Wrappers are cracking, need some Brotherly knowledge....

[THEMISCHMAN]

So here's the situation, I took some cigars from my tuppedor (RH and temp is approx 68f/65%) and put them in a cigar jar with a 65% Boveda while I travel for a couple weeks. Everything was going fine, cutting nice and smoking nice. Over the last few days I have received some cigars from CBid and Cigar Auctioneer (they weren't mailed with any type of humidification). I recently reallocated some of the new cigars based on what I want to smoke and put them in the cigar jar with some of my smokes that came from the tuppedor, I took all of the cigars, old and new, out of the cello. Now over the last couple days I have been having a problem with wrappers cracking when I cut them and a few of them have had burn issues too. The cutter is a Cuban Crafters Perfect Cut that is about a month old so it's not the cutter. My main question is regarding the humidity of the new smokes affecting the ones that are acclimated to my storage. Are the new cigars over humidified and causing the RH to spike; or are they under humidified because they didn't ship with any humidification and this is drying out the other cigars. It is also important to note that it takes about 10-14 days for me to get mail. The cigars that have been cracking are the ones I've had for a while except the Padron Serie 1926. I couldn't help myself so I fired it up. It was delicious. Anyways, I'm stumped. Drop some knowledge on me BOTL! Here's a pic of the one that cracked today, I'm smoking it as I type this.

This picture is ridiculously close up, I didn't know my iPad was the Hubble telescope.

 

[Ga Gator]

I would say RH is low. But do you have a hygrometer? How long have you had the new cigars, how long did they sit in the jar.

The older cigars can definitely be affected by the addition of new cigars that have not been stored properly.

I would put the older ones back in the tupperdor, and let the new ones sit for a good while 3 weeks or more.

one last final question. Were you using the 65% bovedia with the older cigars when they were in the tupperdor?

 

[Drez]

In that small of a space, the RH will likely spike/drop pretty rapidly. It takes Boveda packs a little while to regulate humidity, and the cigars a bit to absorb the humidity that it puts out..However, I wouldn't think a day or two stored together should cause the older cigars to crack that badly, but it would really depend on how dry the new ones were..

Best advice is either let them rest for at least a week-two if you can- and try one then.. Or, seperate them into individual containers with individual Boveda. Let the new ones rest, the old ones should balance out fairly quick as like it's only the wrapper drying out so much..

What might be an easy fix - if you can smoke the cigar without the filler cracking the wrapper - wet the cap slightly before cutting. Either by licking it, or using a bit of water on your thumb and wetting the entire cap. Let it absorb a bit of the moisture and try cutting, should help hold it together as long as the cutter is sharp. Also, let the cigar rest at room conditions for 20-30 minutes. It might help prevent the wrapper from cracking if the humidity there is higher than storage humidity.

 

[ZaneG]

That usually happens when they go from a very humid environment to a not so humid environment. Are you smoking outside? Did the humidity drop lately?

 

[THEMISCHMAN]

I would say RH is low. But do you have a hygrometer? How long have you had the new cigars, how long did they sit in the jar.

The older cigars can definitely be affected by the addition of new cigars that have not been stored properly.

I would put the older ones back in the tupperdor, and let the new ones sit for a good while 3 weeks or more.

one last final question. Were you using the 65% bovedia with the older cigars when they were in the tupperdor?

I do have a hygrometer, but it isn't with me right now, its in the tuppedor about two hours from where I'm at.

I've had the new cigars about 4 days and they have been in the jar about 3 days.

Yes, I'm only using Boveda's right now. I keep 3 in the tuppedor.

I'm working with two jars, two Boveda packs, and a small Tupperware type container I acquired, it's a crazy set up I know, don't ask. I wish I could have brought the tuppedor but didnt have room.

Mail call hit me with two packages in two days, so needless to say I wasn't quite prepared storage wise. :bigeyes:

 

[ENV]

Also try just cutting by "shaving" the cap off. You dont need to cut a lot off of the end of the cigar.

 

[THEMISCHMAN]

That usually happens when they go from a very humid environment to a not so humid environment. Are you smoking outside? Did the humidity drop lately?

I am smoking outside. Temp during the day is around 70-85 and about 40-50% humidity. It's dry.

 

[THEMISCHMAN]

Also try just cutting by "shaving" the cap off. You dont need to cut a lot off of the end of the cigar.

Haha, I learned this the hard way. I'm using a Cuban Crafters Perfect Cut now.

 

[SouthernerInSask]

I agree with the other guys, the wrapper will shrink first before the other components when rh drops

 

[smokinghole]

I think its because of climate engineering by the antismoking left making for unfavorable conditions for premium cigars.

 

[ZaneG]

I think its because of climate engineering by the antismoking left making for unfavorable conditions for premium cigars.

I think your just agreed with me... But I can't be sure!

 

[THEMISCHMAN]

My dilemma is I'm not sure how to tell if the new ones are over or under humidified. The only new stick I smoked was the Padron and the wrapper cracked slightly on that one but not like the Leccia. The Padron smoked and tasted wonderful for being ROTT. One other thing I should mention is I have a Luchador in there and I noticed the wrapper cracked near the foot. It leads me to believe they are over humidified, maybe :dunno:. If they are, should I leave the lid open to let them dry out a bit?

 

[Rupe]

I have heard that most of the internet retailers keep their humidors a little bit higher to allow for humidity drop that can occur during shipping. I visited one of them in person last week and was able to confirm this (at least for that one). If it takes up to two weeks for your packages to get to you I would imagine that even the little bit higher humidity that they were at when they left the retailer was lost in transit and they arrived at your door under humidified.

Because I order the majority of my smokes online I try and let everything sit at least one month before I smoke them in order to let them acclimate correctly. Who knows what conditions they are subjected to while sitting on a UPS or USPS truck somewhere? I'm sure that they will reach well over 100* in the summer and because I am in Minnesota they are most certainly going to be subjected to below freezing temperatures in the winter. I learned long ago that it is better to be patient than disappointed.

 

[Clint]

^^This exactly! A little patience goes a long way when it comes to caring for your cigars

 

[THEMISCHMAN]

I have heard that most of the internet retailers keep their humidors a little bit higher to allow for humidity drop that can occur during shipping. I visited one of them in person last week and was able to confirm this (at least for that one). If it takes up to two weeks for your packages to get to you I would imagine that even the little bit higher humidity that they were at when they left the retailer was lost in transit and they arrived at your door under humidified.

Because I order the majority of my smokes online I try and let everything sit at least one month before I smoke them in order to let them acclimate correctly. Who knows what conditions they are subjected to while sitting on a UPS or USPS truck somewhere? I'm sure that they will reach well over 100* in the summer and because I am in Minnesota they are most certainly going to be subjected to below freezing temperatures in the winter. I learned long ago that it is better to be patient than disappointed.

Duly noted, I should have listened when everyone here told me I should have bought two tuppedors because the one I had would fill up fast. Typical FNG mistake I guess, gonna get a cooler when I get back to the States. Thanks for the input everyone.

 

[Craig Mac]

I tend to "wet" the cap a bit before cutting it just out of habit. Seems to help soften the wrapper and cut it without issue.

It is obvious that it is likely a humidity issue as stated in the previous posts, but just throwing out my way of cutting to help avoid any issues.

 

[thrasher66]

For what it is worth Mischman I had quite a few of my cigars crack while cutting them this summer. I have a nice new cutter so I know it was not that. However it is really dry here, 22% today. After reading these posts I am beginning to think maybe that was my problem. I guess I just need to start cutting them as soon as I pull them out. Anyway that's my 2 bits.

 

[herfdog]

I am by no mean any expert but this had only happen to me with underhumidified cigars. I have draw issues when overhumidified.

I now have three times the humidification I need in my humidor; all beads; and have not gotten any issues since. But the ones from the store need to rest one week to stabilize.

 

[ascrivner]

You're cutting way too much off the head, don't do that.