The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge

[N2 GOLD]

I hope, its just passing us by. Because, I just don't have the time for 3 plus hour stick.

[icehog3]

Originally Posted by Commander Quan

I think there is a financial advantage to making cigars larger as well. The cost of the extra tobacco in a 60RG cigar is minimal over what it would take to make a 45rg but the cost of rolling, packaging, and shipping is exactly the same, and a box of large cigars takes up almost the same amount of space on a B&Ms shelf. Larger RG cigars sell for more than smaller sized ones, so if an extra $20 can be made on a box of large cigars it's in the manufacturers, and retailers advantage to produce and sell products that that maximize their resources.

Not to mention that the thin RG cigars are more difficult to roll, meaning you need better (maybe higher paid / more experienced) rollers working for you to roll them.

[Mr. Ed]

Originally Posted by icehog3

Not to mention that the thin RG cigars are more difficult to roll, meaning you need better (maybe higher paid / more experienced) rollers working for you to roll them.

I was always under the impression that larger vitolas (churchills/double coronas) are more difficult to roll and require more experienced rollers.

[icehog3]

Originally Posted by Mr. Ed

I was always under the impression that larger vitolas (churchills/double coronas) are more difficult to roll and require more experienced rollers.

When we have had some of the more reknowned rollers roll cigars for group buys (La China, Hamlet, Taboada), I was told that they said the thinner RG took more skill. That's all second hand though, I have never met any of them.

[T.G]

Originally Posted by icehog3

When we have had some of the more reknowned rollers roll cigars for group buys (La China, Hamlet, Taboada), I was told that they said the thinner RG took more skill. That's all second hand though, I have never met any of them.

This has been my observation/experience too while at the NC factories.
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[Silound]

Originally Posted by icehog3

When we have had some of the more reknowned rollers roll cigars for group buys (La China, Hamlet, Taboada), I was told that they said the thinner RG took more skill. That's all second hand though, I have never met any of them.

I was told by an Altadis rep that if you looked at cigar manufacturing as bunchers (the people who actually roll the tobacco, bind it, and put it into forms) and finishers (the people who apply the wrapper), the harder job was always bunching a larger smoke and finishing the smaller smokes.

This may not be the case for companies that manufacture cigars start to finish by one roller, I really don't know.



Personally, as a hobbyist and enthusiast, I find there's a certain blend-to-size feeling I get with some cigars. I like the original La Aroma de Cuba in a 60rg more than any other size, but I can't stand Pepin Black Labels in anything over a 52. Just some blends lean themselves towards a larger ring better than others. Perdomo Lot 23 is another smoke I don't like in anything other than the 4x60 size. Can't even begin to explain why on that one.

[mithrilG60]

Originally Posted by icehog3

When we have had some of the more reknowned rollers roll cigars for group buys (La China, Hamlet, Taboada), I was told that they said the thinner RG took more skill. That's all second hand though, I have never met any of them.

I've met Hamlet several times and he's told us that as a roller you start off rolling coronas and similar, then move up to larger sizes as you learn to control the blend, then move up to long skinny vitola's like lanceros, and finally if you're stupid you learn to roll shaped cigars. The later are the most difficult but also tend to pidegon hole you into shapes for the rest of your career which limits your earning potential as most factories roll different cigars throughout out the year and someone specialized on shaped cigars will either be without work or on low production for stretches whereas the rollers that do your standard corona-robusto-churchill lines have steady employment. Cuban rollers are also paid on a quote system, you receive a daily wage for x units produced. If you exceed production you get a daily bonus, the more difficult a cigar type is to roll the less likely you are to exceed quote and get your bonus.