Wrapper cracking
 

Ive noticed that my wrappers have been fragile and prone to cracking, especially around the head when I cut them. This seems to be worse mainly on cigars with thinner wrappers. I lit a Gurkha to smoke while I BBQ and clean up the yard and it rolled off the BBQ onto the ground and the entire wrapper has fissures all over it now. I realize it's a Gurkha, which typically have very fragile wrappers, but I am wondering if the 65% RH beads arent enough for AZ dry climate.

Maybe it's time to get a second cooler with 70% beads for thin wrapper cigars. Damn this slope!

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

It might have something to do with the difference between the RH the cigars are stored and the humidity (or lack thereof) when they are smoked. I would try dryboxing or leaving a cigar out of the humidor for a day or two before smoking it to let it acclimate to the climate.

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

It would be comparable to winter smoking up north

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

That's the only thing that I have as a frame of reference. The low humidity in MN winter causes wrappers to crack, I think that the low temperature also plays a hand in it here. You obviously don't have to deal with the cold issue in AZ, just low humidity.

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

What cutter are you using?

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

Large changes in RH will cause thinner wrappers to crack -- taking a cigar from a humidor at 65% RH to outside at 20% RH for example will do this.

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

Have you salt tested your hygrometer?

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

I use a palio. I calibrated my hygrometer with a boveda kit about 3 months ago and it reads 65% consistently, but I could try it again with salt. So dry boxing here won't dry the cigar out too much? Maybe I will try that.

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

You can use a Boveda to calibrate your hygrometer -- that is fine, but I would test it again. The accuracy of the digital hygrometers deteriorates as the batteries age. So it is a good idea to test them again every couple of months.

To be safe I replace my batteries every six months. I got a bunch of the batteries at a very good price on Amazon (around $10 for 100).

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

Plain and simple, if it's more than an isolated incident every once in a while, it's a humidity problem.

In Seattle I kept my boxes at 60% in a wine fridge and my smaller ready-to-smoke fridge at 70% because I found that cigars weren't smoking well out of the 60% environment. The average humidity in Seattle is around 50%, I think. Maybe you need to experiment by storing some sticks in a desktop humi with 70% beads and see how they smoke.

I wouldn't go drier, as in dry-boxing. At 20% ambient humidity they might crumble like ancient papyrus when you cut them!

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

Try wetting the head a little before you cut them. It helps.

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

Always works for me. :D

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

Works for me too... Plus I just like to taste the wrapper leaf before I begin. -(P

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

I've seen that head licking advice before and never remember until I'm cursing the cracked cap. I will try to remember this. I might try some 70% and see how they are. But first I will try a hygrometer salt test. Thanks all.

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

haha whenever I do this, which is every time, my Fiancee says it looks like I'm starting to give someone a Blow job... At first I was :confused:, now it makes me :noon

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

Methinks maybe you're doing it wrong....

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

Wet the tip, don't deepthroat the sumb!tch.

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

Wow...that's rude and unattractive.

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

I just barely lick the tip, apparently that's enough to relate the two for her lol
:sh
Move on bud.

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

Sorry, can't.....I work here, bud.

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

In the words of Sean Connery: "Indy, let it go."

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

Wet the head of a gurkha a bit before cutting and had better results. *bonk self*

I'll check the hygros tomorrow.

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

If I find anyone named Indy, I will pass along Sir Connery's message. :)

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

Well I assumed you were a blackhawks fan that lives in Indiana?

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

Why would you think I was a Hoosier? Is it my breath? :r

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

Usually bad sporting decisions lead to more. I wouldn't be surprised if you were a Hoosier haha

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

I'm too frustrated by the Blackhawks to even argue that point. :lr

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

Wow, I would never post a comment like this even if that is what it looked like!!! :su

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

:)

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

When cutting,try to only get the end leaf.Going too deep is a sure way to crack the wrapper,and dulls your cutter prematurely.
Also try to cut quickly,with a snap.A Palio is a fine cutter,and very sharp,you should be able to get the hang of it easily enough with practice.....

Also ,if you are going to smoke in cold or dry weather,consider wetting your cigar prior to lighting up.This makes a world of difference,and I remember a thread here about the proceedure,maybe you can find it and try it for yourself.........

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

I still haven't checked my hygros. I will try and do this soon. Wetting the cap has helped a lot though.

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

+1 :tu

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

:tu

That's what I do too. Very rarely have an issue.

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

Well this is interesting.

About 3 minutes outside before lighting:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7189/6...f8dd27b40b.jpg

Lighting made it worse:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7037/6...91831f00d6.jpg

So does this seem like a case of RH shock? It's almost as if the moisture is trying to diffuse out of the cigar and splitting the wrapper in the process.

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

Wow...If that happens in 3 minutes I would suspect some sort of shock (RH/temp)! What is ambient RH there and whats your humidor at now?

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

Happens to me... once in a while.. Not normally that bad.

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

I think your answer is here. Gilbert AZ today 19% RH. I don't know what the fix would be though.

So what is your humidor RH?

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

:sh

Re: Wrapper cracking
 

Salt tested both hygrometers and got 75 for both, which I half expected since they seem to stay at a steady 65 when my beads are hydrated sufficiently. Maybe I just need to give them more time to acclimate before smoking. Those Hemingway classics were only in the humidor for 2 weeks. I will be sure to look into those battery packs for future use though.