Cracking (peeling) wrappers?

[Freddy]

I don't know if this question belongs here, but, as you'll see, I'm a total noob to cigars.

While waiting for my new humidor (a Diamond Crown) I placed my 50 sticks of ERDM Choix Supreme in an old humidor along with two 69 Boveda packs.

Today I noticed that the wrappers on a couple of my sticks were cracked (see pic below). The sticks themselves feel OK when I squeeze them (not hard, and not too mushy either).

My question: is this problem a result of too much dryness or too much humidity? (I warned you that I was a noob ).

Thanks for your input.

[thechenman]

Freddy...

What does your hygrometer read? That would likely tell you. A 69rh Boveda packet is fine to use...I have used them myself. That in and of itself would not cause this to happen. What I would look into first is whether or not the the old humidor was properly seasoned. If not and you put the cigars in with the Boveda packet, the environment inside the humidor may have been to dry, whcih could lead to the cracking of the wrapper. The other possiblity was that the cigars were too dry. If they were overly dry and you put them immediately into a humidified environment they can split from being humidified too quickly. Hard to say for sure without a before picture. Just my $0.02. Anyone out there have any other possible scenarios?

[Freddy]

Freddy...

What does your hygrometer read? That would likely tell you. A 69rh Boveda packet is fine to use...I have used them myself. That in and of itself would not cause this to happen. What I would look into first is whether or not the the old humidor was properly seasoned. If not and you put the cigars in with the Boveda packet, the environment inside the humidor may have been to dry, whcih could lead to the cracking of the wrapper. The other possiblity was that the cigars were too dry. If they were overly dry and you put them immediately into a humidified environment they can split from being humidified too quickly. Hard to say for sure without a before picture. Just my $0.02. Anyone out there have any other possible scenarios?

Thanks for your response, chenman.

My old humidor has no hygrometer or humidifier: it's a very old Dunhill, without bells and whistles (this is why I ordered a Diamond Crown).

The humidor was never seasoned (I only found out about seasoning recently, and I can assure you I will season my new one when it arrives).

I guess my question really boils down to: does cracking wrappers indicate too much dryness or humidity?

[thechenman]

Thanks for your response, chenman.

My old humidor has no hygrometer or humidifier: it's a very old Dunhill, without bells and whistles (this is why I ordered a Diamond Crown).

The humidor was never seasoned (I only found out about seasoning recently, and I can assure you I will season my new one when it arrives).

I guess my question really boils down to: does cracking wrappers indicate too much dryness or humidity?

Freddy...in my experience it is more the former than the latter. Especially if the humidor in question had never been seasoned before. If not, it will suck the moisture out of your cigars...the Boveda humidifies, but was not sufficient to season your humidor. Boveda also makes seasoning packets which I have used and highly reommend. It has an rh in the 80s, so you can see the difference between them. Give it a try.

[Freddy]

Freddy...in my experience it is more the former than the latter. Especially if the humidor in question had never been seasoned before. If not, it will suck the moisture out of your cigars...the Boveda humidifies, but was not sufficient to season your humidor. Boveda also makes seasoning packets which I have used and highly reommend. It has an rh in the 80s, so you can see the difference between them. Give it a try.

Follow-up question: Since apparently my sticks are drying out in my old, unseasoned humidor (despite the Boveda packs), what would be an alternate method of preserving them until my new humidor arrives, and is seasoned?

Should I place them in plastic bags with Boveda packs? Or what?

[Ellery]

You could put them in a ziplock with the boveda, or tupperware works great. As long as its a good seal

[samb]

Theyre prolly too dry from being in that unseasoned humidor... I would use a ziplock or tightly sealed tupperware to store them in the mean time. When you get your new humidor and get it set up properly, but the cracked cigars in it for awhile and them you should try to smoke them before you just toss em.

[Tampa1257]

To answer your question, the cracked wrappers are the result of not enough humidity. This is because the humidor was not properly set up and seasoned.

To have a quick fix until your new humidor arrives and is properly seasoned and ready for cigar storage, get a peace of tupperware with a tight lid. Now in a Ziplock baggie place a paper towel that has been dampened with distilled water. (Note: the paper towel is only damp, not soaking wet) Now place that ziplock baggie inside the tupperware with the seal open approximately 1/4. Now you can place your cigars inside the tupperware. You may need to re-dampen the paper towel as it begins to dry out.

It is Extremely important to only use "Distilled Water".

Now, next time you go to the grocery store, look for the area that has canning supplies for a small box of "Pectin". It comes in a powder form that you add water to mix it up. I would also go by a Art supply store and buy a fine paint brush. This brush will be used to "paint" the pectin mix onto your cracked cigar. This will fix the cracked cigar. Then all you have to do is allow the fixed cigar to normalize and it will smoke fine.

Search the forums for the proper method of seasoning your new humidor, do not try to short cut this most important aspect of setting up a humidor as it is the very foundation of proper humidification for your cigars.

[rckymtn22]

While you are seasoning the new humidor you might as well season the old one. Get yourself a digital hydrometers and beads for each humidor. You should be good to go!