Questions You Thought Too Stupid To Ask

[DarkKnight]

I haven't been smoking cigars that long, but what I've found is the rh used to play havoc on my burn. I started off maintaining my humidor at 70rh and had constant relights, and uneven burn lines. Once I dropped it down to ~65rh, the relights are rare, and my burn lines across different brands have been MUCH better. Of course, YMMV.

I'd say 95% of the time, after my first ash drops, my cigar burn line goes awry. Doesn't matter if I let the ash drop naturally, or if i tap the ash in my tray. One side of the cigar goes ape shit and burns down one side and not the other. But before the ash falls, it's razor sharp. The rest of the cigar I seem to be having to do maintenance on the burn line to keep things nice and even. Am I doing something wrong? Is this normal and I am just paranoid about an even cigar burn line?

[Kookla]

I'd say 95% of the time, after my first ash drops, my cigar burn line goes awry. Doesn't matter if I let the ash drop naturally, or if i tap the ash in my tray. One side of the cigar goes ape shit and burns down one side and not the other. But before the ash falls, it's razor sharp. The rest of the cigar I seem to be having to do maintenance on the burn line to keep things nice and even. Am I doing something wrong? Is this normal and I am just paranoid about an even cigar burn line?

I find rotating cigar a bit after every puff helps a lot to keep the burn line sharp. I also do fancy an even burn line

Thank you for bringing this post over @HerfNTurf!!!

[allusred]

I find rotating cigar a bit after every puff helps a lot to keep the burn line sharp. I also do fancy an even burn line

Thank you for bringing this post over @HerfNTurf!!!

Some will self correct, the razor sharp/even burn line always nice, smoked my first Quesada Reserva Privada 4.75x52 size, when the burn line wavered it self corrected quickly,looked like a little pin point dot of fire circled around the cigar.A nice touch likely indicative of good construction, tho it could just as well been a little LSD like effect triggered in the smoker,did look nice.Might not have noticed if I'd not been concentrating on trying to pick up flavours .

[Cameradude]

That might be the ticket. I tend to ash naturally during a draw, or immediately after. Then it is usually another minute give or take before I take another. I will try this on my next smoke. Thanks bums!

[MataFina]

I have been using that technique to make sure the cigar burns even with out running or tunneling as I smoke as well...as I am drawing, I'll watch the burn line to see if I have the amber lighting the whole way around, if when I am done with my draw I don't see the a nice red ring all the way around the burn line, I will carefully keep on sipping until I get an even burn...It has been working for me.

Hope the description makes sense.

[OldSkoolTarHeel]

Another technique you can use is two-fold. First, slowly rotate the stick as you smoke it. I try to give mine a quarter turn after every puff. This is because of point two, if a side isn't burning well, put that side down. I always thought that you should put the non-burning side up to help the heat get there, but that's actually the opposite. The heat and flame from the bottom actually uses all the oxygen and the top is left suffocating.

So, slowly rotate, and if it's not burning well, put the less lit side toward the ground.

PS. the non burning part down only works if it's just a slower burn and not completely out yet.

[LAN CERO]

Another technique you can use is two-fold. First, slowly rotate the stick as you smoke it. I try to give mine a quarter turn after every puff. This is because of point two, if a side isn't burning well, put that side down. I always thought that you should put the non-burning side up to help the heat get there, but that's actually the opposite. The heat and flame from the bottom actually uses all the oxygen and the top is left suffocating.

So, slowly rotate, and if it's not burning well, put the less lit side toward the ground.

PS. the non burning part down only works if it's just a slower burn and not completely out yet.

This.

[Cameradude]

I keep everything at 65% so I doubt that is it. Like I said, it burns perfect until I ash and on some cigars that can be half of it. I have yet to try any of the other recommended techniques due to the weather.

[Herf N Turf]

Not many noobs here yet, so I thought I'd give this a bump.

Q: What's purging and what good is it?

A: Blowing gently back through a lit cigar in order to expel acrid flavors created by stale smoke trapped in the cigar. Also helps clear excess tar if combined with a closely held flame.

[Hardheaded]

Here is one that should get asked.

Do different wrappers burn better than others? Some wrappers seem to be made of asbestos and just refuse to burn. Everything is stored at 65% and given plenty of time to acclimate. The last time I had that problem was with a PA Broadleaf wrapped cigar that had almost 3 months sitting at 65%.