Dried???

[rodwha]

I keep my cigars organized by size mostly. Today (and at other times) I had a little smoke that has previously always been just fine crack when cut. I got tired of spitting out little flecks of leaves so I cut it further back, which didn’t help as it cracked a little again.

I use two of the 60 gram 65% Bovedas in each of my 3 liter containers as each is supposed to handle about 50 cigars, though I assume I can stretch that a bit further with shorty smokes like these as they are much smaller. These are kept in my fermentation chamber that’s set to 65*.

The only thing I can think of is that the cellophane is hindering the humidification so I stripped them all bare.

Is there maybe another reason for this?



As you can see I’m below the 100 cigar threshold (57):



This is my container:

[AlanS]

Temp looks high on your digital device, so does the humidity.

[Emperor Zurg]

If you want my 2 bits, I wouldn't worry about it. Sometimes they crack. That's all there is to that. I never use a cutter or a punch simply because if they get a little dull they crack caps. (well that's not entirely true, I use a cigar cutter to cut sweet rum twist for my pipe but I never cut cigars with it) I run around the cap with a razor blade if I care and use my teeth when I don't. I don't get cracked caps with the razor blade. I seldom get an uncracked one with my teeth

If they're smoking harsh and nasty that's another story. In that case I would say they really are too dry.

[Drez]

I think you're over-estimating the Boveda for one. I thought it was, and tend to not go above myself, 25 cigars to each Boveda pack. I try to keep it closer to 15 per pack, with exception of short/thin ring gauges. Even then, I don't go over 25 per container.

As mentioned, both are reading high..though I believe your hygrometer is off(possibly due to time it may have been exposed to outside air). I highly doubt they would be cracking at 74%. I would try getting the temp a tad lower, but even then if the Boveda aren't drying out, they are working as intended and should be keeping things in the appropriate range for the most part.

What is your normal method of cutting? What type of cigars? ..if you continue having the problem, try to put the cap in your mouth for a minute before you cut. Get it a little wet, so that the wrapper is more pliable. Cut it without wiping/drying it, to give a little more flexibility. It may help keep from cracking. Also, check your cutter.. How old is it, is it still nicely sharp? Clean edge, no knicks? Those could cause problems in the end, too.

[CentralTimeSmoke]

So this only happened once? I have cigars crack at the shoulder frequently. Although I practice the faux pas of licking the cap prior to cutting. I wouldn’t worry too much about it. I also don’t go very heavy on the Bovedas. I have one for each of my small containers. I never have burn issues.

[rodwha]

The gauge reads what it does because it was out in my garage as I was laying everything out to take pics. The Boveda is 65% and the temp in my chamber is 65*.

I do moisten the cap every time.

My cutters are all new, which I use on small ring smokes like these and Torpedoes. Otherwise I use a punch.

This rarely happens but it has happened before on larger smokes.

[Drez]

The gauge reads what it does because it was out in my garage as I was laying everything out to take pics. The Boveda is 65% and the temp in my chamber is 65*.

I do moisten the cap every time.

My cutters are all new, which I use on small ring smokes like these and Torpedoes. Otherwise I use a punch.

This rarely happens but it has happened before on larger smokes.

Well, in that case..It could still boil down to a couple of things.. Maybe hesitation or jerkiness when cutting. Could cause the wrapper to rip or crack. More than likely it just boils down to every leaf is different. Some may have thin or weak spots, and some may crack just for the hell of it. Sounds like you've just had a couple do it close enough together to see a potential issue. I don't think the cellophane is an issue, but everyone stores according to how they prefer. Maybe just a couple of bad luck sticks, and hopefully you don't have many more!

[SoCal gunner]

This is a tough one. From the pic you posted, the boveda pack on the bottom looks really swollen - meaning its pulling moisture in from your sticks. i.e. If your sticks arrived really wet (not uncommon from the big Penn. sellers) the boveda are doing their job in the opposite way.

Try an experiment where you put your cigars in a container with fewer boveda? I wonder if the transfer rate was "too" fast???

Totally spitballing here

[AlanS]

Most retailers keep the rh a little higher so when you recieve them and store them at 65% the wrapper gets dry faster than the binder. Given sufficient time they should even out

[rodwha]

Most retailers keep the rh a little higher so when you recieve them and store them at 65% the wrapper gets dry faster than the binder. Given sufficient time they should even out

I’ve had those cigars now for well over a month though. They’ve all been fine (these UC Sungrown) up until now.

*EDIT*

I checked and found I’ve had these since the middle of January.