Question about ash length

[heavyd]

I keep all of my smokes at 65% in an Aristocrat Mini. My cigars smoke just fine (cc and nc), but I notice that the ash on my cigars rarely gets past an inch.

Question: What determines the ability of ash to hold? Is it a humidification issue, a production issue, or a "smoking speed" thing? I'm just curious, and I know there are a plethora of folks here who know a lot more than I about the leaf. Thanks for any input

 

[javajunkie]

i do not think RH has anything to do with it. my pet theories, based solely on my experience and no testing or scientific knowledge, is that it is a combination of construction, materials, and smoking technique. well rolled stuff tends to burn better and raw better, of course, but some smokes just burn messy. and i have noticed that slower smoking can sometimes lead to less firm ash; some smokes can be laid down for two minutes, and still burn, but will plop in your lap three draws later.

IDK, wear more grey in the wardrobe? o)

 

[TheKidCigar]

From what I've noticed, and don't hold me to this, is that when I smoke at an even tempo my ash holds much much longer. Of course, this is also affected my construction and and an even burn, but more often than not I find that if I smoke at a moderately consistent pace the ash just holds better. The way I look at it is trying to keep the burn line at an even temperature. If I smoke too quickly (especially when there is already a sizable ash) the end will get too hot and drop the ash, similarly to letting it cool too much.

I know this probably won't make a whole lot of sense to some, but I think of welding. Slow, steady, even paced, even temperatures. But then again, the best welder with the best technique can produce a flop if welding on imperfect materials or using inferior tools. It truly is a combination of construction, draw, and speed.

It blew my mind, but I smoked a Perdomo Lot 23 Punta Gorda in one solid ash, even about a third of the way down the torpedo end. Now, this would have been impossible if I had had to correct it at all with a torch, once you manicure the burn line, forget about it, it's a time bomb.

Just my $.02 take it or leave it, keep a long ash brothers

 

[Cigary43]

A lot of what happens is how the cigar is rolled and if it's loose then the ash is not going to hold. Another item is the brand you tend to smoke....some tend to just be a flaky mess. I like a densely packed cigar because I know it isn't going to ash on me every 1/2 inch. As the brother said above....it's a combination of things....construction, draw and speed. Incidentally you can get an idea of how well your cigar is being humidified by looking at the ash as well as when it's been knocked off as to whether it leaves a conical burn afterwards...that tells you you are keeping it at the right RH.

 

[heavyd]

Incidentally you can get an idea of how well your cigar is being humidified by looking at the ash as well as when it's been knocked off as to whether it leaves a conical burn afterwards...that tells you you are keeping it at the right RH.

I had no idea. Thanks for this.

 

[heavyd]

If the ash is recessed, does that mean the humi is over humidified?

 

[javajunkie]

A lot of what happens is how the cigar is rolled and if it's loose then the ash is not going to hold. Another item is the brand you tend to smoke....some tend to just be a flaky mess. I like a densely packed cigar because I know it isn't going to ash on me every 1/2 inch. As the brother said above....it's a combination of things....construction, draw and speed. Incidentally you can get an idea of how well your cigar is being humidified by looking at the ash as well as when it's been knocked off as to whether it leaves a conical burn afterwards...that tells you you are keeping it at the right RH.

actually, i thought a conical burn was bad, and that a dead even burn was absolutely ideal? I had it in mind that a protruding pointed ember meant you were getting a little too greedy. i DO agree that burning conically INTO the cigar is a sign of overhumidification, where the wrapper or binder just will not combust at the same rate as the filler tobaccos...

shame we dont have a handy manufacturer or two lurking around... o)

 

[aherzing]

To touch on the ash length- its more about construction like others have said. For instance the EPC Inaugural is made with a double binder and that produces one of the longest ashes I've seen

 

[Cigary43]

A lot of what happens is how the cigar is rolled and if it's loose then the ash is not going to hold. Another item is the brand you tend to smoke....some tend to just be a flaky mess. I like a densely packed cigar because I know it isn't going to ash on me every 1/2 inch. As the brother said above....it's a combination of things....construction, draw and speed. Incidentally you can get an idea of how well your cigar is being humidified by looking at the ash as well as when it's been knocked off as to whether it leaves a conical burn afterwards...that tells you you are keeping it at the right RH.

actually, i thought a conical burn was bad, and that a dead even burn was absolutely ideal? I had it in mind that a protruding pointed ember meant you were getting a little too greedy. i DO agree that burning conically INTO the cigar is a sign of overhumidification, where the wrapper or binder just will not combust at the same rate as the filler tobaccos...

shame we dont have a handy manufacturer or two lurking around... o)

This question has been asked on probably every forum I've been on and it's always a question with more undertones of quality than most will want to dig into. A conical burn for the most part tells how well the cigar was rolled ...which is called "booking"....booking means that the filler leaves are stacked on top of one another and then rolled like a scroll...unlike the technique which is called "entubar" where each leaf is rolled into a cylinder type of rolling...this usually will give you a straight edge type of ash when you flick it off your cigar. The "entubar" type of rolling is more labor and few rollers will do this...but it's still done. You want to keep at least an inch or two of ash on your cigar because it acts as an insulator to keep it from smoking too hot...you'll see some enthusiasts who are constantly flicking off the ash....be smart and leave at least an inch if not more.

What you don't want to have going on is when it starts to "canoe/tunnel" which means the inside filler is burning faster than the wrapper and that is when you have RH issues. Most cigar people are not aware of the type of rolling techniques that are out there which coincides with how a cigar will ash.

 

[kuzi16]

magnesium has something to do with it. too much and the ash becomes flaky or brittle. to little and the tobacco plant will not grow correctly.


the density of the roll has to do with it. the less dense the shorter the ash will be when it falls. it has to do with the ash supporting itself. less support if there is less of it.


ring gauge has something to do with it. the smaller the ring the shorter the ash before it falls. same reason as above. the more ash there is the better it supports itself

 

[Alwayslit]

A lot of what happens is how the cigar is rolled and if it's loose then the ash is not going to hold. Another item is the brand you tend to smoke....some tend to just be a flaky mess. I like a densely packed cigar because I know it isn't going to ash on me every 1/2 inch. As the brother said above....it's a combination of things....construction, draw and speed. Incidentally you can get an idea of how well your cigar is being humidified by looking at the ash as well as when it's been knocked off as to whether it leaves a conical burn afterwards...that tells you you are keeping it at the right RH.

actually, i thought a conical burn was bad, and that a dead even burn was absolutely ideal? I had it in mind that a protruding pointed ember meant you were getting a little too greedy. i DO agree that burning conically INTO the cigar is a sign of overhumidification, where the wrapper or binder just will not combust at the same rate as the filler tobaccos...

shame we dont have a handy manufacturer or two lurking around... o)

This question has been asked on probably every forum I've been on and it's always a question with more undertones of quality than most will want to dig into. A conical burn for the most part tells how well the cigar was rolled ...which is called "booking"....booking means that the filler leaves are stacked on top of one another and then rolled like a scroll...unlike the technique which is called "entubar" where each leaf is rolled into a cylinder type of rolling...this usually will give you a straight edge type of ash when you flick it off your cigar. The "entubar" type of rolling is more labor and few rollers will do this...but it's still done. You want to keep at least an inch or two of ash on your cigar because it acts as an insulator to keep it from smoking too hot...you'll see some enthusiasts who are constantly flicking off the ash....be smart and leave at least an inch if not more.

What you don't want to have going on is when it starts to "canoe/tunnel" which means the inside filler is burning faster than the wrapper and that is when you have RH issues. Most cigar people are not aware of the type of rolling techniques that are out there which coincides with how a cigar will ash.

Great info. Construction is the key.