Punch Diameter

[rodwha]

Reading some posts the other day it seems mine is a bit small. It looks to be about the size of a 6mm or so. So what's the scoop on punch diameter?

[Zeede]

Umm, different punches are different diameters? The one on my Xikar ELX is 9 mm. The Montecristo Social Club key punch looks to be 8 mm.

[rodwha]

As I have some smaller gauge (~30) cigars too I like the smaller diameter. Otherwise I might as well just use a cutter or my pocket knife to knock the end off!

[TreySC]

If yours is to small you can do 2 overlapping cuts. I've seen where people do 3 in a clover leaf pattern on some of the larger RG sticks. But if you aren't having draw problems I wouldn't worry about it to much.

ETA: I would cut the smaller RG sticks a lot of people go by the rule cut under 50RG punch over

[rodwha]

Only once did I have an issue. It didn't seem to cut deep enough or something and I eventually noticed little drops of tar. I pocked it and fixed it. Other than that I've liked it except that I also have to poke the remnant of the cigar out each time.

[TreySC]

Tar build is more common with the punch, thankfully it is fixable. I go back and forth between cutting and punching depending on my mood at the time.

[rodwha]

I'm unfamiliar with the terms but I prefer the blunt foot (is that right?), and so my cutter is now reserved for a torpedo if given one.

[Zeede]

The "head" is the part you cut or punch. The "foot" is where you light the cigar.

I've never had tar buildup, but my punches are also wide than yours, Bob.

I use my 8mm one on small rg cigars like lanceros/panatelas. I've found that a single 9mm punch provides adequate airflow on everything I've smoked, even 60 rg ones.