cutting vs punching....

[Mr Peat]

I will post a Picture of mine in a sec. :thumbs:

And this is how simple it is. BTW, Ginseng took more off than I did. I learned that if you just unravel the cap. Then take out the part where they twist the center before the cap is put on, ya got a pretty good so called punch. That is what it looks like if done carefully and the cigar will smoke nicely. I will take some more pictures of this cigar while I smoke it to prove my point and Ginseng's. :thumbs:

 

[sack]

i've always just cut my cigars as thin as possible and never ha a problem.

 

[boonedoggle]

I began smoking biting the cap off...then I realized that there were cutters out there. Then I experiemented with punches, and now I'm back at alternating between single blade and guillotine, depending which I can find handy!

 

[Ginseng]

Dumb question, but I thought the purpose of the cap is to keep the wrapper from unraveling (sp?). By using the bottom method (fingers or teeth) wouldn't the wrapper start to come undone since the cap is no longer holding it down? ???

Not really. As you can see in the first set of photos, there is still some of the cap around the cut portion. If you don't get it too slobbery, that is usually enough to hold it together. In fact, sometimes that little strip gets loose and I pull it right off and don't usually have a problem with unraveling.

In the second sequence of photos, there is plenty of wrapper around the periphery of the bite hole so it will not unravel either.

I have to say, in my experience, I have had more issues with unraveling with a genuine bunch-cutting guillotine cut. I think this has to do with the fact that you have to exert significant pressure with the blades and this can seriously deform the cigar as the blades are cutting through. This can serve to break the glue bond between cap and the top of the wrapper. I guess this is why I hardly ever do a real cut anymore.

Wilkey

 

[Diselfitter]

Wilky, and Mr Peat, those are some pretty interesting ways to cut the cigars, I am going to have to give it a try.

What I have been doing was kinda similar but different. Whether I use a double blade guillotine, or a Cigar scissors, I initiate a scoring cut as Wilky described, but once I am through the cap, I continue the cut until completely through. This generally leaves me with a nice clean cut.

Deez

 

[CoventryCat86]

Hey Deez! :thumbs: Good to see you here.

Now, back on topic, there have been a few occasions where I don't have my punch with me so I've used my teeth and the cigars smoked fine.

 

[Diselfitter]

Thanks CC, it is good to be a poster and not a Lurker ....LOL

Back on topic too.. yea I have been to use my teeth to clip the cigar, works just fine, and besides I feel a bit like Clint Eastwood...LOL

 

[stogiegila]

I use an Avo punch cutter on everything except beli\torps. I found that since I am a dry smoker (one that doesn't slobber all over the end of my cigar) that I do not run into any problems with tar buildup.

I really liked the pictures and explanation of the scoring of the cap and peeling it off. I will have to give that a try, its cool seeing the bunching at the end so perfect!

Anyway, to each his own.

 

[Brickhouse]

I got a Colibri punch, an Xi2 Xikar, and a Palio. I switch off between the punch and cut style, but I think my Palio is my favorite.

I can't figure out the 'flick trick' to save my life.

 

[Mr Peat]

Wilky, and Mr Peat, those are some pretty interesting ways to cut the cigars, I am going to have to give it a try.

Deez

When I am at Outlaw this Saturday, I will do this same method on a Siglo VI so you can see it done on a expensive cigar as well. And I will try to take a better picture of it this time.

 

[BlindedByScience]

Personally, I use a double bladed cutter but I only use the blades to score the cap above the shoulder. Then I just lift it off. I only actually cut bunch when prepping a figurado like a belicosos.

Wilkey

With practice, I'm able to snip only the cap with my Xikar and keep out of the bundle 99% of the time. Tried punching a couple of times and didn't like the way the gars drew.

To each his own, I guess..... :thumbs:

Cheers - B.B.S.

 

[symyn]

I have been biting most of my ISOM's with my lower teeth after moistening the cap. The only problem is I smoke almost 60% torps/belis/etc so I have my trusty xicar.

 

[Brickhouse]

Did the cap removal maneuver pointed out by Wilkey tonight, worked very well.

Thanks for the tip Wilkey!

 

[stogiegila]

Smoked two cigars using Ginseng's method of scoring and flicking off the cap as pictured. Worked great on both smokes:

SLR Series A and a Flor de Oliva Corojo Robusto.

I may have to adopt this method permanently.

Thanks for the tip! :thumbs:

 

[soup]

A fellow CP'er recently asked me for some clarification about the various cap removal practices discussed in this thread. As always, a picture is worth a bunch of words.

Here is my preferred method. I referred to this above as the "score and lift." The sequence of three photos shows the technique. First, using a bladed cutter, put the blade(s) in contact with the wrapper just above the shoulder of the cigar. Then, applying gentle pressure, slice through ONLY the wrapper. Second, confirm that the entire circumference of the cap has been cut through. In this case, I left a small piece connecting the cap to the cigar so that I could more easily take a picture. Third, lift off the cap with your finger or your nail and discard. Your cigar is now ready for lighting and smoking. Note: the bunch has not been cut at all. It was as the roller left it. Only the cap of wrapper leaf has been removed.

Here is a second method that is equally suitable and works even if you have no cutters, scissors, or other hardware. This is the "wet and rip." Basically, you take a cigar, slobber on the end until the cap leaf is soft and pliable. Sometimes you can actually feel it get loose. If it's loose, you just lift it off along with any overlapping wrapper on the barrel of the cigar. If you're rushed (as I was in taking these photos) the cap might have to be yanked off with your teeth or dug off with a fingernail. The final result isn't "aficianado pretty" but the cigar is quite smokeable.

These techniques do not work with figurados such as pyramids and torpedos. But any parejo, or straight-sided cigar, handles it quite well.

Wilkey

I have found my new favorite way to smoke!

Thanks Wilkey! :thumbs:

 

[ggiese]

I've been doing some reading since I'll be getting a few ISOMs soon. And in most, if not all, of the sources I've read it's said to cut the cigar. Is cutting better for the cuban than punching it? And where should one cut the cuban?

Yup - there is a difference... :thumbs:

If you're going to cut - cut the cap.

 

[gusto1]

I've been using the score and lift method since I read about it here, and I love it. Thanks for posting it.

 

[Lightninrod]

Thank you so much Wilkey for that cutting info. I thought I was pretty squared away when it came to smoking cigars but you just taught me something and I appreciate it. I used my Palio to just slice through the cap's end without disturbing the bunch. What a great way to prepare a cigar for smoking!


Dan

 

[aberjed]

fashions change! When i started smoking in the early 70's virtually everyone I knew used a V-cutter...this is now considered to be a bad way to cut a cigar......i have a sneaky hunch that in 30 years time we'll all be using punches.....who knows

I suspect that the rise of the straight or cross cutter, came about because they could be produced cheaply as a give-away item with a box of cigars

 

[frigidor]

For me I like to cut the slimmer cigars and punch the larger gage cigars. I used a vcut today and really liked it as well, but for the most part I always have my xikar on hand.