Tunnelling

[mike74]

For some reason I’ve had a load of cigars tunnelling recently, though I’m not aware of anything having changed in storage (and from different humidors). Any ideas why? Any advice? Are there any old threads that deal with this? Thanks!

[Rupe]

I have found that I will sometimes have issues with tunneling when I am smoking outside on the wind. I’m not sure if this is your situation or not but is what I have found from my experience.

[PigFish]

If your cigars are not firm, this is likely not your fault and a construction issue. If the "Mothership" does not include the correct core, slower burning tobaccos in the radial axis of the cigar, you are going to get a crappy smoke. They not only burn bad, but taste bad.

If the cigar is underfilled but still has enough seco, ligero to blend, try smashing the cigar between your fingers and narrowing the path that burns the tunnel. This will not work all the time but will on occasion net a palatable smoking experience. It is that, or chuck the cigar!

Cheers! -Piggy

[earthson]

No need to comment after Ray, other than to second that if your ambient temperature/rh haven't changed, it's likely construction or flame-retardant leaves.

[Habana Mike]

5 hours ago, PigFish said:

If your cigars are not firm, this is likely not your fault and a construction issue. If the "Mothership" does not include the correct core, slower burning tobaccos in the radial axis of the cigar, you are going to get a crappy smoke. They not only burn bad, but taste bad.

If the cigar is underfilled but still has enough seco, ligero to blend, try smashing the cigar between your fingers and narrowing the path that burns the tunnel. This will not work all the time but will on occasion net a palatable smoking experience. It is that, or chuck the cigar!

Cheers! -Piggy

Ah yes. The Cuban pinch! 

[dobbs]

when i smoke outside, i've noticed that higher humidity can slow the outer leaves from burning as fast as the interior. it's been raining a bit here lately, so i've had some slight tunneling, but nothing drastic.

i keep mine between 60 and 62 rh, and have yet to try dryboxing. not sayin humidity is your problem, just thought the info may help.

-dobbs

[mike74]

Thanks Ray, I’ve been grateful for the Cuban crush tip lately!
 

It’s just odd that the frequency I’m getting them has jumped so markedly when source (FOH) and humidor (so far as I can tell) have remained constant. 
 

[Meklown]

I find that I get tunnels when I smoke too slowly, or like mentioned above if the ambient humidity is rather high

[PigFish]

8 hours ago, mike74 said:

Thanks Ray, I’ve been grateful for the Cuban crush tip lately!
 

It’s just odd that the frequency I’m getting them has jumped so markedly when source (FOH) and humidor (so far as I can tell) have remained constant. 
 

It is just luck or bad luck of the draw... No pun intended!

Over 35 years + of smoking cigars, I have had these runs that make no sense at all to me, many times. It is just like going to the crap table and making your point 10 times in a row. It does not happen that often but when it does you will think that 'the gods' are playing a role in your smoking.

I have had humidor clients go through runs of cigars and they often turn to me for help. Most people finger storage first... and in many cases that is the best place to look for problems. Being a bit more active and available than 'other' humidor makers, I get put on the spot for explaining cigar related issues all the time. As a result I get to vicariously live through some of my clients smoking as well.

There are a host of issue that climate has a role in. However, by my estimation, most if not all issues of tunneling are maker, not humidor maker, or smoker issues.

Better luck on the draw next year! -R

[Derboesekoenig]

8 hours ago, PigFish said:

It is just luck or bad luck of the draw... No pun intended!

Over 35 years + of smoking cigars, I have had these runs that make no sense at all to me, many times. It is just like going to the crap table and making your point 10 times in a row. It does not happen that often but when it does you will think that 'the gods' are playing a role in your smoking.

I have had humidor clients go through runs of cigars and they often turn to me for help. Most people finger storage first... and in many cases that is the best place to look for problems. Being a bit more active and available than 'other' humidor makers, I get put on the spot for explaining cigar related issues all the time. As a result I get to vicariously live through some of my clients smoking as well.

There are a host of issue that climate has a role in. However, by my estimation, most if not all issues of tunneling are maker, not humidor maker, or smoker issues.

Better luck on the draw next year! -R

I totally agree with you there. It is nice, however, to eliminate the storage issue completely to focus on what the real issue may be. Construction or user-error lol

[mike74]

9 hours ago, PigFish said:

It is just luck or bad luck of the draw... No pun intended!

Over 35 years + of smoking cigars, I have had these runs that make no sense at all to me, many times. It is just like going to the crap table and making your point 10 times in a row. It does not happen that often but when it does you will think that 'the gods' are playing a role in your smoking.

I have had humidor clients go through runs of cigars and they often turn to me for help. Most people finger storage first... and in many cases that is the best place to look for problems. Being a bit more active and available than 'other' humidor makers, I get put on the spot for explaining cigar related issues all the time. As a result I get to vicariously live through some of my clients smoking as well.

There are a host of issue that climate has a role in. However, by my estimation, most if not all issues of tunneling are maker, not humidor maker, or smoker issues.

Better luck on the draw next year! -R

Thanks so much for taking the time to share your wisdom here, Ray: I’m really grateful. Have a great 2020!

[PigFish]

15 hours ago, Derboesekoenig said:

I totally agree with you there. It is nice, however, to eliminate the storage issue completely to focus on what the real issue may be. Construction or user-error lol

... agree back.

I can only speak for myself, but I store cigars in as close to a 'certified' system as possible. It gives me a position where I don't have to guess about storage in many cases. Many people on line, only think they store their cigars in a stable state. Many, many people, while satisfied with their storage (and that is a-okay by my measure) truly don't store their cigars very well. These people are guessing. I am not, about storage anyway... and that is the point. All kinds of smokers have these construction problems. All kinds of smokers have storage related problems.

Like most of you all, I will hazard a guess here and there. When it comes to tunneling, this phenomenon runs the gamut of people who store in a stable state, and those who don't. With that in hand, for me at least, this means that this is a real maker issue, not a 'pilot error' issue.

For contrast plugs are a different issue. I don't get plugged cigars. This does not mean that my cigars are better than others. Nor does it mean that I am luckier than others. What it likely means, is that maintaining known storage conditions, dryer than many actually think they store, makes a difference in cigars that will draw if they are stored in a stable, dryer state than most others actually use. Stiff drawing cigars are also a maker issue. However, they often can be enjoyable is they are actually stored correctly for the condition. All my humble opinion!

Cheers! -R

 

[PigFish]

15 hours ago, mike74 said:

Thanks so much for taking the time to share your wisdom here, Ray: I’m really grateful. Have a great 2020!

Cheers mate. Always my pleasure. -R

[JIK]

59 minutes ago, PigFish said:

... agree back.

I can only speak for myself, but I store cigars in as close to a 'certified' system as possible. It gives me a position where I don't have to guess about storage in many cases. Many people on line, only think they store their cigars in a stable state. Many, many people, while satisfied with their storage (and that is a-okay by my measure) truly don't store their cigars very well. These people are guessing. I am not, about storage anyway... and that is the point. All kinds of smokers have these construction problems. All kinds of smokers have storage related problems.

Like most of you all, I will hazard a guess here and there. When it comes to tunneling, this phenomenon runs the gamut of people who store in a stable state, and those who don't. With that in hand, for me at least, this means that this is a real maker issue, not a 'pilot error' issue.

For contrast plugs are a different issue. I don't get plugged cigars. This does not mean that my cigars are better than others. Nor does it mean that I am luckier than others. What it likely means, is that maintaining known storage conditions, dryer than many actually think they store, makes a difference in cigars that will draw if they are stored in a stable, dryer state than most others actually use. Stiff drawing cigars are also a maker issue. However, they often can be enjoyable is they are actually stored correctly for the condition. All my humble opinion!

Cheers! -R

 

I too find that the “dryer” I store cigars, the better smoking cigars I have. Perhaps it has to do with the my surrounding climate? Not sure but I’ve been keeping humidity at 62 with great success and feel I can probably drop a few more points and possibly even improve. 
 

what do your numbers look like? 

[PigFish]

 

I have posted this chart before.

You can see that one of my humidors can maintain +-1.5rH and +-0.2F at almost 100F ambient...! So you might say I am very sure how my cigars are stored. When you consider the time spent over 60rH in the chart vs. under the chart, you will see that this particular humidor stores at 61rH and 70F at the 60rH and 70F set points respectively. Remember, percent moisture content of cigars is really controlled by 3 components. Those components are rH, temp and time. The actual time spent in rH swings in one of my humidors is so small, that the cigars themselves cannot possibly be affected by them. At lower ambient temperatures, 80 or less, the rH swings are even smaller. If there is such a thing as a perfect controlled humidor, I have come closer than anyone that I know of in making it.

This by the way, this log is from an empty humidor. The large swing at the end is to prove a point about the outside ambient. I shut off the controls and simply opened the door of the humidor to prove the point about the ambient...

This humidor is still used today for storing cigars and testing. It currently runs about 62rH and 71F, not by chance, but by set point. I have begun to store cigars more around room temperature than the colder temps most of our peers prefer. I believe there is no purpose in storing cigars at cold temperatures. Not unless you have a reason to want to 'lock' water in a cigar.

There are then two components to your question, how do I store cigars? One component is the settings used. This humidor is set to about 62rH and 71F. The is likely a fraction of a point setting in there somewhere but I am to lazy at the moment to go look. The second component to the question is, "are you sure...?" The answer to that is yes, I am sure!

While this seems as a roundabout way of making a point, the point needs to be made. How I store cigars is not really that important to anyone else. This is because everyone has a different appliance they call a humidor. Some work, and work well. Some work not so well. I know mine work well. I can prove it... What trust I can give the seeker of advice as to how well his/her system works is beyond my abilities. From my desk and chair anyway!

Cigars stored at 62rH and 71F suit my taste. They are relatively dry... say compared to how a vendor might ship them. They are relatively hard, and have little aroma. If you want to test a cigar for water, aroma appears to travel on water vapor from the cigar (by my estimation) and dryer cigars have little bouquet. If cigars have a lovely bouquet... I know they are too wet for me to enjoy smoking.

Cheers! -Piggy

[joey rockets]

Perhaps I'm just lucky but most of my issues with tunneling tend to straighten themselves within the first inch or less and it's only the rare one that burns farther than that and destroys itself?  I smoke a lot of puritos where initial tunneling is common especially among some of more potent NCs.  Care is often needed to make sure the wrapper is lit.