Why do some cigars unravel?

[acc]

I also saw this post and thought it relevant to BOTL. Someone asked what causes cigars to unravel.

My response:
Combination of reasons can be a factor.

• Most easy cause would be smoking backwards. The wrapper leaf seals over itself as the cigar is wrapped and capped. Cutting and lighting backwards (most easy to do in a diademas shape) would mean you are burning down from the part of the cigar which the wrapper is on top of the wrapper before it. - You can see this process youtube, just search for DonCervantesCigars

• Another reason is if the roller has not used enough vegetable gum to seal the wrapper on the bunch.

• If the cigar became too dry and the vegetable gum inside lost its adhesive quality because it's too dry.

• If the cigar is too humid, then the gum is too wet and the extra water can cause it to not be adhesive enough.

• If it was banged around too much over time it could have separated a small part from the cigar, then when you are smoking and it warms up, can cause it to detach. The heat softens the leaf and makes it more flexible, so in this case it's easy to detach.

Anyone else have ideas?

 

[Le Buzz]

That is why I'm a fan of the triple cap... if you snip it above the cap line cleanly a cigar will never unravel.

By the by... stop by the introductions thread and tell us about yourself, if you haven't already done so.

 

[Cigar Cowboy]

Bad Cut

 

[Northernmoris]

Bad Cut

My first thought.

 

[Dread]

Since Ive stopped smoking internet cheapies I havent had a single issue with a cigar unraveling. Triple cap, clip it right, store it correctly.

 

[1camTEG]

Bad Cut

This is why I went from a cheap pos single blade to a punch. Xikar scissors should be in the mail tomorrow, I hope they're as great as people say.

 

[loki993]

The only time Ive ever had a problem really is with torpedos and that was just becasue I tend to cut them a little too high up. So thats my fault.

 

[e-man67]

Large fluctuations in humidity will also do this over a period of time.

 

[twenty5]

I smoke cigars backwards all the time, so hard to tell the difference between the head and the foot. Maybe they should start putting a tobacco cover over the head and a band to signify which direction goes in your mouth.

 

[acc]

That is why I'm a fan of the triple cap... if you snip it above the cap line cleanly a cigar will never unravel.

By the by... stop by the introductions thread and tell us about yourself, if you haven't already done so.

Agreed. Most of the cigars which we produce are triple capped. That is specifically a ring wrapped around the end of the cigar before capping the top. It does a good job to stop the unravelling in a majority of cases.

 

[CuritibaRex]

Over-aggressive chomping down on the tip will loosen the cap and can preclude unravelling.

 

[JimmyC]

Good info, thanks for posting.