Cigar burning issue

[Newbie_nick]

Ok all... When you read this, keep in mind that I consider myself as a newb!

Since the weather in NW Ohio has been too cold to smoke outside, I've been going to my local B&M quite a bit to smoke, and have been sampling a wide variety of their smokes. Over the past couple of weeks, each cigar that I've had there seems to be burning inside and leaving the wrapper intact. I gently use my lighter to toast the wrapper where it's shrunken around the burning inside, and the cigar takes off again. Am I doing something wrong? Drawing too fast or too slow? I've tried numerous different types of cigars, and they have all had the same trouble. I don't know if the cut matters, but I've been using a punch rather than a straight cut.

Any ideas? I appreciate the help!

Nick

[bobarian]

This is called tunneling and is an indication of over humidification.

[jesseboston81]

Originally Posted by bobarian

This is called tunneling and is an indication of over humidification.

To elaborate further, many B&Ms keep their humidity higher than recommended in order to compensate for the humidity that is lost every time a customer opens the door. The result is that sometimes their cigars are overhumidified.
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[Newbie_nick]

I was wondering if humidity was the issue here. Is there anything that I can do to remedy this when I smoke their cigars while I'm there?

[Drez]

you can dry box the smokes if you buy them and take them home.

[bobarian]

Originally Posted by Drez

you can dry box the smokes if you buy them and take them home.

Take the ones home that you buy and bring back the ones you bought last trip to smoke. This should not be a problem as you are still smoking their cigars. Also, many shops do not mind you bringing your own cigars as long as you purchase something. Its best to ask the shop owner if this is permitted.

[liltim]

I'm not sure if punching will cause this effect. I have wondered it a bit myself. I used to punch most of my cigars but have switched to cutting for fear of the same effect. Most of the cigars I smoke have been sitting in my humidor for at least a month. The humidity is kept between 68 and 70%.

[T.G]

Originally Posted by liltim

I'm not sure if punching will cause this effect. I have wondered it a bit myself. I used to punch most of my cigars but have switched to cutting for fear of the same effect. Most of the cigars I smoke have been sitting in my humidor for at least a month. The humidity is kept between 68 and 70%.

From my experience, no, a punch cut, in and of itself, won't cause the tunneling the OP describes, but the over-humidification that Bob described will.

I go about 50/50 between a punch and cutter and can't say that I have seen any difference in tunneling. I mainly find the difference to be in draw, which makes perfect sense. I have a punch on my torch and like the convenience but I do tend to prefer a cut cigar.

[JPH]

I have not had a cigar do that to me for probably 5 years... And I'm sure not every cigar I smoke is perfectly humidified... So that makes me think maybe it does have to do with smoking speed/style or maybe fatter rg cigars are more prone? I'm smoking mostly corona size nowadays... Just food for thought, it may be multifactorial...

[DaBear]

Simple temperature difference can also cause this(as humidity is relative to temperature). Most places have gotten cooler(even inside) by now. Its cheaper to run the heat lower so the lounge may be a slight bit cooler than the humidor itself, and that difference in temperature can cause the humidity within the cigar to skyrocket(some water vapor may actually be condensing on the wrapper acting as a fire retardant). I typically expect to have a lot of burn issues when I smoke outside and its below 60 for the same reason.

[Sonic04GT]

Originally Posted by bobarian

Take the ones home that you buy and bring back the ones you bought last trip to smoke. This should not be a problem as you are still smoking their cigars. Also, many shops do not mind you bringing your own cigars as long as you purchase something. Its best to ask the shop owner if this is permitted.

Sounds logical.

[Newbie_nick]

Originally Posted by JPH

I have not had a cigar do that to me for probably 5 years... And I'm sure not every cigar I smoke is perfectly humidified... So that makes me think maybe it does have to do with smoking speed/style or maybe fatter rg cigars are more prone? I'm smoking mostly corona size nowadays... Just food for thought, it may be multifactorial...

Multi-factorial? You must be an engineer!

Originally Posted by DaBear

Simple temperature difference can also cause this(as humidity is relative to temperature). Most places have gotten cooler(even inside) by now. Its cheaper to run the heat lower so the lounge may be a slight bit cooler than the humidor itself, and that difference in temperature can cause the humidity within the cigar to skyrocket(some water vapor may actually be condensing on the wrapper acting as a fire retardant). I typically expect to have a lot of burn issues when I smoke outside and its below 60 for the same reason.

I hadn't thought about that fact. Their humidor appears to be at "normal" room temperature, but the smoking areas are fairly chilly. They have an exhaust fan that sucks the smoke out, and it brings in cooler outside air. Maybe that could be a factor, too.

My other thought is an interaction between 1) larger RG smokes that I gravitate towards, 2) punching the cigar that only draws air from the center, and 3) my tendency to smoke a cigar fairly slow. Maybe I'll try to change back to a straight cut to see if that affects anything.

My excuse to smoke more cigars!