Cuban cigar Bands - WTH?

[guilow]

I posted this a while back on another forum but didn't get a definite response.....

My question is - why are Cuban cigar bands attached so securely?

I'v ripped many a wrapper trying to get my cigar bands off. It seems like 4 out 5 bands peel off in layers, leaving a tightly adhered white paper with no lip to get a fingernail under. Non-Cubans always have easy-to-remove bands that ensure no cigar damage.

So, what's the deal?

[Colt45]

Funny, I find just the opposite. I've found most Cuban bands come off fairly easily.

I leave them on while smoking - half the cigar or so. This can (but not always) help

soften up the glue. The flip side is that the cigar can expand and the band won't

slide off. But usually, it will tear off easily at this point.

[Mel]

Opus X bands used to require surgical blades to remove but now come off with a snap. Things change and I too see overglued Cuban bands. I do not save bands anymore, as I have most all types already in the collection, so I don't care.

Tear the band not the wrapper.

[guilow]

» Funny, I find just the opposite. I've found most Cuban bands come off

» fairly easily.

That's the first time I've ever heard that!

[twoodruff]

» » Funny, I find just the opposite. I've found most Cuban bands come off

» » fairly easily.

»

» That's the first time I've ever heard that!

I too have difficulty with the cuban cigar bands

[DocRKS]

I find the great majority of the time - after I smoke the cigar about 1/2 way down - the warmth from the burning cigar loosens the glue holding the band intact and they separate quite easily.

[guilow]

» I find the great majority of the time - after I smoke the cigar about 1/2

» way down - the warmth from the burning cigar loosens the glue holding the

» band intact and they separate quite easily.

I do that, but I still get the tough-to-remove wrapper problem.

[twoodruff]

» I find the great majority of the time - after I smoke the cigar about 1/2

» way down - the warmth from the burning cigar loosens the glue holding the

» band intact and they separate quite easily.

thanks for the tip, will try that one

[Ken Gargett]

i'm very much in the 'not a problem with that' camp. very rarely have any difficulty in them sliding off but i do almost always leave them on until well down the stick and that does seem to make it very easy.

[josie67]

I also have a difficult time removing the bands, but like some have mentioned, after about 1/2-2/3 of the cigar has been smoked, I can usually pry it off.