Cigar Punch or Gullotine Cutter?

[i_m_bug]

I have been using a Gullotine cutter all these while and am having tots of getting a punch as those suckers are real small and handy to carry around.

Which is better? Punch or cutter? and What difference does it makes on the smoke ?

[El Presidente]

While I use neither a guillotine nor a punch, my general preference would be towards the punch except for Belicoso and Pirimide formats where I would use a guilotine.

The only exception to the punch preference is when smoking an oily rich cigar where there is a build-up of tar and oil on the outer edge of the circle cut. The bitterness in flavour which eminates from this tar and oil build-up can be rid of with a quick guillotine cut which removes the offending section.

Keep both on hand ;-)

[i_m_bug]

» While I use neither a guillotine nor a punch, my general preference would

» be towards the punch except for Belicoso and Pirimide formats where I

» would use a guilotine.

»

» The only exception to the punch preference is when smoking an oily rich

» cigar where there is a build-up of tar and oil on the outer edge of the

» circle cut. The bitterness in flavour which eminates from this tar and oil

» build-up can be rid of with a quick guillotine cut which removes the

» offending section.

Thats great. I do gather from the web some one suggested punching 3 holes to converge flavours onto spicific points onto the palatte. I am wondering if its feasible

And it seems like i would get the punch cutter after all.

[n2advnture]

I use the Palio (best guillotine cutter ever made, IMHO) the most. On smaller ring guages, I use a really sharp punch or my thumb nail.

What do you usually use Rob?

[dogbreath]

» The only exception to the punch preference is when smoking an oily rich

» cigar where there is a build-up of tar and oil on the outer edge of the

» circle cut. The bitterness in flavour which eminates from this tar and oil

» build-up can be rid of with a quick guillotine cut which removes the

» offending section.

»

»

» Keep both on hand ;-)

Generally use a punch. I never thought about tar buildup being an issue with a punch. That's why he's the Prez!

[cigarnv]

As with cigars I go through phases.... but for the most part use cigar sissors at home and a punch when out. The punch is the Avo that is on my key chain so it is always with me and tough to lose..

[connoiseur29]

I've always used a guillotine, out of habit I suppose.

[anacostiakat]

I use both depending on the ring. Both my Xikar MultiTool and my Xikar Punch work perfectly for me.

[Havana Joe]

» I've always used a guillotine, out of habit I suppose.

I always use a guillotine myself...Never had the opportunity to use a punch yet.

[hazleem]

Switched recently from guillotine to a punch...(except for those figurados of course) just a matter of preference I think.

Personally prefer the punch, cause the chances of me messing up the cap is much much less.. :-D

[caudio51]

I use my palio. A great cutter IMO.

[tattoodad13]

I was using a punch only when I first started now it's mainly a cutter.

[josie67]

I have been using the same Davidoff guillotine cutter for 11 years now.

[Lemon]

I started off with a cheap guillotine cutter but switched to a punch. The punch seemed easier. Less of a risk to damage the head of the cigar. Now I've switched back to the guillotine again. Somehow punching a cigar creates more concentration of tar and other stuff at the head, so you risk getting that in your mouth.

[cigardawg]

I use an Il Corona guillotine cutter that is around 8 years old. Damn thing is still sharper than my new Xikars.

[i_m_bug]

Hey guys, appreciate the advice and sharing of views on the type of cutter used man. :-D The Tar buildup bit really is some thing that i will look out for.

its a great piece of info.

And Following the prez advice... Keep both on hand...

i should have just got botn in the first place .Silly me ;-)

[MACS]

I have a Xikar Xi and a Palio. I like the Xikar better. But my Palio is from after the business was sold...

I have used punches, v-cutters and single and double bladed guillotines.

I prefer the double bladed guillotines, myself.

[Colt45]

I tried the sharp knife as suggested by Well Armed in another thread:

» 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!

It worked nicely. It's like a cross between a punch and the Cuban cut. While in

an experimental mood, and since the pre-light draw of this particular cigar seemed

to be on the tight side, I used a power drill and a thin bit to drill some channels,

both from the head and the foot. It worked rather well.

This and other surgical procedures can be found in my upcoming pamphlet:

"The Barbarian Method of Compelling a Cigar to Conform to Your Wishes"

[Van55]

"there is a build-up of tar and oil on the outer edge of the

circle cut. The bitterness in flavour which eminates from this tar and oil"

This is why I have stopped using a punch. Inevitably there is a tar buildup at the head of the cigar that is foul-tasting and requires a guillotine cut to be rid of.

[Lorax429]

I use a Xikar Xi2. Until recently I always laid the cutter on a flat surface, place the cigar's head on the cutting hole, and snip... a perfect cut every time, just taking off the very tip of the cap. I recently changed my style of cut. I still use the XI2 but at the suggestion of a friend I now use it in my hand, closing it jut enough to score the tip of the cap. I rotate the blade around the cigar and the tip of the cap just pops right off. No chopping, no loose bits of tobacco. It great and has quickly become my preferred method for cutting my cigars. Of course this doesn't really work with Beli's or torps. Still have to chop the tips off of those.

[the_mantis]

I greatly prefer a cutter to a punch for many reasons but the main two are:

1) As already stated, the tar build-up at the head of the cigar which can make a great cigar taste foul...and once that build-up begins it's hard to get that taste out of your mouth, even if you cut off the offending portion.

2) A punch doesn't work as well IMO on smaller ring-gauge cigars, i.e. Fundadores or Corona Especiales. When I used to use a punch, on almost every occasion I attempted to punch a narrow-gauge cigar the head would split...sometimes an inch or more up from the tip of the head...causing me to have to cut off the split portion in order to get a draw. Now maybe mine was too dull or maybe I'm too dull to use one correctly, but I personally see no advantage in using a punch over a cutter.

[Lorax429]

I saw this little tidbit of info on another board. It's an interesting perspective if nothing else.

Alejandro Robaina (CC making GOD) was being asked about cutting methods for cigars and weather he prefers a guillotine or a punch. The guy actually said that if he's using a cutter, he only uses a punch cutter. Using a guillotine cutter is disrespectful to the cigar maker's craftsmanship, as you are cutting off the cap that the cigar maker so painstakingly applied.

[Smokiethebear]

I tend to punch all of my non-figurado CCs. The head of these smokes seems to be generally flatter than their NC counterparts are and thus, makes them difficult to cut properly with a guillotine. I use a Xikar Xi3 for the figurados.

[genevapics]

Lorax429...

... so you score/cut the cigar like you would score/cut the foil on a wine bottle? Interesting. I will have to try this method.

[Freefallguy]

Finding myself on the fly steam with out a punch, I pulled trauma shears from my fishing vest and found they worked rather nicely. Two bucks at a gun show; you can’t beat ‘em for mending fly lines and work in a pinch on stogies!