them tasted bitter. 

https://www.cigarliteracy.com/puffomatic/puff-o-matic.html  

 

[Danimalia]

That's interesting because in my experience smoking too slowly will cause the wrapper to burn slower than the filler. I tend to puff once a minute. So maybe try it both ways,  slower and faster. 

This issue is also something that just seems to happen to certain cigars more than others. Bolivar and Lopez are two offenders for me. I tend to dry box for about 48-96 hours for these cigars and that helps some. I've also found that some of the problems go away with extra acclimatization. Had a box of bolivar PC that took about 6 months of rest before they stayed burning decently. 

[Islandboy]

I have similar storage conditions, and also have this happen (tunneling), but only occasionally. My observations are that it occurs more often with young cigars, and usually happens immediately following a de-ashing. But I rarely encounter a cigar that is plagued with continuous tunneling - a touch up with a lighter usually gets things back on track. I find taking long, slow draws also helps to keep the wrapper burning consistently.

[Buck14]

1. Dry Box for 2 days

2. Smoke slower

3. Have your smoking conditions changed? Temp and rH?

[bigben]

I think the filler may be too dry.  I would raise the RH to 68-70%.  Let the cigars become stable for a month before smoking.

[Bagman]

25 minutes ago, Danimalia said:

That's interesting because in my experience smoking too slowly will cause the wrapper to burn slower than the filler. I tend to puff once a minute. So maybe try it both ways,  slower and faster. 

This issue is also something that just seems to happen to certain cigars more than others. Bolivar and Lopez are two offenders for me. I tend to dry box for about 48-96 hours for these cigars and that helps some. I've also found that some of the problems go away with extra acclimatization. Had a box of bolivar PC that took about 6 months of rest before they stayed burning decently. 

Correct.  Cigar is more likely to tunnel if you slow down your smoking.   So the advise here to smoke more slowly will only make the situation worse.

[Isaac]

1 hour ago, RijkdeGooier said:

Difficult to say anything definitive on relatively little information.

Does this happens on all sizes and ring gauges? When do you tap your ash? Do you purge? 

It sounds like your cigars are getting hot in the centre but not so much on the outside, so maybe you should try to smoke one cigar a lot slower that your current tempo and see what happens. About one draw a minute might give you a different result.

I would say its happening on longer cigars like churchill/lusitanias.  I dont tap, i let it fall off when placing the cigar on an ash tray.  I rarely purge the cigars.  

[Cep]

I have the same problem. And yes smoking slower makes it worse but the faster you smoke the worse for flavor.

But the last few cigars i have smoked have burned perfectly.  The weather is very cold and dry.    I have the burn problems in hot / humid weather.

Whats your weather like?  

 

[OB1]

I have the same problem. I’m finding that there’s a fine line between going too fast and too slow. Not much room for error. I monitor the burn line and taste and adjust puff rate as needed. 

I started buying cigars in August so my stash is pretty fresh. I find my older cigars burn better. 

I also find that in the first half, long slow puffs are better to keep the burn line even. In the last half, shorter puffs (still slow) work better. I guess need to keep the heat lower as the cigar gets smaller. 

I always have issues after ashing... either the burn goes real bad or the cigar goes out even if the cherry is still well lit. Any advice on how to ash properly?

[SOFLO88]

I also have had the same issue with the wrapper not burning as fast as the filler. My usual smoking partner smokes faster than I and never has that issue and we smoke the same cigars often. I think the most common problem would be your smoking it a little too slow. 

[99call]

On 01/01/2018 at 7:41 PM, Isaac said:

So I am storing my cigars at 68F and 65%. In most of my cigars I get a nice even burn for the first half of the cigar. Even line all the way to the half way point. Now once I get half way, it seems that the cigar start burininv inward, and the wrapper never catches up. Even with relights of the cigar it just starts burining inward, and it produces a very hot smoke. 

All the cigars have been acclimated for months, so it’s not like there was a swing in temps or humidity. 

Just an idea but maybe if your smoking in the cold outdoors and exhaling out over the cigar (i.e your exhaling whilst you have the cigar in your mouth), there might be a build up of moisture condensing on the last half of your cigar.  I sometimes notice when smoking in the cold outdoors, the wrapper on my cigars can feel distinctly wetter than when I first took it outside.  

Just an idea, best of luck

[Isaac]

3 hours ago, 99call said:

Just an idea but maybe if your smoking in the cold outdoors and exhaling out over the cigar (i.e your exhaling whilst you have the cigar in your mouth), there might be a build up of moisture condensing on the last half of your cigar.  I sometimes notice when smoking in the cold outdoors, the wrapper on my cigars can feel distinctly wetter than when I first took it outside.  

Just an idea, best of luck

I wish it were simple like that.  I smoke in a cigar lounge 100% of the time.  Im gonna try to speed up my smoke..and slow it down...Lots of experimentation with expensive cigars..haha