Burn correction techniques?

[LigaPrivadaFanboy]

Opinions wanted...not having any problems, just figure I may learn something new from the brothers...

When correcting a seriously uneven burn, how long are you holding the flame to the unburned wrapper? Just briefly, or until it turns red? I know the majority of the flavor is supposed to come from the wrapper, so I'm hesitant to over-cook, but also suspect I'm over-thinking the situation. Thoughts?

 

[Treinenwj]

You're over-thinking it, imo. Just touch it up until it corrects. Of course, I'm picky about an even burn, so I tend to touch up long before it would be considered seriously uneven.

 

[javajunkie]

myself, i try to wait it out whenever possible. when i DO retorch, i still try to use patience. roast to almost glowing, but a cm or two above the burn line, purge, then gently draw and hope it comes around.

also, think about it. if the draw and flavor profile are still keeping your attention, might not be worth screwing with.

 

[pnoguy]

When I have to correct a burn, I'll use my torch at a respectable distance so that I only get wrapper and binder and just try to re-establish a nice even burn line. Like some other guys, I'm a bit of a burn line nazi, but I also try to give the smoke a chance to correct itself. Works about half the time. I just put the thing down in the ashtray for a few with the offending portion on top. Failing that, it's torch time.

 

[KcJason1]

I personally hit it with a single flame until it turns black.. and then remove the torch and blow on the freshly charred wrapper to turn it red and burn it off and the smoke away.

 

[RoundersRob]

I might have to disagree with your statement that "the majority of the flavor comes from the wrapper"... but perhaps that's another discussion.

 

[GoingPostal]

I prefer just to hold a match to avoid scortching the wrapper, then again i only do this if the burn is really off.

 

[Zedman05]

I very rarely correct uneven burns. As long as the stick is smoking well, I leave it alone and wait to see. I have been paying attention to stuff like this in the last year just to see what works best for myself, and I have found that a lot of sticks seem to want to re-establish themselves into a better burn line. I do a lot of purging back through the cigar to keep the cherry glowing. I purge until it is glowing all the way through, and that seems to get things back on track almost every time.
Otherwise, I just heat it from a good distance with a single flame torch until the offending wrapper section is glowing nicely, purge for a couple seconds, then draw a couple times.
Just my observations
~

 

[javajunkie]

I might have to disagree with your statement that "the majority of the flavor comes from the wrapper"... but perhaps that's another discussion.

THIS needs to be a thread!

 

[MReschke0626]

All excellent suggestions above! My only tid-bit I'd like to add is that if you're evening up, try to always torch the extra unburned wrapper/binder till it's a few mm longer than the burn line you're trying to correct to, take a few puffs and set the cigar down for a minute. The burn line will probably settle nice and even, torching down to the burn line tends to over-correct the burn line for me and then I'm uneven in the opposite direction then.

Additionally, I always like setting the whole thing down to cool after that so I can knock off the ash then and be back on track with a nice, even-burning, even-ended cigar.

 

[Mr.Erskine]

Thanks for the info, here. I'm no good at this, and I've always wondered what good technique is. I've charred a couple sticks a bit more than I should have.

 

[srduggins]

First, I'll purge to correct an uneven burn. If it gets worse, I ash it and torch it from the inside. If it is still bad, I'll torch the wrapper, and none too gently.

I also put the offending wrapper portion on the bottom when I set it in the ash tray, or towards (and sometimes away) from the wind if I'm outside.

 

[Ahmed]

Interesting, I let the unburned side up and try to draw slowly if didn't work I gently blow into the cigar and mostly work. If non work I touch the unburned place with torch just a little

 

[whodeeni]

If the burn line is just off a bit, i tend to rotate the cigar and take a couple
of small draws, and it usually corrects itself. I had a cigar do that today.

If its really uneven, i tend to purge the cigar as a few other brothers
suggested, and if that doesn't help i'll get out a single flame torch and
make sure that I light it from the "inside" and then hit the wrapper with
the torch at the very end.