An Interesting Idea

[Glass Half Full]

Thought this was innovative! Hoping they won’t charge an arm & a leg.  Might just try an ice pack under an ashtray I already own in the meantime

https://halfwheel.com/el-septimos-zaya-younan-awarded-patent-for-cooling-ashtray/448137/

[KRunch61]

Intriguing. The idea of cooling down the cigar seems plausible; wonder what the science (and experienced smokers) have to say? Any guesses on the price? If it’s less than $250-300 I’d be surprised, but what the heck do I know!

Thx for sharing!

[El Presidente]

Snake oil or masterpiece 

Who will be able to tell the difference! 

I love it!!!!  

[Li Bai]

[Fugu]

Bit early for April 1st, innit? 😂 

[BrightonCorgi]

I don't see any value in that ashtray. It's a pass for me.

[Puros Y Vino]

As someone who smokes outdoors in winter, this idea isn't great. You have two forces competing in the same object. Burning heat in the core heating up whatever moisture is inside forcing the cigar to expand a bit. Then you add bitter cold on the exterior, sapping moisture and contracting the wrapper. If anything I don't think you're slowing down the smoking experience. In those conditions, you should be speeding up your experience to avoid the cigar falling apart on you.

[zeedubbya]

Does make me wonder a little bit more about Min Ron Nee (RIP), and running water over cigars before smoking. Maybe there’s something to the science of cooling down things.  Not sure this ashtray is the way, but, maybe. 🤔 

Maybe it’s time for an experiment…dry ice evaporation and cigar smoke would probably look super awesome together!  

[Islandboy]

So what if it works or not, it’s got a built-in humidor AND refreshment cup! 

[gormag38]

On 3/11/2025 at 11:59 PM, Puros Y Vino said:

As someone who smokes outdoors in winter, this idea isn't great. You have two forces competing in the same object.

Being a Michigan native, and also an outdoor smoker in the winter, I am in complete agreement. I've found I have the most problems when the air temps are low and I'm about halfway or so through my cigar. Split wrapper, harsh tastes, etc. It doesn't happen every time but when it does it always seems to be in the winter.

[Lucas Buck]

It is an interesting idea. 

[Habanoschris]

On 3/13/2025 at 4:43 AM, zeedubbya said:

Does make me wonder a little bit more about Min Ron Nee (RIP), and running water over cigars before smoking.

Interesting, I know running under water was to create more moisture in the wrapper, particularly in vintage cigar wrappers that are more prone to cracking or burn issues. Dave Dude is someone that spoke to me about this and I think he probably got input from Min Ron directly. But I never really stopped and equated it with cooling...more moisture equals cooler burn naturally.  

[SirVantes]

In Fig. 6 in the patent (linked in the article), it shows the cigar resting on the ashtray; it is resting normally, with the centre (of gravity) of the cigar in contact with the ashtray.  

"That’s why I decided to invent the refrigerator ashtray—so that when you rest your cigar on it, a tremendous conductive cooling ability transfer the excess heat away."

Conduction is the mechanism?  Conduction of heat between the cigar and the ashtray via the area of contact?  How much heat is transferred from that area which is not even hot to the touch, during the (let's be generous) minute between puffs?

 

[Habanoschris]

4 hours ago, SirVantes said:

How much heat is transferred from that area which is not even hot to the touch, during the (let's be generous) minute between puffs?

Fair question 👍

[Chibearsv]

I'm lost on why this is a thing. My favorite cigar smoking environment is when it's HOT outside. If it's very humid, keeping it lit can be a challenge but very cold and dry air can blow up a tightly packed cigar while smoking in my experience.

[Puros Y Vino]

4 hours ago, Habanoschris said:

Interesting, I know running under water was to create more moisture in the wrapper, particularly in vintage cigar wrappers that are more prone to cracking or burn issues. Dave Dude is someone that spoke to me about this and I think he probably got input from Min Ron directly. But I never really stopped and equated it with cooling...more moisture equals cooler burn naturally. 

The water thing is about the structural integrity of the cigar, not cooling it. I've tried it with a few "crispy" cigars and it worked well. I had a bent Monte A with a very flakey wrapper. Ran some water, towel dried it and it smoked great. Wrapper looked fresh. 

[Habanoschris]

2 hours ago, Puros Y Vino said:

The water thing is about the structural integrity of the cigar, not cooling it. I've tried it with a few "crispy" cigars and it worked well.  I had a bent Monte A with a very flakey wrapper. Ran some water, towel dried it and it smoked great. Wrapper looked fresh. 

Thanks, yes that's what I've always thought too. I guess with more moisture more energy is spent on the water and a cigar would burn cooler though so maybe another benefit, kind of like smoking a cigar slowly verses smoking it a little fast?

[Puros Y Vino]

4 hours ago, SirVantes said:

In Fig. 6 in the patent (linked in the article), it shows the cigar resting on the ashtray; it is resting normally, with the centre (of gravity) of the cigar in contact with the ashtray.  

"That’s why I decided to invent the refrigerator ashtray—so that when you rest your cigar on it, a tremendous conductive cooling ability transfer the excess heat away."

Conduction is the mechanism?  Conduction of heat between the cigar and the ashtray via the area of contact?  How much heat is transferred from that area which is not even hot to the touch, during the (let's be generous) minute between puffs?

 

Heat rises naturally and at times will conduct through a colder material. Think of a CPU with a heatsink. The CPU makes contact with the cold metal of the heatstink, depending on the metal, the cooling efficiency will vary (ie copper > aluminum) and that heat passing through the heatsink eventually rises away from the CPU. This contraption here is the opposite. It rests a hot element(the cigar) on a cold ashtray. Some heat loss will rise naturally upwards from the cigar and a bit might transfer down to the ashtray. If anything the "cooling" it provides might work to snuff out the combustion if left too long at rest? 

[Puros Y Vino]

2 hours ago, Habanoschris said:

Thanks, yes that's what I've always thought too. I guess with more moisture more energy is spent on the water and a cigar would burn cooler though so maybe another benefit, kind of like smoking a cigar slowly verses smoking it a little fast?

If you've smoked in a humid environment, the added moisture in and around the cigar does make it smoke "longer" in that it needs a half dozen or so relights. 😛