Wrapper cracking
 

Ive noticed that my wrappers have been fragile and prone to cracking, especially around the head when I cut them. This seems to be worse mainly on cigars with thinner wrappers. I lit a Gurkha to smoke while I BBQ and clean up the yard and it rolled off the BBQ onto the ground and the entire wrapper has fissures all over it now. I realize it's a Gurkha, which typically have very fragile wrappers, but I am wondering if the 65% RH beads arent enough for AZ dry climate.

Maybe it's time to get a second cooler with 70% beads for thin wrapper cigars. Damn this slope!

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

It might have something to do with the difference between the RH the cigars are stored and the humidity (or lack thereof) when they are smoked. I would try dryboxing or leaving a cigar out of the humidor for a day or two before smoking it to let it acclimate to the climate.

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

It would be comparable to winter smoking up north

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

That's the only thing that I have as a frame of reference. The low humidity in MN winter causes wrappers to crack, I think that the low temperature also plays a hand in it here. You obviously don't have to deal with the cold issue in AZ, just low humidity.

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

What cutter are you using?

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

Large changes in RH will cause thinner wrappers to crack -- taking a cigar from a humidor at 65% RH to outside at 20% RH for example will do this.

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

Have you salt tested your hygrometer?

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

I use a palio. I calibrated my hygrometer with a boveda kit about 3 months ago and it reads 65% consistently, but I could try it again with salt. So dry boxing here won't dry the cigar out too much? Maybe I will try that.

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

You can use a Boveda to calibrate your hygrometer -- that is fine, but I would test it again. The accuracy of the digital hygrometers deteriorates as the batteries age. So it is a good idea to test them again every couple of months.

To be safe I replace my batteries every six months. I got a bunch of the batteries at a very good price on Amazon (around $10 for 100).

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

Plain and simple, if it's more than an isolated incident every once in a while, it's a humidity problem.

In Seattle I kept my boxes at 60% in a wine fridge and my smaller ready-to-smoke fridge at 70% because I found that cigars weren't smoking well out of the 60% environment. The average humidity in Seattle is around 50%, I think. Maybe you need to experiment by storing some sticks in a desktop humi with 70% beads and see how they smoke.

I wouldn't go drier, as in dry-boxing. At 20% ambient humidity they might crumble like ancient papyrus when you cut them!

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

Try wetting the head a little before you cut them. It helps.

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

Always works for me. :D

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

Works for me too... Plus I just like to taste the wrapper leaf before I begin. -(P

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

I've seen that head licking advice before and never remember until I'm cursing the cracked cap. I will try to remember this. I might try some 70% and see how they are. But first I will try a hygrometer salt test. Thanks all.

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

haha whenever I do this, which is every time, my Fiancee says it looks like I'm starting to give someone a Blow job... At first I was :confused:, now it makes me :noon

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

Methinks maybe you're doing it wrong....

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

Wet the tip, don't deepthroat the sumb!tch.

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

Wow...that's rude and unattractive.

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

I just barely lick the tip, apparently that's enough to relate the two for her lol
:sh
Move on bud.

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

Sorry, can't.....I work here, bud.