aliz388 Posted June 24, 2015 Posted June 24, 2015 Hi Gentlemen, I've been having an issue with the wrapper of my cigars splitting when i reach the last third. I live in a tropical climate with an average temperature of 35C (95F). Is tore my cigars in a few desktops which i keep in a dark corner in my room and humidity is maintained at 69% with some xicar gell and boveda bags. I usually smoke with the AC on and the room where i store my cigars is usually air conditioned for atleast 10 hrs a day... any input would be valued... Cheers
btp1979 Posted June 24, 2015 Posted June 24, 2015 I used to have that issue with the more delicate wrappers. I kept my humidor at 69% humidity and about 50% would split wrappers after 2.5 cm or so. I thought maybe the "high" humidity and heat from the burning cigar was causing the area just past the coal to swell too much and split. I now keep my cigars at around 63% and don't have any more issues. This is by no means gospel, but it seemed to work for me. I live in Houston, TX so we spend a fair amount of the year hot and humid. Another consideration is if your ambient humidity is significantly higher than your passive system, they can become saturated. I'd recommend getting a small accurate hygrometer to check. Good Luck! 1
MrGTO Posted June 24, 2015 Posted June 24, 2015 Splitting cigars are typically from over humidification, then when you add heat the moisture in the cigar expands and something's got to give which is your wrapper. 1
Souperchi Posted June 24, 2015 Posted June 24, 2015 Splitting cigars are typically from over humidification, then when you add heat the moisture in the cigar expands and something's got to give which is your wrapper. That's what I think happened to mine, lowered the humidity over a few weeks and now they smoke great!
Squarehead Posted June 24, 2015 Posted June 24, 2015 Splitting cigars are typically from over humidification, then when you add heat the moisture in the cigar expands and something's got to give which is your wrapper. that's what happened to me as well.
MrGTO Posted June 24, 2015 Posted June 24, 2015 It sucks when it happens but hopefully you've got it by the short hairs now! It's tough down here in the south during summer. It stays humid all the time. I put over a pound of DRY beads in each of my coolers and that seems to work for me. I'm getting a Aristocrat cabinet as soon as funds allow so I don't have to worry about temp or humidity when it gets bad in the summer.
TheLiquidGator Posted June 25, 2015 Posted June 25, 2015 Dry box your cigars at around 62 for a week before smoking and this should rarely be an issue again. 1
aliz388 Posted June 25, 2015 Author Posted June 25, 2015 something like this? not to that extent mate...jeez... was that still smokable!
Mycroft Posted June 25, 2015 Posted June 25, 2015 I think that what may be happening is that the cigars are getting wet and then drying out when the temperature changes. So when the AC is off the humidor heats up and the bovidars pump more water into the air to maintain 69%. When the AC comes on the temperature drops and the relative humidity in the humidor goes up a lot before the Bovedas can compensate. For instance 35C and 69% humidity is enough water content in the air to give you 100% humidity if the temperature drops to 25C. This effect might result in a lot of water getting in the cigar. This might leave them too wet after the humidity normalizes, but also the effect of getting wet and expanding, and then drying out again over and over might be be damaging the binder and leaving them structurally weak. To dry out a cigar quickly try this experiment: Cut off the cap and put it in the microwave on high for 15 seconds. It should get nice and hot and steamy. While hot blow through the cigar. Vapor will come out of the end. Then put it in the fridge for 10 minutes for the temperature to normalize. This will dry out the cigar a lot and does not affect the flavor greatly in my experience. If the cigar still splits then I think they are damaged. If not then just storing them dryer would probably help. In any case stable temperature (and hence stable humidity) is important for cigar storage. You might try keeping them in styrofoam cooler, or some other kind of insulated box that will keep the temperature more stable and only opening it during times when the AC is on.
TomF Posted June 25, 2015 Posted June 25, 2015 Dry box your cigars at around 62 for a week before smoking and this should rarely be an issue again. How do you know what you want to smoke on any given day a week ahead of time? 1
Souperchi Posted June 25, 2015 Posted June 25, 2015 not to that extent mate...jeez... was that still smokable! kinda sorta, it smoked better than I thought it as going to but it was far from ideal obviously! As suggested I dry boxed the next one for 3 days or so and it smoked wonderfully.
HarveyBoulevard Posted June 25, 2015 Posted June 25, 2015 How do you know what you want to smoke on any given day a week ahead of time? I know it sounds crazy but I dry box about 8-10 cigars a week. I put them in an unseasoned humidor that sits around 58% rh and 70 deg. My regular humidor is about 67%/70deg. I pick out different marcas and vitolas so I still have some choice but they all get smoked during the week. I admittedly have a wicked case of OCD but I have harnessed the beast and turned it into an asset 2
MrGTO Posted June 25, 2015 Posted June 25, 2015 The OP said he lives in a tropical climate with average temps of 95*F. I highly doubt he can dry box anything.
HarveyBoulevard Posted June 25, 2015 Posted June 25, 2015 The OP said he lives in a tropical climate with average temps of 95*F. I highly doubt he can dry box anything. Good point and very true. I live in Southern California so we have high temps but very low humidity. Looks like some gentlemen in the tropics have come to his aid and given their advice. Terrible to see a cigar explode like that...
MrGTO Posted June 25, 2015 Posted June 25, 2015 Good point and very true. I live in Southern California so we have high temps but very low humidity. Looks like some gentlemen in the tropics have come to his aid and given their advice. Terrible to see a cigar explode like that... In the summers here I feel like i am in the tropics unfortunately..... I am working that angle to justify a Aristocrat cabinet to the wife.
earthson Posted June 26, 2015 Posted June 26, 2015 I had that problem a lot during hot Tennessee summers when I didn't have central air conditioning - I always assumed it was an overhumidification-plus-heat problem.
nick2021 Posted June 26, 2015 Posted June 26, 2015 I know it sounds crazy but I dry box about 8-10 cigars a week. I put them in an unseasoned humidor that sits around 58% rh and 70 deg. My regular humidor is about 67%/70deg. I pick out different marcas and vitolas so I still have some choice but they all get smoked during the week. I admittedly have a wicked case of OCD but I have harnessed the beast and turned it into an asset not crazy at all, I know several people that do this (including myself before I got stationed in Afghanistan). Have had a lot of problems smoking over-humidified sticks. Dry boxing has helped me a LOT!
CanuckSARTech Posted June 28, 2015 Posted June 28, 2015 Way too damp. Storing at 69%, in an already hot and humid environment, adds too much moisture to the cigar. Then, once smoked, kablamo. I'd definitely recommend to bringing your RH down to 65%.
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