How much cap do you cut?

[Colt45]

Seeing the pictures in skid11's fine review of the Monte #4 reminded me of

friends of mine, who used to basically cut the whole head, shoulders and all,

off their cigars before lighting. It made me curious as to how much of the cap

members like to remove.

Personally, I've gone back to using a punch as of late. I can punch multiple

times for larger guages, and I find it easier to get right almost every time.

When I do use a cutter or scissors, I try to remove the center of the cap,

leaving nice rounded shoulders.

I've never really noticed any difference in draw, smoke volume, or tar build

up between punching or cutting, but as we all know, each cigar has a personality

of it's own.

[idesign]

I just try and skim a tad off the cap. Doesn't take much......

I was out on the golf course one day with this guy I work with. He pulled out some mm domestic crap, so I handed him something decent.....

....it was painful watching him bite the head off like a monster. :-|

[CIGARHead]

» Seeing the pictures in skid11's fine review of the Monte #4 reminded me of

» friends of mine, who used to basically cut the whole head, shoulders and

» all,

» off their cigars before lighting. It made me curious as to how much of the

» cap

» members like to remove.

I gave my cousin a San Crissy Principe last weekend and he cut a good half inch off. Luck it didnt unravel. I just shook my head in disgust.

I like to cut just the cap off. I sometimes will cut a cigar 2-3 times as the tar builds up.

As for pyramides, I cut only about a 1/4 inch. That way I can shorten it up if need be. You can always chop more off, but you cant go back if you chop too much.

[seamus]

I cut just the cap and leave the shoulder. I think the most important thing is to have a sharp cutter. IMO the Palio can't be beat.

[SuperT]

I just skim the top, taking only the layer of tobacco on the top with nothing else (except I pull out the divot if it's there). I know of some that cut 1/8-1/4 of an inch and I don't see what the purpose is.

If I have a torp/figurado, I love the 'v'-cut or I cut at an angle with my scissors.

[Havana Joe]

I usually just cut the cap and try to avoid cutting off too much...

[purosdave]

Just enough to allow a full draw. I award myself bonus points when there is no filler at all in the cap.

[Elric]

» I just skim the top, taking only the layer of tobacco on the top with

» nothing else (except I pull out the divot if it's there). I know of some

» that cut 1/8-1/4 of an inch and I don't see what the purpose is.

»

» If I have a torp/figurado, I love the 'v'-cut or I cut at an angle with my

» scissors.

My methods exactly!

[Well Armed]

I have relegated myself to using ONLY a very sharp knife and cutting around the cap in a clockwise rotation - counter clockwise if you are downunder!

I suggest you try this method. It works very well and is super clean. You'll become a believer.

[sloth]

just the cap... have no tricks or magic...

[habanohal]

TO know the proper amount...If you lay the cutter on a table, then stand the cigar so the head lays on the table through the cutter, and snip. This would be the books version of cutting

[Mel]

I used to cut them pretty hard but not so much now. As little as possible.

[SeanGAR]

» I have relegated myself to using ONLY a very sharp knife and cutting around

» the cap in a clockwise rotation - counter clockwise if you are downunder!

»

» I suggest you try this method. It works very well and is super clean.

» You'll become a believer.

I do the same thing using (usually) a Laguiole knife I picked up years ago in France which has a thin sharp blade. I only use a cutter if the cigar is tight and I think lopping off 5mm will help the draw.

[anacostiakat]

I just try to take a nice even slice for a good draw. However if it is a large gauge ring size I might punch it.

[El Presidente]

I use my fingernails to achieve a neat "Cuban Cut"

Interestingly, Don Alejandro Robaina uses a punch. He told me that using a blade cutter which slices through the cap is "disrespectful" to the workmanship of the roller.

[skid11]

» I use my fingernails to achieve a neat "Cuban Cut"

»

» Interestingly, Don Alejandro Robaina uses a punch. He told me that using a

» blade cutter which slices through the cap is "disrespectful" to the

» workmanship of the roller.

That's interesting about the punch I have never tried one in the belief that it was a big no no ? If you use a punch what diameter and how far to you stick it in (you know what I mean)

I bite my fingernails so that's right out.

[cigarnv]

I barely shave the head

[Lemon]

I cut it so much that the end is still tapering.

[caudio51]

I try to cut as little as possible off. Usually just under the end of the cap.

[connoiseur29]

just a shave of the cap, no more.

[Ginseng]

On parejos I take as large a flap off the cap as possible. However, I try not to cut bunch unless absolutely necessary. On piramides, I cut down far enough to reveal a centimeter to 1/2" of opening.

Wilkey

[tattoodad13]

I try to take just the cap off.

[josie67]

» I try to take just the cap off.

Same here.

[CigarZen]

» I use my fingernails to achieve a neat "Cuban Cut"

»

» Interestingly, Don Alejandro Robaina uses a punch. He told me that using a

» blade cutter which slices through the cap is "disrespectful" to the

» workmanship of the roller.

I cut about 1/3 into the shoulder, leaving about 2/3s of the shoulder. At least that's the plan.

Prez -- I've heard the pigtails are for the pinch method, which the finger nails aid-- i heard called "the Spanish pinch." Any truth to this?

[dogbreath]

» I try to cut as little as possible off.

Ditto!