[RobR1205]

Something ive done (several times with success) for cracks in my cigars is to carefully slide the cigar band down to the foot of the cigar over the crack. As you smoke the cigar and the heat causes it expand, the band acts like a tourniquet and prevents the crack from getting larger, and ruining the rest of the cigar. When the ash gets close to the band, slide the band up little by little until you've smoked past the damaged part of your stick.