Dealing with tar

[MiamiE]

I have this same problem. I attribute it to not cutting enough off the cap. I like a minimal cut but herein lies the problem. I have been cutting a bit more and the problem has come to a halt.

[bobarian]

Try smoking slower, one puff a minute is a good pace. Sometimes in the cold weather we tend to hot box or smoke too quickly. This can lead to tar buildup. Re-cutting is about the only way to get rid of tar at the head.

[Salvelinus]

I've been told I smoke painfully slow, though I don't think it is 1 puff a minute slow, and I am sure the winter has speeded me up. I do tend to cut too little of the cap and find myself needing to open up the draw with a new cut on occasion so I will give a more robust cut a try.

I don't find that a wipe helps, and neither does my wife when she washes my pants

This needing to make precise small cuts leads me to believe that I am in the market for a better cutter, time to pitch the cheapo

[Sauer Grapes]

Originally Posted by bobarian

Try smoking slower, one puff a minute is a good pace. Sometimes in the cold weather we tend to hot box or smoke too quickly. This can lead to tar buildup. Re-cutting is about the only way to get rid of tar at the head.

It happens a lot more in cold weather. I've been lucky to only see it twice, but I don't smoke in the cold too much anymore.

Originally Posted by bobarian

Try smoking slower, one puff a minute is a good pace. Sometimes in the cold weather we tend to hot box or smoke too quickly. This can lead to tar buildup. Re-cutting is about the only way to get rid of tar at the head.

I agree. My Yoda told me that tar builds up quickly if you smoke too fast. If you can reduce your sucking motion to every 1-2 minutes, you shouldn't have any tar problem.

[neoflex]

Originally Posted by MiamiE

I have this same problem. I attribute it to not cutting enough off the cap. I like a minimal cut but herein lies the problem. I have been cutting a bit more and the problem has come to a halt.

I luckily have never experienced this problem. Erick, have you tried using a V-Cut? I am a minimalist when clipping the cap too but have really been favoring the V-Cut the last year or so. If gives you a great draw while leaving much of the cap intact. Plus there have finally been some nice Cutters coming to the market which are on my short list of things to get.

Originally Posted by neoflex

I luckily have never experienced this problem. Erick, have you tried using a V-Cut? I am a minimalist when clipping the cap too but have really been favoring the V-Cut the last year or so. If gives you a great draw while leaving much of the cap intact. Plus there have finally been some nice Cutters coming to the market which are on my short list of things to get.

Which cutters specifically? I wanted to try a V-cut as well.