Didja roll an M1 into the blend?View attachment 80034 So today I smoked one straight from my dry box and it stayed lit , no struggles. It did burn funny though, what do you guys make of this?
Didja roll an M1 into the blend?View attachment 80034 So today I smoked one straight from my dry box and it stayed lit , no struggles. It did burn funny though, what do you guys make of this?
My caps have come a long way, but are still far from perfect. For me, the thinner leaf makes the best looking caps. Willy's H2K has been the best for me. It is thin, but strong and can stretch a good bit. CT shade is a close runner upFellers, I have come to the conclusion that no damn cap is ever good lookin enough. That's the way it is, ever has been, and ever will be, and nothing you can do about it. No matter how hard you try.
Yeah, I was shading last night when I came to this comclusion.My caps have come a long way, but are still far from perfect. For me, the thinner leaf makes the best looking caps. Willy's H2K has been the best for me. It is thin, but strong and can stretch a good bit. CT shade is a close runner up
That is a virtue.Fellers, I have come to the conclusion that no damn cap is ever good lookin enough. That's the way it is, ever has been, and ever will be, and nothing you can do about it. No matter how hard you try.
Tried that way. I am apparently too fumble fingered to adjust cap size that way. It comes out mis-shapen and the ends of the cut don't meet.That is a virtue.
one size of pipe. massage glue in. roll the outer edge to cut and turn in or out to adjust size of final cap. utilize two dry fingers to grip and stretch out.
So how do you finish your sticks?Honestly I haven't capped a stick in probably like a year lol. I see absolutely zero reason to go through the effort anymore other than for the sake of being traditional. I've been flamed for this before but I've yet to have a wrapper unravel in the slightest.
This sort of reminds me of the out of the norm things homebrewers do to make things simpler. Sure commercially I want companies to nail all the details but at the home level all I care is that they smoke well and taste good. For me in the end caps are more of an option than a necessity just depends on your preference.
You're in luck! A close study of typical Cuban Monte, Bolivar, Partagas, Hoyo, Cohiba, and R&J heads, as well as many of the top boutique sticks rolled with a triple cap, show quite a lot of deviation: up to 1/16" in certain areas, in some cases. Stay within that deviation in those areas and you are lookin good enough.I have come to the conclusion that no damn cap is ever good lookin enough.
Nah, nothing to do with unravelling. Not about some practical purpose. It's about appearance. It's like the pair I made last night. I toted them round the house admiring them. I showed Bearswatter. I admired them this morning before I headed out to yoga. First thing I did when I came hoime, I admired how they are beginning to tighten up and shine. I took them out to the cedar smoking porch to admire while I enjoyed a very fine Indian Motorcycle Cigar. Brought them back up here to the home office and admired them before I boxed them in the dry box. Prolly admire them again before I turn in tonight.Honestly I haven't capped a stick in probably like a year lol. I see absolutely zero reason to go through the effort anymore other than for the sake of being traditional. I've been flamed for this before but I've yet to have a wrapper unravel in the slightest.
This sort of reminds me of the out of the norm things homebrewers do to make things simpler. Sure commercially I want companies to nail all the details but at the home level all I care is that they smoke well and taste good. For me in the end caps are more of an option than a necessity just depends on your preference.
Tell you what, I rolled up a little cheroot yesterday with 1.5 leaves of the mata fina from WLT. Let it sit out a few hours, then set flame to it. Something so simple and unattractive sure was enjoyable. I highly recommend the leaf. It is listed as "upper stalk position" which according to Google suggests it is stronger and fuller bodied than ligero. My impression is that it smoked more like a viso and that is how I intend to use itNah, nothing to do with unravelling. Not about some practical purpose. It's about appearance. It's like the pair I made last night. I toted them round the house admiring them. I showed Bearswatter. I admired them this morning before I headed out to yoga. First thing I did when I came hoime, I admired how they are beginning to tighten up and shine. I took them out to the cedar smoking porch to admire while I enjoyed a very fine Indian Motorcycle Cigar. Brought them back up here to the home office and admired them before I boxed them in the dry box. Prolly admire them again before I turn in tonight.
This enjoyment is part of the whole thing.
Our good friend deluxestogie from FTT neither caps nor molds nor flags nor ages even glues them. Just rolls one up and smokes it. Me, I like to admire them, too.
How big are the leaves? I still have some of the WLT mata fina I bought forever ago when I first got started. Leaves are real small and I'd say no thicker than most viso but burns more like ligero if that makes any sense. I haven't found a blend with it that I love but it wasn't too bad with piloto and a broadleaf wrap. If you come up with something good let me know!Tell you what, I rolled up a little cheroot yesterday with 1.5 leaves of the mata fina from WLT. Let it sit out a few hours, then set flame to it. Something so simple and unattractive sure was enjoyable. I highly recommend the leaf. It is listed as "upper stalk position" which according to Google suggests it is stronger and fuller bodied than ligero. My impression is that it smoked more like a viso and that is how I intend to use it
View attachment 80073
They appear to vary between small to medium. Definitely the thickness and strength of viso and the cheroot burned very well even a little wet fresh out of the bag. Mine says 2013 crop, wonder if it is the same as yours. Have one blend already with a variety of wrappers on it. Corojo seco, criollo viso, and mata fina with a Dominican binder. Have high hopes for the mata fina wrapped few. It's funny, I almost went with the Piloto viso and will probably do that nextHow big are the leaves? I still have some of the WLT mata fina I bought forever ago when I first got started. Leaves are real small and I'd say no thicker than most viso but burns more like ligero if that makes any sense. I haven't found a blend with it that I love but it wasn't too bad with piloto and a broadleaf wrap. If you come up with something good let me know!
No idea. Never tried the Ec Hab. All I cited above was from WLT.Hmmm I still have some of the LO Ecuadorian Habano wrapper I'm going to have to dig those fillers back out and give it a try. It wasn't bad in broadleaf just not a home run but maybe this Habano will do it for me.
We had three straight days without rain. That's unusual. I took an extra tasty Indian Motorcycles cigar out to the cedar lined smoking porch last night and burnt it to a nub. No plugs, no re-lights. That's all it takes, is three dry days, for things to straighten up and smoke right. Last night, the neighbors were all out mowing while they had a chance, while the mower wheels wouldn't sink in muck. This morning, the dew is heavy enough to float a canoe.Humid NC is not. You want damp, look at Dull-Aware on a map. We are half a sand bar between two mighty rivers: the Delaware and the Chesapeake. Each river is almost as wide as the state. Highest point in DullAware is 113 feet; and that's right on the PA border. Below the canal, average elevation is prolly a foot and a half. A cat covers her crap in this state she scratches the water table.
It will get dry in the house because either the AC is on in summer or the furnace in winter... then the cigar comes out of the humidor, I take it in the garage, and it inhales damp.