How to ash?

[Blak Smyth]

I have not been smoking cigars very long and I have been searching for an answer, but uable to locate one in the threads.

How to ash?
Is there a proper or correct way to knock off my ash?
I was recently smoking with my neighbor and noticed he knocks his ash off every so often.
I currently smoke it until the ash drops. Is there a correct way to do it?
Is it just preference?

I personally find satisfaction in having a long straight ash with intersting burn lines, much like the rings of a tree.

help me out tabacovores!


This was my most enjoyable ash to date. It was a Diesel.

[nofeardiver]

i dont think there is a preference i usually keep mine till it looks like its going to fall in my lap and knock it off into the ashtray....

[Vith]

From what I've read, it's better to have a long piece of ash because it keeps the temperature lower, resulting in non-bitterness. I just keep the ash until it falls of by itself but I've read that if you want to remove it you should roll the cigar carefully on the edge of a ashtray.

Originally Posted by nofeardiver

i dont think there is a preference i usually keep mine till it looks like its going to fall in my lap and knock it off into the ashtray....

Thats what I do.. unless I am smoking in my truck... then I ash more frequently in case I hit a *bump*

If I'm afraid it's going to fall on me I give it a reasonable tap. If it falls, great. If it stays, so be it. If it falls shortly after I try to ash it I punch it in the face and go smoke it's mother.

[Commander Quan]

3/4 to 1 inch is prime ashing territory. Also if you set the cigar down for a couple of minutes, long enough for the cherry to cool, but not long enough for it to go out, go ahead and take a couple of puffs and then ash, because it's going to fall of soon anyway, and it's usually on your shirt.

[Subvet642]

I don't think it matters much, so I don't worry about it.

[dannyboy]

As has been stated, the ash acts insulation preventing the cherry from getting very hot and the smoke turning bitter. It is wise to leave the ash on for a while. I used to let it stay on until it fell off naturally, but after too much ash on my shirt and in my lap/drink/etc I have found that I ash just before it will fall on its own. This is at a different point from cigar to cigar, so no general rule like 1" ash works. Sometimes it is 1", others at a half inch, others at 2". Construction of the smoke and smoking conditions like wind all play a factor in determining when is the right time to ash. As with everything - experiment and see what you like best

[Emjaysmash]

I try not to ash. That way I can re-band them and send them to RevSmoke.

[loki]

depends on where i am:
if i'm on my deck i'll let it fall off when and where it wants.
at the shop, i'll let it go till i start getting nervous
if i'm at someones house, i'm very careful not to ash on the couch/floor...what have you. unless we're outside and the host tells me not to worry bout where it falls

Originally Posted by audio1der

If I'm afraid it's going to fall on me I give it a reasonable tap. If it falls, great. If it stays, so be it. If it falls shortly after I try to ash it I punch it in the face and go smoke it's mother.

[pnoon]

Originally Posted by Subvet642

I don't think it matters much, so I don't worry about it.

[bobarian]

Originally Posted by pnoon

I smoke in my house so I ash quite often so I dont drop on the floor or in my lap. Sometimes when herfing I'll let it go for a couple of inches, but I have never noticed a difference in taste either way.

[sikk50]

I generally let it fall on my beer belly whenever it feels it has matured enough to leave its home. Ashtrays are wasted on me

[big a]

Originally Posted by loki

depends on where i am:
if i'm on my deck i'll let it fall off when and where it wants.
at the shop, i'll let it go till i start getting nervous
if i'm at someones house, i'm very careful not to ash on the couch/floor...what have you. unless we're outside and the host tells me not to worry bout where it falls

All depends where I am.

[kaisersozei]

Originally Posted by Emjaysmash

I try not to ash. That way I can re-band them and send them to RevSmoke.

I typically let it fall off itself..i find the more I try to keep it from falling causes it to fall when i least expect it.

[Volusianator]

Originally Posted by nofeardiver

i dont think there is a preference i usually keep mine till it looks like its going to fall in my lap and knock it off into the ashtray....

[nofeardiver]

Originally Posted by audio1der

If I'm afraid it's going to fall on me I give it a reasonable tap. If it falls, great. If it stays, so be it. If it falls shortly after I try to ash it I punch it in the face and go smoke it's mother.

[BTcigars]

One thing to consider is that sometimes after you ash, the smoke warms up and the cigar dosent taste as good. When I am getting down to the home stretch I like to make sure that I ash at the right time so that some ash can build up and let the cigar end on a high note.