Wha Happened??

[jjon90]

I was enjoying a stick the other night and as I smoked I could hear it crackle (it was perfect before I lit up).:scratchhe About mid stick it expanded and cracked the wrapper. For those in the know, what would cause this?
Thanks,,

 

[whodeeni]

possibly a hairline tear that you didn't notice. I saw one on a stick i was looking at yesterday.... and from time to time it "just happens"... hope that helps.

 

[jjon90]

The swelling is what puzzled me.:dunno:

 

[SmokeProper]

I agree. When the wrapper and/or binder are cracked or weak that can happen. The swelling is just the packed tobacco expanding with heat and a release of containment from the wrapper.

 

[pnoguy]

Looks like maybe the binder was damaged while it was being rolled, maybe. I've had a few do this in the past from being overly wet as well. Happens....

 

[mhlatke]

Most likely a moisture problem - may have been drier on the surface but wet inside.

 

[Slow Burn]

why? not sure....

but i have had this happen before

best guess is the bunched up tobacco is able to expand, binder wrapper comprimised...

 

[ShortFatHokie]

Most likely a moisture problem -

DING! DING! DING! DING! DING! Ladies and gentlemen...we have a winner!!!

 

[njstone]

I have that issue sometimes on very humid days b

 

[jwintosh]

the crackle you heard was a beetle being exposed to heat. the compromised binder/wrapper was caused when the beetle exploded. j/k

 

[benday]

I've seen this under multiple situations...all dealing with moisture, here where it's dry, a over humidified cigar that gets direct heat will crack and blow up due to quick expantion of water...smoking fast with increase the problem.

 

[ciggy]

Most likely a moisture problem - may have been drier on the surface but wet inside.

This would be my guess as well. I have studied this and found humidity plays a wicked game on some cigars.

 

[whodeeni]

Professor Tom To the rescue!:thumbsup:

Jon have you lit another one up to see how it does yet?

This would be my guess as well. I have studied this and found humidity plays a wicked game on some cigars.

 

[JgButler]

The swelling issue that goes so far as to crack a wrapper is definitely a moisture issue. This occurs quite often when you pull a cigar from the humidor that has been at proper conditions of 65-70& RH and smoke it in dry conditions. The moisture in the filler and binder will cause the tobacco to swell due to the heat and the lack of surrounding humidity. The same thing can happen if you are smoking in a very humid climate from the very humid air you are drawing across the fire into the tobacco. It can also make the tobacco swell to the point of cracking the wrapper. If you are smoking in very dry humidity situations or in areas where the outside humidity levels are fairly high, smoking the cigar extremely slow helps but sometimes even that won't help. I've heard tell that in dry climates that dry boxing the cigar for a couple of days tends to somewhat help but since I live in a very humid climate I can't attest to that.