Swelling/Splitting Issues

[habano-j]

I'm going to preface this post by saying: I'm new to all this. Like....6 weeks into cigars new.
I need some guidance from you guys/gals in the know; I've had some wrapper splitting and some wrapper splitting/binder/filler swelling recently. Not cheap sticks and it seems too common lately to be construction issues.
-I smoke on my patio with a decent propane radiant heater. Not sure the exact temperature in there, but I wear two sweatshirts to stay comfortable (hands cold, body not). Obviously, very dry humidity-wise.
-Tupperdore sits at 60-62 degrees F, and 65-67% humidity. Gauge was calibrated with a Boveda calibration pack, I use Boveda 65's for my sticks.
-so-
Should I set the cigar I plan to smoke out where I'm going to smoke for a few hours beforehand to "acclimate"? Cold makes the wrapper brittle, filler gets hot and expands.....swelling and splitting? That seems to be the consensus from what I found in my searching but I haven't found a dedicated thread to this subject. What say you BOTL?

 

[Josh Smith]

I'm curious have you had any draw problems before having splitting issues?

 

[JG358]

I'd lean towards over humidified sticks. Most retailers sell them over humidified and it takes a bit of time for them to shed the excess moisture after you get them.

 

[ATL827]

I had this issue when I first started smoking due to my humidor humidity being held to high. Since you have calibrated your hygrometer that appears not to be the case. How long between when you purchase your cigars and smoking? As JG358 stated, they are usually over humidified at stores and need to rest for a little while to come down to your desired RH level. You could try dry boxing the cigars you plan to smoke. Simply place the cigars in an empty cigar box a few days before you plan to smoke to let them dry out a little.

 

[habano-j]

I'm curious have you had any draw problems before having splitting issues?

Not on a cigar that swelled up and split, no.

I'd lean towards over humidified sticks. Most retailers sell them over humidified and it takes a bit of time for them to shed the excess moisture after you get them.

I had this issue when I first started smoking due to my humidor humidity being held to high. Since you have calibrated your hygrometer that appears not to be the case. How long between when you purchase your cigars and smoking? As JG358 stated, they are usually over humidified at stores and need to rest for a little while to come down to your desired RH level. You could try dry boxing the cigars you plan to smoke. Simply place the cigars in an empty cigar box a few days before you plan to smoke to let them dry out a little.

So maybe I am on the right track. If I remember correctly, the couple bad issues I had were recent purchases. I don't have a spare cigar box since I haven't actually bought a box of cigars (yet), just samplers. Does it need to be in a box? Or is that just because wood sucks up moisture?

 

[BenS]

I'm going to preface this post by saying: I'm new to all this. Like....6 weeks into cigars new.
I need some guidance from you guys/gals in the know; I've had some wrapper splitting and some wrapper splitting/binder/filler swelling recently. Not cheap sticks and it seems too common lately to be construction issues.
-I smoke on my patio with a decent propane radiant heater. Not sure the exact temperature in there, but I wear two sweatshirts to stay comfortable (hands cold, body not). Obviously, very dry humidity-wise.
-Tupperdore sits at 60-62 degrees F, and 65-67% humidity. Gauge was calibrated with a Boveda calibration pack, I use Boveda 65's for my sticks.
-so-
Should I set the cigar I plan to smoke out where I'm going to smoke for a few hours beforehand to "acclimate"? Cold makes the wrapper brittle, filler gets hot and expands.....swelling and splitting? That seems to be the consensus from what I found in my searching but I haven't found a dedicated thread to this subject. What say you BOTL?

You just said it. Very dry cold smoking environment, moist (relative to the ambient) cigar. Those same sticks wouldn't crack in the summer.

 

[JG358]

So maybe I am on the right track. If I remember correctly, the couple bad issues I had were recent purchases. I don't have a spare cigar box since I haven't actually bought a box of cigars (yet), just samplers. Does it need to be in a box? Or is that just because wood sucks up moisture?

You can just leave them in your regular humidor for a longer period of time before smoking. The bovedas will soak up the extra moisture from the wet sticks.

 

[habano-j]

You can just leave them in your regular humidor for a longer period of time before smoking. The bovedas will soak up the extra moisture from the wet sticks.

True but most everything I have is a relatively new purchase so the stuff I want to smoke probably isn't going to have time to get dried out by the Bovedas which is why I was asking about setting stuff out

 

[JG358]

Only problem I've come across doing that is its so dry here that the wrapper and binder dry out fast (and sometimes crack) while the filler stays moist. Unfortunately, time is the easiest solution.

 

[Josh Smith]

True but most everything I have is a relatively new purchase so the stuff I want to smoke probably isn't going to have time to get dried out by the Bovedas which is why I was asking about setting stuff out

The problem is definitely the temp and humidity. If you had said draw problems with the sticks I'd say construction. But your best bet is gonna be rest in the humidor. When I started smoking I had a friend tell me when you start smoking cigars you have to be prepared to spend money on gars and not touch them.

 

[VeLoRoK]

You can also try clipping the cap on cigars you plan to smoke before dry-boxing. That'll help the back end dry similar to the foot, although the back has the thicker ends of the leaf, so it won't be exactly the same.

 

[habano-j]

Only problem I've come across doing that is its so dry here that the wrapper and binder dry out fast (and sometimes crack) while the filler stays moist. Unfortunately, time is the easiest solution.

Hope I didn't sound argumentative or stubborn in my previous post, that wasn't my intent. I think my oldest/first cigars in the humidor right now arrived in the beginning of December. I fought to keep it at 70% when I first got it because I didn't know better. I'd say they've had about 3 weeks 65-67% at this point.

The problem is definitely the temp and humidity. If you had said draw problems with the sticks I'd say construction. But your best bet is gonna be rest in the humidor. When I started smoking I had a friend tell me when you start smoking cigars you have to be prepared to spend money on gars and not touch them.

That quote sucks but is looking pretty true at this point.

 

[VeLoRoK]

Hope I didn't sound argumentative or stubborn in my previous post, that wasn't my intent. I think my oldest/first cigars in the humidor right now arrived in the beginning of December. I fought to keep it at 70% when I first got it because I didn't know better. I'd say they've had about 3 weeks 65-67% at this point.

That quote sucks but is looking pretty true at this point.

Give em two months at 65% and you'll be fine. In the meantime, dry-boxing overnight will help.

 

[Josh Smith]

Hope I didn't sound argumentative or stubborn in my previous post, that wasn't my intent. I think my oldest/first cigars in the humidor right now arrived in the beginning of December. I fought to keep it at 70% when I first got it because I didn't know better. I'd say they've had about 3 weeks 65-67% at this point.

That quote sucks but is looking pretty true at this point.

Yeah it does suck. Here this one is more helpful.
Cbid is the devil!!!!

 

[habano-j]

Give em two months at 65% and you'll be fine. In the meantime, dry-boxing overnight will help.

Well.....I guess that gives me two months to buy more sticks while I'm slowly rotating out the earliest ones! The wife will love me for this haha

 

[Josh Smith]

Well.....I guess that gives me two months to buy more sticks while I'm slowly rotating out the earliest ones! The wife will love me for this haha

No no no. You just get bombed and trade alot. You don't buy all those. Atleast that's what you say.

 

[mjones9630]

I'd let the next one sit outside for an hour before firing it up.. Sounds like its a temp/humidity issue. I've had the same problem over the past week or two while its been crazy cold. You can also run into that problem when its super humid outside, like during a summer rainstorm..

 

[JG358]

Hope I didn't sound argumentative or stubborn in my previous post, that wasn't my intent. I think my oldest/first cigars in the humidor right now arrived in the beginning of December. I fought to keep it at 70% when I first got it because I didn't know better. I'd say they've had about 3 weeks 65-67% at this point.

I didn't take it that way at all, I was just throwing out another 2cents worth. I think your on the right track, I just don't think I'd leave them out in 15-35 Rh environment to try to dry them out. The quick changes in temp and RH do the most damage. If anything, maybe a Tupperware with a 60rh boveda or some kitty litter?

 

[Coincrazed]

Swelling or bursting only occurs when sticks are way overhumidified in my experience. They need a long rest in an acclimated humidor. I'd say 2 months or so.

Welcome btw.

 

[brentp]

I didn't take it that way at all, I was just throwing out another 2cents worth. I think your on the right track, I just don't think I'd leave them out in 15-35 Rh environment to try to dry them out. The quick changes in temp and RH do the most damage. If anything, maybe a Tupperware with a 60rh boveda or some kitty litter?

100% agree with JG358. The rapid change in temp and humidity are working against you. The absolute best thing you can do has already been suggested, lay them down for a longer period. Let the box, other cigars and Boveda suck out the excess humidity from the cigar shop storage. I know it sounds difficult to do right now, but for the next year try to buy 2 cigars to age for a year, for every 1 cigar that you buy to smoke. It will make for a tough year, but you will absolutely love me a year from now. I done that back years ago when I was buying singles. Then I started purchasing boxes only, 1 to smoke from and 1 to age for a year +. After all these years, I have probably 5000 Cuban cigars that are at least 8-10 years old. Now it doesn't matter what I grab from the cabinet, it is ready to smoke.

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