Draw Tools Question

[md4958]

Originally Posted by SmokeyJoe

Don't know what is the "right" way necessarily...

However, while holding the cigar gently, but firmly, I put the Henry's down the center of the clipped head. I slowly work it down the length of the cigar until I feel it "free up" a bit - getting past whatever plug may have been causing the resistance.

Used that technique twice this weekend and saved a nice cc and a quality nc. Hope it helps...

If the cigar is long enough to be gripped, I find that holding it in a fist will provide you better accuracy and prevent you from poking through the side because youre cautious not to poke your hand.

Originally Posted by pmp

When I get a cigar that doesn't draw I usually just toss it. It sucks because I'm had many good cubans ruined because of tough draws. But realistically after trying different tricks for years with varying degrees of success I find that I just enjoy the experience so much less when I have to work toward getting it to smoke.

I used to pitch them too, but the other night I was so frustrated I went and took a metal coat hanger, clipped with a pair of pliers just above one of the bends, and then at an angle in the middle of the straight portion... voilà, instant draw tool. Clipping at an angle gives you a sharp point, and will cut through the plug, instead of pushing through it... then give it a little twist just to give you that much more space.

You might need to do it more than once.

Anyway, it saved the stick I was smoking.

Originally Posted by md4958

If the cigar is long enough to be gripped, I find that holding it in a fist will provide you better accuracy and prevent you from poking through the side because youre cautious not to poke your hand.




I used to pitch them too, but the other night I was so frustrated I went and took a metal coat hanger, clipped with a pair of pliers just above one of the bends, and then at an angle in the middle of the straight portion... voilà, instant draw tool. Clipping at an angle gives you a sharp point, and will cut through the plug, instead of pushing through it... then give it a little twist just to give you that much more space.

You might need to do it more than once.

Anyway, it saved the stick I was smoking.

I have no problem saving the stick but its never quite the same.

[ca21455]

I prefer to use the holistic approach. Agree the plug is usually found around the band area. Sometimes it helps to gently roll the cigar between your fingers while applying pressure. This has a tendency to loosen up the leaves and allow better flow. That works a good deal of the time. If not then a good piercing as previously described will do the trick.

[GoatLocker]

Trying to poke all the way through is risky unless you are smoking short fat cigars, but then, they don't typically have many draw issues... I'm not a big believer in draw tools, but I would only poke as far as needed, from the end closest to the problem.

There really isn't any single solution for a cigar that won't give up the goods. Some are just rolled too tight, and can be helped to some degree by dry boxing.

Some are plugged, where there is a localized obstruction somewhere in the cigar. If you can poke through this plug, you might get a cigar to draw, but it's usually for a short time.

Frequently, the problem is a tight or twisted spot where the roller holds the leaves as he/she bunches the tobacco. This is usually pretty close to the location of the band. Again, if you can poke through this, it can fix a cigar, but it's usually a short lived fix. I have had better success using a 1/8" drill bit than my draw poker, as it actually removes tobacco, so the draw doesn't close back up after a few minutes.

All that said, like pmp, I usually pitch a stick that gives me any trouble.

[tunes]

Poke n’ Hope – a motto I live by! I use an 8” piece coat hanger with a bend on one end and the other cut at an angle. Slow and easy with a twist/wiggle here and there. It seems to work most times but the smoke isn’t the best, too much air with the draw and it’s usually a short lived fix.