Hard Draw

JJKJR · 01-24-2017, 04:18 PM

I've been a cigar smoker for the past 6 or so years. I don't know if it is just me but over the past 1-2 years I've noticed overall that the cigars that I've bought have been hard to draw. When I first started smoking a hard draw cigar was a rare occurrence. Now it's a 50/50 proposition. I can usually get the draw right with the Perfect Draw but have cigar rollers changed their techniques over time? Anyone else have a similar experience?

Chainsaw13 · 01-24-2017, 08:10 PM

What humidity are you storing your cigars at? Too high and that could lead to a tighter draw.

AdamJoshua · 01-24-2017, 08:52 PM

Yes, I was going to ask if this was across all brands you smoke or do you just keep a small rotation, are these cigars you own and store or cigars at a B&M that you pick up, etc., there could be a great many variables in play.

JJKJR · 01-25-2017, 04:59 AM

These are cigars that I own and keep in my humidor. It can happen with all my cigars across the board. Chainsaw13, I believe you might be on to something that my humidity is too high. My humidity usually runs 68%. I'm thinking of lowering it to 66% to see what happens.

CoffeeWaterBeer · 01-25-2017, 07:30 AM

68% seems relatively low to cause that much expansion though. I do 64% (don't yell at me, it works

)and still come across sticks hanging on the tighter side, not 50/50 though.

Have you considered dry-boxing them for a few days if you know what you're going to smoke ahead of time?

dave · 01-25-2017, 08:20 AM

I, too, think that high RH might be the cause....but as I consider your post, I'm a little surprised that I cannot recall the last time I needed a draw poker...I used to need one once every few weeks...now, its more like a couple times a year. Not sure if its because of my storage, or quality of construction, or quality of cigars, or a combination of all three.

JJKJR · 01-25-2017, 09:12 AM

CWB, good point with the dry boxing which probably points to too high of a RH. This past weekend I intended on having a cigar and put one in a cigar case in my truck. I never got around to having that cigar and forgot that it was in the case for 3 days. When I opened the case to put another cigar in I saw that 3 day old "dry boxed cigar." It smoked perfectly without needing to use a draw stick.

jjirons69 · 01-27-2017, 10:15 AM

This time of the year my house is in the 40-50 RH range. Perfect for dry boxing. Also, I keep the stash around 64 RH and everything seems well. I know what cigars I need to work with, as the first few from a box are aggravating so any time I want one of them I know to box them for several days. Fool me once. Good luck, Joe.

01-24-2017, 04:18 PM	#1
JJKJR Still Watching My Back Join Date: Jan 2011 First Name: Joe Location: Sarasota, FL Posts: 60 Trading: (0)	Hard Draw I've been a cigar smoker for the past 6 or so years. I don't know if it is just me but over the past 1-2 years I've noticed overall that the cigars that I've bought have been hard to draw. When I first started smoking a hard draw cigar was a rare occurrence. Now it's a 50/50 proposition. I can usually get the draw right with the Perfect Draw but have cigar rollers changed their techniques over time? Anyone else have a similar experience?

01-24-2017, 08:10 PM	#2
Chainsaw13 Møøse bites can be nasty Join Date: Jan 2010 First Name: Bob Location: The Enchanted Mitten Posts: 7,180 Trading: (96)	Re: Hard Draw What humidity are you storing your cigars at? Too high and that could lead to a tighter draw. __________________ My neighbor came by my house this morning at 2AM, pounding on the door. Good thing I was still up playing the drums.

01-24-2017, 08:52 PM	#3
AdamJoshua Article 4 Free Inhabitant Join Date: Jan 2013 First Name: The Other Adam Location: Satellite Beach Posts: 14,787 Trading: (40)	Re: Hard Draw Yes, I was going to ask if this was across all brands you smoke or do you just keep a small rotation, are these cigars you own and store or cigars at a B&M that you pick up, etc., there could be a great many variables in play.

01-25-2017, 04:59 AM	#4
JJKJR Still Watching My Back Join Date: Jan 2011 First Name: Joe Location: Sarasota, FL Posts: 60 Trading: (0)	Re: Hard Draw These are cigars that I own and keep in my humidor. It can happen with all my cigars across the board. Chainsaw13, I believe you might be on to something that my humidity is too high. My humidity usually runs 68%. I'm thinking of lowering it to 66% to see what happens.

01-25-2017, 07:30 AM	#5
CoffeeWaterBeer Critiquing Perique Join Date: Sep 2012 First Name: Seth Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 779 Trading: (13)	Re: Hard Draw 68% seems relatively low to cause that much expansion though. I do 64% (don't yell at me, it works )and still come across sticks hanging on the tighter side, not 50/50 though. Have you considered dry-boxing them for a few days if you know what you're going to smoke ahead of time?

01-25-2017, 08:20 AM	#6
dave Have My Own Room Join Date: May 2011 First Name: Dave Location: Northern VA Posts: 1,180 Trading: (15)	Re: Hard Draw I, too, think that high RH might be the cause....but as I consider your post, I'm a little surprised that I cannot recall the last time I needed a draw poker...I used to need one once every few weeks...now, its more like a couple times a year. Not sure if its because of my storage, or quality of construction, or quality of cigars, or a combination of all three. __________________ I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it. Thomas Jefferson

01-25-2017, 09:12 AM	#7
JJKJR Still Watching My Back Join Date: Jan 2011 First Name: Joe Location: Sarasota, FL Posts: 60 Trading: (0)	Re: Hard Draw CWB, good point with the dry boxing which probably points to too high of a RH. This past weekend I intended on having a cigar and put one in a cigar case in my truck. I never got around to having that cigar and forgot that it was in the case for 3 days. When I opened the case to put another cigar in I saw that 3 day old "dry boxed cigar." It smoked perfectly without needing to use a draw stick.

01-27-2017, 10:15 AM	#8
jjirons69 Haberdasher Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Jamie Location: Chucktown, SC Posts: 4,120 Trading: (94)	Re: Hard Draw This time of the year my house is in the 40-50 RH range. Perfect for dry boxing. Also, I keep the stash around 64 RH and everything seems well. I know what cigars I need to work with, as the first few from a box are aggravating so any time I want one of them I know to box them for several days. Fool me once. Good luck, Joe. __________________ Somebody has to go back and get a chitload of dimes