Wrapper cracking

ApexAZ · 02-12-2012, 12:19 PM

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!

mkarnold1 · 02-12-2012, 12:23 PM

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.

BlkDrew · 02-12-2012, 12:38 PM

It would be comparable to winter smoking up north

mkarnold1 · 02-12-2012, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlkDrew

It would be comparable to winter smoking up north

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.

dwoodward · 02-12-2012, 12:46 PM

What cutter are you using?

CigarNut · 02-12-2012, 12:47 PM

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.

jluck · 02-25-2012, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CigarNut

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.

I think your answer is here. Gilbert AZ today 19% RH. I don't know what the fix would be though.

So what is your humidor RH?

icehog3 · 02-12-2012, 12:47 PM

Have you salt tested your hygrometer?

ApexAZ · 02-12-2012, 12:52 PM

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.

CigarNut · 02-12-2012, 12:58 PM

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).

lenguamor · 02-12-2012, 01:34 PM

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!

Ashcan Bill · 02-12-2012, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ApexAZ

Ive noticed that my wrappers have been fragile and prone to cracking, especially around the head when I cut them.

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

kelmac07 · 02-12-2012, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ashcan Bill

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

Always works for me.

dwoodward · 02-12-2012, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kelmac07

Always works for me.

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

Subvet642 · 02-23-2012, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ashcan Bill

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

+1

ApexAZ · 02-12-2012, 03:22 PM

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.

BHalbrooks · 02-12-2012, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ashcan Bill

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

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

, now it makes me

icehog3 · 02-12-2012, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BHalbrooks

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

, now it makes me

Wow...that's rude and unattractive.

BHalbrooks · 02-12-2012, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LasciviousXXX

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

I just barely lick the tip, apparently that's enough to relate the two for her lol

Quote:

Originally Posted by icehog3

Wow...that's rude and unattractive.

Move on bud.

icehog3 · 02-12-2012, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BHalbrooks

Move on bud.

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

02-12-2012, 12:19 PM	#1
ApexAZ Wandering aimlessly Join Date: Oct 2011 First Name: Brian Location: Sonoran Desert Posts: 1,299 Trading: (10)	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!

02-12-2012, 12:23 PM	#2
mkarnold1 Skol Vikings! Join Date: Sep 2011 First Name: Mark Location: St. Charles, MN Posts: 1,015 Trading: (22)	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. __________________ [Help out the troops!

02-12-2012, 12:38 PM	#3
BlkDrew Rolling my own... Join Date: Dec 2009 First Name: Andrew Location: Rochester NY Posts: 807 Trading: (43)	Re: Wrapper cracking It would be comparable to winter smoking up north

02-12-2012, 12:46 PM	#5
dwoodward Gentlemen, you may smoke! Join Date: Jul 2010 First Name: Derrick Location: South Dakota Posts: 1,868 Trading: (26)	Re: Wrapper cracking What cutter are you using?

02-12-2012, 12:47 PM	#6
CigarNut Fck Cancer! Join Date: Jan 2009 First Name: Michael Location: Clermont, Florida Posts: 18,042 Trading: (111*)	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. __________________ Need Beads? Need Five Finger Bags? 2 of 3 Requirements for use of the CA Rolodex: 100 posts/ 60 day membership/ participation in trade (trader rating). New members can be added at any time.

02-12-2012, 12:47 PM	#8
icehog3 Admiral Douchebag Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Tom Location: Clermont, Kentucky Posts: 71,759 Trading: (60)	Re: Wrapper cracking Have you salt tested your hygrometer? __________________ Thanks Dave, Julian, James, Kelly, Peter, Gerry, Dave, Mo, Frank, Týr and Mr. Mark!

02-12-2012, 12:52 PM	#9
ApexAZ Wandering aimlessly Join Date: Oct 2011 First Name: Brian Location: Sonoran Desert Posts: 1,299 Trading: (10)	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.

02-12-2012, 12:58 PM	#10
CigarNut Fck Cancer! Join Date: Jan 2009 First Name: Michael Location: Clermont, Florida Posts: 18,042 Trading: (111*)	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). __________________ Need Beads? Need Five Finger Bags? 2 of 3 Requirements for use of the CA Rolodex: 100 posts/ 60 day membership/ participation in trade (trader rating). New members can be added at any time.

02-12-2012, 01:34 PM	#11
lenguamor puta por Ninfas! Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Joe Location: The 305 again! Posts: 1,030 Trading: (23)	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! __________________

02-12-2012, 03:22 PM	#16
ApexAZ Wandering aimlessly Join Date: Oct 2011 First Name: Brian Location: Sonoran Desert Posts: 1,299 Trading: (10)	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.