Over humidification and subsequent "coning"

[md4958]

Originally Posted by Lexxxus

I pulled a stick and let it sit out overnight... the stick felt much firmer and it smoked better but still it was "off"... The cigar burned better but produced visible "coming" (the outer portion of the cigar burned well but the interior was still overly humid and it burned darker and to a point...

It has been my understanding that a "cone shapped poin" or "cherry" burn is desirable... the wrapper will burn slightly faster than the ligero inner leaf and will produce a "point" As opposed to coning where the inner leaf burns faster than the outer... that is a sign of temporary over-humidification... the outter leaf is wetter than the inner slower-burning leaf

Originally Posted by Lexxxus

And finally, does short-term over-humidification damage cigars?

Many online retailers over-humidify thier stock to allow for shipping, so I dont think there are many long-term effects. As far as brining your sticks back down, youre gonna need patience. give it a couple weeks to come down gradually.

if youre in a hurry, you can try leaving the lid of the humi cracked for an hour or so a day... but I feel the slower acclimation is better.

then again, im just a masshole and dont really know chit

[NCRadioMan]

Originally Posted by md4958

It has been my understanding that a "cone shapped point" or "cherry" burn is desirable...

They should burn at the same pace. When there is a cone, the cigar is being smoked too fast or, like in the OP's case, the filler is wetter than the wrapper and binder.

[Da Klugs]

Coolers = Beads. <-Dual meaning period

Active humidification in coolers is unnecessary as they are very humidity tight, and presents the possibility of heartache when they fail to operate properly.

Humidity does a pretty darn good job of equalizing in small spaces like a cooler. Active / fans etc are way overkill and can hurt as much as they help IMO.

Cigars like stability/slow change. Using the cooler and beads is probably the best to get them back in the right RH range throughout. I think it sometimes takes months for cigars to regain their flavors when they become over humidiifed so don't give up on them just be patient.

I keep mine at 60-62%.

Sidebar: Have never personally experienced or heard anyone complain about cigars coming from a humidor where they tasted "off" or burned funny because they were under humidified. When you smoke one they pick up lots of moisture during the process. If they start too humid, by the time you are 1/2 way done they become yuck.

The subject of long term storage is related to but not directly tied to optimal smoking RH.

All properly blended Cuban cigars should cone a little. (very little typically) When you get a long bright cone it's usually from a cigar that has been over humifdified and then not let stabilize to the lower Rh thru and thru and or in combination with smoking it too fast.

[JJG]

Originally Posted by Da Klugs

I think it sometimes takes months for cigars to regain their flavors when they become over humidiifed so don't give up on them just be patient.

This is my understanding as well. slower is better and depending on how full your cooler is, I would think you need to give them at least a month or more.

Since you probably don't want to wait that long, you can just take out what you plan to smoke within the next week and place them in a separate unhumidified box. They should dry out much faster that way.

[N2Advnture]

Originally Posted by Da Klugs

Coolers = Beads. <-Dual meaning period

Active humidification in coolers is unnecessary as they are very humidity tight, and presents the possibility of heartache when they fail to operate properly.

Humidity does a pretty darn good job of equalizing in small spaces like a cooler. Active / fans etc are way overkill and can hurt as much as they help IMO.

Cigars like stability/slow change. Using the cooler and beads is probably the best to get them back in the right RH range throughout. I think it sometimes takes months for cigars to regain their flavors when they become over humidiifed so don't give up on them just be patient.

I keep mine at 60-62%.

Sidebar: Have never personally experienced or heard anyone complain about cigars coming from a humidor where they tasted "off" or burned funny because they were under humidified. When you smoke one they pick up lots of moisture during the process. If they start too humid, by the time you are 1/2 way done they become yuck.

The subject of long term storage is related to but not directly tied to optimal smoking RH.

All properly blended Cuban cigars should cone a little. (very little typically) When you get a long bright cone it's usually from a cigar that has been over humifdified and then not let stabilize to the lower Rh thru and thru and or in combination with smoking it too fast.

Well said Dave.

I have found that since switching to the low to mid 60's in RH (nearly 10 years now) that I have virtually no burn or draw problems.