Which is a bigger bummer, overfilled or underfilled?

[Naug]

When I first started smoking cigars in the mid nineties overfilled and a tight draw seemed like a bigger bummer, however most of these issues turned out to be over humidification. As my experience with cigars grew and subsequently better storage - ie coolerdors this became less of an issue, and the rare instance of a truly over filled cigar was remedied with a metal skewers. Seems today as I smoke predominately Cuban cigars the bigger issue is under filled hot smoking cigars. As I burned a Sancho Beli today I was once again confronted with this, what is normally a 60 plus minute smoke was done in 45. What do you do when you pick a seemingly underweight or under filled stick? Since this for the most part a new issue (in my experience) I look forward to hearing how you handle this.

naug - bigs, wcp never a VI.

[CigarNerd]

I'd go anytime with underfilled.

I do know all the tricks for overfilled cigars (metal/wood skewer, kneading) but none of them works for me.
If there is too much stuff inside, there is too much stuff inside. You'd have to pull some leaves out in order to improve the draw.
Some say it helps if they drill a hole, but for the life of me I never succeeded to get some material out of the cigar with a drill.

If it is underfilled, I simply use the smallest puncher and the draw will be good.
You still end up with a faster than usual smoke, but as the draw is normal the cigar does not get too hot.

So bottom line for me: punch first, cut later.

[LordAnubis]

I pinch the cigar as far up (as close to the lit end as I can touch). That seems to restrict the air flow a fair bit for me.


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[ayepatz]

Underfilled is usually better, in my experience. As said above, you can use a small punch, pinch the cigar, and slow your smoking rate.

Overfilled and plugged cigars tend to be lost causes for me. If I can improve the draw I’ll try, but it rarely shows any benefit.

[garbandz]

I have good luck with overfilled cigars, usually I can save one.

for me an underfilled stick seldom makes it to the end.

[fitzy]

I can usually fix an overfilled cigar. Worst case I have to resort to using a perfect draw tool. 

Underfilled if I notice ahead of time I can go with a punch but if I don't notice ahead of time there's not much I can do it fix it. So underfilled for me is a bigger bummer.

[torsion]

2 hours ago, fitzy said:

I can usually fix an overfilled cigar. Worst case I have to resort to using a perfect draw tool. 

Underfilled if I notice ahead of time I can go with a punch but if I don't notice ahead of time there's not much I can do it fix it. So underfilled for me is a bigger bummer.

This

1 hour ago, FatherOfPugs said:

Bigger bummer in my experience has been over filled cigars, can't seem to get the things to draw well even with dry boxing. Haven't tried the perfect draw tool yet, but I have ordered one. Hope it will help when I encounter this.

and this

+1 for Perfec Draw tool in future for use with overfilled

[CigarNerd]

1 hour ago, fitzy said:

I can usually fix an overfilled cigar. Worst case I have to resort to using a perfect draw tool. 

Underfilled if I notice ahead of time I can go with a punch but if I don't notice ahead of time there's not much I can do it fix it. So underfilled for me is a bigger bummer.

Why not always punch first? And if the draw is too tight, you can still cut.

[RazorbackFan]

PerfecDraw tool has salvaged many of my otherwise unsmokable tent pegs, but I’ve still had worse luck overall with overfilling than underfilling. Thus, I’ll vote for preferring underfilled over overfilled. 

[Doctorossi]

1 hour ago, torsion said:

This

and this

 

So... both?  

[torsion]

25 minutes ago, Doctorossi said:

So... both?  

lol I clearly don't read posts thoroughly enough!

Both was for the Perfec Draw tool. I've tried with underfilled cigars but I usually pitch them well before the last third.

[cardinalfan85]

Id rather have an overfilled cigar and use my Perfect draw tool. Under filled changes the flavor and gets too hot in my experience.

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[cigaraholic]

Except for the boom tent pole years I’ve never had a problem with overfilled cigars. A plugged cigar is a plugged cigar, they can be over or under filled. I weigh all my cigars and rebox them from heaviest to lightest...I got tired of smoking some featherweight that tastes like nobodies home. Most boxes have 5 cigars that belong in the toilet....those I give to my friends that are happy to smoke them. The heaviest cigars always taste the best. I wish HSA would throw those draw machines in the ocean and buy some scales!....and do a better job of training rollers?

[Lotusguy]

Underfilled is by far the bigger bummer for me.

[finecigar]

Used to always be overfilled was bigger bummer for me, until I got the PerfecDraw tool, which seems to be helping.

I agree with cigaraholic, weight says a lot about the cigar before you even smoke it

[tuff]

I can deal with overfilled maybe 75% of the time, but under filled normally get tossed about 1 inch in.  I am suffering more under filled in 2016. I will try the tips offered above for under filled, which I appreciate. 

[fitzy]

4 hours ago, CigarNerd said:

Why not always punch first? And if the draw is too tight, you can still cut.

 

Eh I probably should but it's not too often I've got under filled cigars so I don't really think of it. Also I rarely use a punch to begin with as I prefer a regular guillotine.

[Kitchen]

I am of the opinion that it shouldn't take any more then a kiss to get a mouth filled with smoke.  So I hate overfilled cigars and find them a real pain.

With a loose draw under-filled cigar, I just conscientiously draw slower. 

 

[Doctorossi]

I prefer overfilled cigars. As others have indicated, there are so many more available options to correct/salvage them.

I once had a Mag 50 that was so underfilled that at my normal, casual smoking pace, I was burning my fingers in 25 minutes. Nothing to be done with a stick like that except to try not to cry as you watch it essentially smoke itself.

[El Presidente]

15 hours ago, LordAnubis said:

I pinch the cigar as far up (as close to the lit end as I can touch). That seems to restrict the air flow a fair bit for me.


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Me too. 

Then there are those cigars that just won't burn....underfilled or overfilled. They are the ones I hate the most!

[tigger]

While an overfilled cigar can be "remedied" with a Draw Poker or the like, the flavor's never quite right for me.

Underfilled, with slow, proper smoking, has a better chance of providing me with something closer to the experience I'm looking for in a cigar.

[Habana Mike]

I prefer a draw with a lighter resistance. I don't mind heavier resistance as long as I can draw smoke through the cigar. Terribly under filled cigars are terrible but slightly under filled cigars are much more smokeable than overfilled to any extent a draw poker can't cure.

[jtfrizzy]

Id have to say underfilled is definatly a bigger problem. If it's over filled or even just plugged near the end cap you can either cut a little extra off, use a draw tool (as I have one I use from time to time but anything will work including a bent paper clip as I have used that before) or if over humidification was the issue can solve that by lowering your humidity. But, with an underfilled your kinda stuck with it burning like crap, running everywhere, burning too fast and hot etc. I'm sure someone out there has figured a way to undo the wrapper and binder and rewrap the cigar but I most certaintly would destroy it if I tried that so I wouldn't venture down that road.

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[Naug]

Will try using a punch with a lightweight/spongy cigar, or shallower clip on a torp.

[NorCalAaron]

Since purchasing the perfect draw tool, I say I have better luck unplugging tight drawing smokes.   Like mentioned above I usually punch first and see how it draws, besides that and smoking slower.  I'll have to try the pinching method.