Re: Is it odd?
 

I, like Tom, keep mine in the low 60's. A few years ago, I did keep a humidor close to 70 just to compare. I have never had many plug problems to begin with but I did experience tighter draws, burn issues, harshness and muted flavors when smoking from the 70% humidor. Needless to say, I didn't keep that humidor at 70.

I have also had luck with a few plugged cigars by just putting them back after cutting and testing the draw. I also don't know how or why but in my experience, it worked.

Re: Is it odd?
 

My preference for 62% came from a couple years of experimentation, starting with the 70% and gradually working my way down in humidity. I went through long periods at 70%, 67&, 65%, so I can say my preference for 62% is definitely experience-based, and I much prefer the way my cigars taste and burn at 62% over 70%..

I still am not convinced that wetting the wrapper and not having the mositure reach the filler is equivalent with an RH level affecting the filler during long term storage, but this is strictly my thoughts and I don't have any science to base it on....making the thought worthless to anyone but me. :)

Re: Is it odd?
 

I think there is a logical fallacy in this, Wayner. Granted the water didn't get to the filler within the span of a few minutes or hours, but I am SURE if you wet the cigar and let it sit for months, the extra humidity would permeate the cigar. When you have a gas-permeable solid (tobacco, in this case) and you put it in a humidified environment for a sufficient amount of time, the solid will reach equilibrium with the environment (in this case it will be evenly humidified). If you put a cigar in a 70% humi for a day, yes the filler will still be lower than the wrapper and binder, but leave it for a number of weeks or months and equilibrium will, necessarily, be reached. Thats just the nature of gases and permeable membranes.

All that to say, if Tom's cigars are in the cab/vino/humidor long enough the entire cigar will, eventually, reach equlibrium. The binder and wrapper will humidify faster, but it is not possible that it will forever "insulate" the filler.

Cut the caps or not, after long enough time in the humi (I would say a month or so, although a couple of weeks is probably sufficient) the cigar will always be evenly humidified.

(:2 from a bible scholar. Take everything with a grain of salt, but know that that grain of salt may be your eternal damnation :r)

Re: Is it odd?
 

Thanks for putting it more succinctly than I did, Mark.

Re: Is it odd?
 

Both very valid points. My explanation was merely a guess and based mainly on my own experiences and advice written by MRN and others.

Re: Is it odd?
 

I guess experimentation and finding out what works best for us each individually is the safest bet. :)

Re: Is it odd?
 

That's signature worthy.

And that is probably the best answer to the OP's question. Try it out and see if it works for you.

Re: Is it odd?
 

So if I understand your theory correctly, the swelling will help with a tight draw???

:hm

This kinda contradicts the common practice of letting wet cigars dry out to improve the draw.

Im no scientist, but the latter makes more sense to me.

Re: Is it odd?
 

And exactly why the discussion and question was posed. icehog3 and Bao have used a non dry box method and it worked for them.

Re: Is it odd?
 

Tom and Bao didnt ADD humidity to their cigars...the cigars went right back into the ambient RH that they had previously resided in. The only difference being the cap had already been cut.

Unless Tom and Bao, I read your posts incorrectly??

Re: Is it odd?
 

When you say wet, do you mean wet or just kept in high humidity. Because , if it were actually wet, the draw would be restricted because of the actual filler sticking together. No?

Re: Is it odd?
 

Wet meaning the tobacco is retaining a good amount of moisture. Tobacco leaves are moistened prior to being rolled into cigars. The tobacco, being hygroscopic, will "hold on" to this moisture. Many times this results in a poor smoke. "Drying" these cigars consists of gradually reducing the humidity via rest in your humidor. The moisture in your cigar will reach an equilibrium with your humidors RH%. Could take a week, could take a couple months.

I had a box of Punch Double Coronas that were unsmokeable for 6 months.

Re: Is it odd?
 

That's why I asked "why" that might happen. If it's going into the same RH, then what's happening? :confused:

In the last reply I merely said they used a non-drybox method.

Re: Is it odd?
 

Thanks for the clarification.

Re: Is it odd?
 

Boy, these pretzels are really makin' me thirsty.

Re: Is it odd?
 

Is the wedding that boring Bao?

Re: Is it odd?
 

Bao, I would look at you with disgust if you pulled a stunt like that... I would wonder "wtf? This guy cany cut his cigars at the herf like the rest of us?" I would then start a petition to have you banned...

Re: Is it odd?
 

;s

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Funny + informational thread. The above quote made me lol at work :r

Re: Is it odd?
 

Are these still available?

Re: Is it odd?
 

What, pre-cut cigars?

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Nooooooo... Cigar-pixies.

Re: Is it odd?
 

There is a ritual just before lighting the cigar. Part of the ritual is cutting the cigar. It's like a ceremony.....don't mess with it.....spoils the fun :) (That being said, you can put them threw your paper shredder if you choose....you own 'em :) )

Re: Is it odd?
 

Hehehehehe...ehh