Puffin Problems

[rodwha]

This is the 3rd cigar in a row that have had puffin' issues. They just won't stay well lit despite a puff every 30 seconds which takes an initial puff jus to spark it better.

I switched to Boveda 69% as I began to have issues with Xikar 70% solution, though it worked fine for over a year. But I'm having issues again. It seems they might be too moist I guess.

I even went from the smaller diameter punch to the Montecristo punch, but nothing changed.

My hygrometer shows 70% RH as it usually did with the Xikar solution. I've read these are about spot on and nearly need no monitoring.

For now should I allow them to rest outside of a conditioned space prior to smoking? I'm at a loss here...

[AlanS]

I use Boveda 65's and seldom have issues. It shouldnt hurt to take them out a day or two before you burn them, depending on your environment they can sit out for a week and still smoke fine.

[Brimy]

I would definitely say try a lower rH!
Since I've been on this & the last forum, I've found that 65 is a nice rH.

[rodwha]

I've been meaning to try the 65%ers but backpacking took front burner, and with brewing issues surfacing I'll be focusing on that next.

I'll try leaving the stick out the day before I intend to puff to see if it fixes it, though it hasn't seemed to effect them all. Go figure...

[steelman]

I also agree that you should lower the RH. I keep my NCs at 64 and they burn nicely.

[rodwha]

Mr Steel: 64%? How do you keep what seems an oddball RH?

[rodwha]

Am I possibly wrong to figure this an RH problem?

For some reason Apple changed their texting auto correct as it often changes RH to Arab for me. As though it's what I really meant... Does that with many things that I'm about ready to just appear as ignorant as I am, and with the issues of these little keys.

[projectsunfire]

I use HF beads and keep my NC's at 65 and CC's at 62 and never have issues since I abandoned the universally accepted 70% rule.

[RogueBallBoy]

3 of the same or different sticks? Have they rested or are they relatively new additions? What is the typical RH of the room they are stored in? Without knowing the details, my advice is 65% can't hurt you.

[jpalamar]

65ish is where I keep mine. Seems to work great. 70 was a bit high and I had burn issues too.

[Emperor Zurg]

I had all sorts of burn issues before I dropped rH. Not to mention bitter, nasty tasting cigars.
I have 65% heartfelt beads in 2 humidors which seem to hold around 62 to 63 and the burn issues are gone.
I store my hoarded stash with Boveda 65's in airtight containers so those sit right at 65%

I highly doubt just leaving a cigar out for a day or two is going to totally fix things although it will probably help some. It takes a cigar a while to dry out and in my experience, by the time the filler is dry enough, the wrapper is splitting or ready to. The only real way to do it is to lower your rH media and let them acclimate.

[allusred]

I would definitely say try a lower rH!
Since I've been on this & the last forum, I've found that 65 is a nice rH.

This IS the way to go.
Also.
As AlanS sugests, you might want to try Dry Boxing some to smoke while waiting for your humidor to reach the desired RH level.
How long that takes depends on several factors, humidor size,number of cigars stored,amount of moisture in them,etc.
Some patience needed.

And...
As Emperor Zurg says,a short time out of the Humidor wont get the cigars into best shape...that will need a bit of additional patience.

[dj1340]

I have kept mine at 65% for years and never had a problem. The one issue I see about leaving them out is that they will dry from the outside
in. The wrapper will dry first before the filler does. I had an Undercrown last night that would not draw. Tried another same thing so got out
a third and it was perfect. All from the same bundle so don't rule out the cigar may be the issue.

[rodwha]

3 of the same or different sticks? Have they rested or are they relatively new additions? What is the typical RH of the room they are stored in? Without knowing the details, my advice is 65% can't hurt you.

3 different cigars. One was an aged CAO American that DogRockets sent me maybe a month ago. When nothing I did could keep it alive I switched it out for a CAO Gold I had for maybe 2 months. And then last night I smoked a Corona that was about 2 months old.

I've been using a Boveda 69% pack that reads 70% on my hygrometer. These are stored in my fermentation chamber (modified chest freezer) at 64*.

[rodwha]

Maybe I'll just use the Boveda 69's in a cooledor (Spl?) as I recently bought them. I hate waste.

[AlanS]

Another key here is the relative part. You want to maintain a temp of at or near 70 degrees, as in temperature fluctuations cause humidity swings.

[AlanS]

Storing them at 69 is fine, but smoking is another issue. A seperate on deck box with 62's or 65 would help too.

[Bernardini]

Bunch of great advice here. I store most of my NC's in coolers at roughly 65RH and 65F, with a little variation due to time of year. I also have a 20ct tupperdor with 62 Bovedas from which I grab the cigars I want to smoke. Like others, I find 70RH too wet, usually resulting in bad burn and bitter flavors.

[rodwha]

What I find odd is that I hadn't had any issues before, and the 70% Xikar solution was shown to get as high as 72% RH. However a 2 month old cigar wasn't had very often as most were smoked from ROTT to within that time frame.

[Sticky B]

I keep wondering how something so cute could be causing you problems

http://puffinpalooza.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/puffin-skip.jpg

[droy1958]

I keep wondering how something so cute could be causing you problems

http://puffinpalooza.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/puffin-skip.jpg

Lawd have mercy....

[rodwha]

I keep wondering how something so cute could be causing you problems

http://puffinpalooza.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/puffin-skip.jpg

They pooh on everything!

[Sticky B]

They pooh on everything!

True true

http://cdn2.arkive.org/media/94/946BD722-5A93-4B64-91E3-FD5B1DF0E2CD/Presentation.Large/Puffin-excreting.jpg

[droy1958]

True true

http://cdn2.arkive.org/media/94/946BD722-5A93-4B64-91E3-FD5B1DF0E2CD/Presentation.Large/Puffin-excreting.jpg

Lawd have mercy again...

[Bruck]

What is it about this forum that our threads always end up on the gutter? :)

[droy1958]

What is it about this forum that our threads always end up on the gutter? :)

It's my fault...