Questions You Thought Were Too Dumb to Ask

[OldSkoolTarHeel]

Does a lighter REALLY affect the taste of my cigar? (More of a general noob question)

A lot of people will tell you that it doesn't, and I used to agree with them. Until the day I tried to smoke an LFD after lighting it with a Bic. Maybe it was because I was outside and couldn't get it lit very well very quickly, but I DEFINITELY tasted the lighter fluid in that cigar. It was a terrible taste. With that said, if I were indoors and able to light it quickly, I'm not sure I would have tasted it nearly as much. Also, once it's really going, you probably won't taste it anyway.

[garublador]

A lot of people will tell you that it doesn't, and I used to agree with them. Until the day I tried to smoke an LFD after lighting it with a Bic. Maybe it was because I was outside and couldn't get it lit very well very quickly, but I DEFINITELY tasted the lighter fluid in that cigar. It was a terrible taste. With that said, if I were indoors and able to light it quickly, I'm not sure I would have tasted it nearly as much. Also, once it's really going, you probably won't taste it anyway.

My understanding is that Bic lighters use butane just like torch lighters. It's Zippos or other lighters that use a wick rather than a jet that use naphtha fuels that impart a different flavor.

[bobajob]

My understanding is that Bic lighters use butane just like torch lighters. It's Zippos or other lighters that use a wick rather than a jet that use naphtha fuels that impart a different flavor.

...and by different, you mean like sucking on a gasoline hose. Bleurgh!

[bobajob]

Does a lighter REALLY affect the taste of my cigar? (More of a general noob question)

If you use a zippo or a candle, you will get a petrol/paraffin taste permeating the whole cigar. It's nasty.
If you heat the foot too strongly or scorch the wrapper, you might notice some strong bitterness/burn taste but it will usually go away once the cigar cools a little. YMMV.

[JollyRogers]

Ok, I saw this posted on puff a while back but don't remember what the answer was. What do y'all do with your Tubo's? I just picked up five (cedar lined metal tubes) and placed them in my humidor. Should I leave them in the tubes sealed? Pull the caps? Remove them completely and just keep the tubes? Or does any of it really matter?

[bobajob]

Ok, I saw this posted on puff a while back but don't remember what the answer was. What do y'all do with your Tubo's? I just picked up five (cedar lined metal tubes) and placed them in my humidor. Should I leave them in the tubes sealed? Pull the caps? Remove them completely and just keep the tubes? Or does any of it really matter?

It depends is the short answer!
The long answer is, if you are confident that you have a well seasoned humi at your ideal rh then pop the lids off and even remove the sticks to get them to you smoking sweet spot ASAP.
If you intend smoking them soon, I wouldn't bother.

[TCBSmokes]

I was going to ask the difference between a "dumb" question and a "stupid" question but I wasn't sure whether it belonged on this thread or the "Questions You Thought Too Stupid To Ask" thread....I'm so confused.

[piperdown]

Ok, I saw this posted on puff a while back but don't remember what the answer was. What do y'all do with your Tubo's? I just picked up five (cedar lined metal tubes) and placed them in my humidor. Should I leave them in the tubes sealed? Pull the caps? Remove them completely and just keep the tubes? Or does any of it really matter?

I always take the cap off to let them breathe.

[Browns7213]

I always take the cap off to let them breathe.

This^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

[wabashcr]

Ok, I saw this posted on puff a while back but don't remember what the answer was. What do y'all do with your Tubo's? I just picked up five (cedar lined metal tubes) and placed them in my humidor. Should I leave them in the tubes sealed? Pull the caps? Remove them completely and just keep the tubes? Or does any of it really matter?

I'd check each stick for mold, and then if you're planning on smoking soon, in tubos with caps off. If you want to age, leave the caps on. I don't know if that's necessarily correct, but it's what I've read on several forums, and hence what I do myself.