general cigar question for all...

[Mugen910]

Originally Posted by silentjon

I leave them on. Not to be a snob, I'm just lazy. Plus, I don't want to damage the wrapper.

I don't take them off till I get the stick down close to the band due to the fact that the heat will loosen the glue used. If I tried to take the band off before I smoke, I will ruin the wrapper.

[kaisersozei]

When I pull up to a herf, I immediately throw a sheet over my car, so as not to offend anyone who might be driving a hunkajunk.

[rizzle]

It takes a whole lot more to offend me than a cigar.

[Lucky_Hippo]

I've never seen anyone looked down on for smoking a "finer quality product", however, I have seen persons looked down upon for smoking a LESS quality product.

Personaly I remove them if they are easy to remove and keep them on if they're not.

I've seen several references to this, for example:
http://www.cigartrends.com/etiquette.php
Zino Davidoff's guide to cigar etiquette

Remove the band carefully after lighting the cigar.

It's somewhat contradicted here:
http://www.cigarsinternational.com/html/cig101_1boo.asp

Why remove it? The arguments range from the potential of the band damaging the wrapper to the steadfast belief that only the most naive smokers would actually leave the band on. Most experts, including Zino Davidoff, believe that the removal of a cigar band is a "personal choice," claiming that in today's world there is no shame in leaving the band on a cigar, citing references to both practices in literature as evidence. He personally removes his bands, but only after a few puffs, when the cigar is well-lighted and "running." Waiting a few minutes allows the heat of the smoke to make the gum on the band less adhesive and easier to remove without tearing the fragile wrapper.

I found this one to be interesing...
http://www.essortment.com/lifestyle/...ngeti_snfb.htm
Rule Six

You've seen actors do it in the movies, but, actually, smelling a cigar is a sign of bad etiquette. Instead, if you're selecting a cigar, look at the color of the wrapper, the name on the band, and its other characteristics in order to determine whether its your type or not.

I take them off before lighting or shortly there after, if they are easily removed. But I don't care if others leave them on or not.

[Scottw]

Originally Posted by kaisersozei

When I pull up to a herf, I immediately throw a sheet over my car, so as not to offend anyone who might be driving a hunkajunk.

[jaycarla]

Originally Posted by kaisersozei

When I pull up to a herf, I immediately throw a sheet over my car, so as not to offend anyone who might be driving a hunkajunk.

Now that is funny!

I leave mine on.

When I first started I did take them off all the time, because I read somewhere that you "should". I found though I liked leaving them on, and it is my smoke gosh darnit!

[jquirit]

Originally Posted by kaisersozei

When I pull up to a herf, I immediately throw a sheet over my car, so as not to offend anyone who might be driving a hunkajunk.

I wear a ski mask when I'm out herfin' just so I won't make all the "less beautiful" people jealous of me. Plus, it's damn cold out there.

As for the bands? I leave 'em on. They're a helpful reminder of what I was smoking, along with the "you've reached the 1" mark on the cigar, time to start thinking of what to smoke next". Them cigar bands are so helpful!

[neoflex]

I too leave it on. Most times I wait until I am pretty close to the band to remove it just to be safe as the band being warm is not always guaranteed to not tear the wrapper. In the rare cases I get a band that is loose I usually remove it right away just because 9 out of 10 times it just ends up being annoying sliding up and down the stick.(Hmmm that sounded bad didn't it?) More often than not I smoke alone so no need to worry about offending anyone and when I smoke with others more often than not everyone is smoking what they like anyhow and wouldn't be offended anyway.

[jledou]

If it bugs me while I am smoking the cigar then it comes off, it if doesn't it stays on until the burn gets close to it.

Do you take the label off your beer?

[icantbejon]

Originally Posted by Parrotheadduff

Do you take the label off your beer?

Only when it's been a long dry spell if ya catch my drift......

[ucla695]

Originally Posted by Parrotheadduff

Do you take the label off your beer?

[Texan in Mexico]

Deja vu??

It is my understanding that the bands were originally placed to avoid getting one's gloves dirty.

I do not wear gloves when I smoke and am normally very private so I take them off before lighting.

[livwire68]

I remove if they come easily, if they dont I wait awhile. I am a band saver. I smoke what I like at that moment, could be a high end or a low end, to me it does not matter. I will leave it to others to guess what I am smoking, When I am in public it may just make someone feel better that they can afford a cigar with a band (reverse thinking) and I cant. Most people I see smokeing cigars are not "cigar smokers" its the cool thing to do at the time or just for a celebration.

[icantbejon]

I seem to have touched a nerve with this post. Definitely not my intent. I certainly wasn't trying to imply folks were snobbish around here. My bad.

Originally Posted by icantbejon

I seem to have touched a nerve with this post. Definitely not my intent. I certainly wasn't trying to imply folks were snobbish around here. My bad.

Nah,,,not at all. The question has been around forever and everyone has their take on it. I do not smoke cigars to impress anyone nor do I leave the band on to impress anyone as well. I think we all have our own reasons and that is ok as long as we don't leave them on to "impress" others. I drive a BMW not to impress others but because the engineering on this car is amazing as it is 10 years old and well over 100K miles and I keep it looking brand new. The car has paid for itself and now I get the benefit of having a car that will deliver another 100K plus miles easily. If I want to impress anyone I will buy a G 5 Gulfstream and I don't see that happening in my lifetime.

[Commander Quan]

I always take the band off before lighting in the following ways ;
1) Slide the band off the head of the cigar, and if I can't
2) Take the band apart where it is glued together, and if that doesn't work
3) Rip the SOB off any way necessary

Neatly removed bands get placed in a cigar box, torn bands get pitched. I always take the bands off because, with my obsessive compulsive nature the band would always have to be facing a certain direction when in my hand and in my mouth so to solve the problem I eliminate it.

[Texan in Mexico]

Skeletor would be so proud!

Originally Posted by Commander Quan

I always take the band off before lighting in the following ways ;
1) Slide the band off the head of the cigar, and if I can't
2) Take the band apart where it is glued together, and if that doesn't work
3) Rip the SOB off any way necessary

Neatly removed bands get placed in a cigar box, torn bands get pitched. I always take the bands off because, with my obsessive compulsive nature the band would always have to be facing a certain direction when in my hand and in my mouth so to solve the problem I eliminate it.

[icantbejon]

Originally Posted by Commander Quan

I always take the bands off because, with my obsessive compulsive nature the band would always have to be facing a certain direction when in my hand and in my mouth so to solve the problem I eliminate it.

Now that is some serious obsessive complusive **** right there.