Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)

[StormShadow]

Originally Posted by SteelCityBoy

I would have to assume that you currently residing in a high humidity climate right now and that might be the cause of what you are seeing with your tupperware container. Not many storage devices are air-tight and if the outside humidity is high like that it can affect the RH where you are keeping your cigars.

This is the reason why so many people seek humidification control devices in high humidity climates so that they can keep their cigars at a more adaquate 60%-70% RH. Smoking preferances differ on RH from what I have read. Some people prefer it on the dryer side around 60% and others upwards of 70%. The problem is that when cigars are subjected to RH over 75% for a consistent amount of time they can tend to have burn issues (going out often) and not to mention the dreaded beetle problems when temperature and RH are at a prime condition for beetles to become active.

Personally, if I lived in a region that had constant high humidity I would either invest in a humidor with control devices or at least purchase a de-humidification device for the room where I was storing them.

However, if the humidity in your area is forcasted to drop soon then maybe you'll be just fine! I have always thought of Texas to be a rather dry state but that might not be the case where you live. I used to live in Tampa, FL and that was a whole different ballgame where it was pretty much 80% RH all year!

Hope this helps....

Right now I'm currently in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. I'm waiting for my humidor and boveda packs to come in the mail. Hopefully they should be here this coming week.

I have experienced some burn issues.

Originally Posted by bobarian

Also, its a good idea to check and calibrate your hygrometer by using the salt test or a Boveda test kit.

I just got the hygrometer a few days ago and calibrated it in the boveda test kit for 36 hours and it stayed at 74%

[SteelCityBoy]

Originally Posted by StormShadow

Right now I'm currently in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. I'm waiting for my humidor and boveda packs to come in the mail. Hopefully they should be here this coming week.

I have experienced some burn issues.



I just got the hygrometer a few days ago and calibrated it in the boveda test kit for 36 hours and it stayed at 74%

Here is an interesting thread on dry boxing. As Peter said earlier a lot of these cigar places keep and send their sticks on the moist side. Check out this thread and it may really help you out.

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showth...=drying+cigars

[TJtorpedo]

What can you tell by pinching a cigar? Whether it's humidified or not? I've always been told that a well humidified cigar will have some give to it.

Also, I have heard that nicely aged cigars will be more firm to the touch, even rock hard, and that is a sign of the tobacco being well aged. Is that correct, and if it is, how can you tell if you have nicely aged cigars, or cigars that are just dried out?

[galaga]

Originally Posted by TJtorpedo

What can you tell by pinching a cigar? Whether it's humidified or not? I've always been told that a well humidified cigar will have some give to it.

I think this is right. The cigar should have some give and the wrapper shouldn't crack.

Originally Posted by TJtorpedo

Also, I have heard that nicely aged cigars will be more firm to the touch, even rock hard, and that is a sign of the tobacco being well aged. Is that correct, and if it is, how can you tell if you have nicely aged cigars, or cigars that are just dried out?

Don't think that is correct at all. A rock hard cigar could be over packed, have a stem in it, or other malady. Of course, the might just smoke fine. Only way to tell if a cigar is correctly aged is to age it yourself, or be handed one that somebody else aged. One of the interesting things about aging a cigar is experiencing how it changes over months and years. Some even have sufficient patience, funds and aptitude to monitor over decades.

[kydsid]

Originally Posted by TJtorpedo

What can you tell by pinching a cigar? Whether it's humidified or not? I've always been told that a well humidified cigar will have some give to it.

Also, I have heard that nicely aged cigars will be more firm to the touch, even rock hard, and that is a sign of the tobacco being well aged. Is that correct, and if it is, how can you tell if you have nicely aged cigars, or cigars that are just dried out?

Leave the pinching to Grandmas and their adorable little grandchildren. Pinching tells you absolutely nothing IMO.

[Apexkingjusto]

A friend suggests you should burn off the cigar when you get towards the end by holding a flam up to the cigar and blowing out for 30secs. Then let it sit for a min or so and smoke it. Ive tried it a few times and it worked. Is this a common practice?

[hammondc]

Originally Posted by Apexkingjusto

A friend suggests you should burn off the cigar when you get towards the end by holding a flam up to the cigar and blowing out for 30secs. Then let it sit for a min or so and smoke it. Ive tried it a few times and it worked. Is this a common practice?

That is called purging. I am a fan of it and do it often when smoking. 30 seconds might be a bit much (10 secs should do it) and the lighter at the end is not necessary but makes a cool light show at night.....

[Apexkingjusto]

Originally Posted by hammondc

That is called purging. I am a fan of it and do it often when smoking. 30 seconds might be a bit much (10 secs should do it) and the lighter at the end is not necessary but makes a cool light show at night.....

Oh wow...so just plow out without the flame?

[theonlybear4CORT]

You can do either but the flame trick works best at night.

[hammondc]

Originally Posted by Apexkingjusto

Oh wow...so just plow out without the flame?

Yessir!

[Malazan]

I purge all the time

Are you supposed to leave the plastic wrapper on cigars when stored in your humidor?

[Zeuceone]

Originally Posted by bagmntagm

Are you supposed to leave the plastic wrapper on cigars when stored in your humidor?

It doesn't hurt them either way. Some do and others dont remove. It all comes down to personal preference.

[icehog3]

Originally Posted by bagmntagm

Are you supposed to leave the plastic wrapper on cigars when stored in your humidor?

Lots more discussion here:

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showth...hlight=Wrapper

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showth...ighlight=cello

[RichieBklyn]

Originally Posted by icehog3

I like anonymous bombs. Truly shows that it was a gift, with no return expected or desired.

you wouldnt like em on a crowded subway train at 7am...

[icehog3]

Originally Posted by RichieBklyn

you wouldnt like em on a crowded subway train at 7am...

I wouldn't be awake at 7AM on a bet, much less on a subway.

[RichieBklyn]

Originally Posted by icehog3

I wouldn't be awake at 7AM on a bet, much less on a subway.

LOL, I got 20 years to go before I can enjoy that luxury...

[icehog3]

Originally Posted by RichieBklyn

LOL, I got 20 years to go before I can enjoy that luxury...

Just work nights!

[Zeuceone]

Originally Posted by icehog3

Just work nights!

[Eros]

This is going to be pretty long I'm thinking. So if anyone takes the time to read it and respond I would greatly appreciate it. This is more about my first experiences with cigars over the last few months than a question, although I do have a few questions.

So I bought a humidor in January along with a few cigars. Bad idea. For about two weeks I was hastily trying to season my humidor and place my cigars in it before they dried up. Why? Because being a noob, I thought the cigars would dry up quicker than I could season my humidor. Anyway I could never get the humidor seasoned right and it would never hold at the 65% rh I desired, despite using the beads. It hovered between 56-60.

I live in Iowa. So it's not too humid. I think my first mistake was the 65 beads. I may change to 70. Does that seem reasonable? I also had a post in the cigar smoking technique forum about not being able to taste my cigars despite retrohaling. A person there suggested that my cigars may have been dry, and I'm sure now that they were. I may try the boveda seasoning packs for the seasoning. Do those work well? I guess the main thing I've learned is that this is not a hobby to RUSH. Patience, as with most things in life, is essential.