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Stupid question

carddoug

carddoug

Banned
Joined
Aug 30, 2008
Messages
820
This may be a stupid question but it's been bugging me lately.

How long does it take you to light your cigar? It takes me a few light ups to get it fully lit. I like to burn it all around to make sure I get it all. But I usually always get an uneven burn, I've been wondering if I'm doing something wrong. So it had me thinking about my light ups, should I just light it one good time and let it do it's magic or should I continue lighting it up multiple times to get it burned all around at first?

Stupid question I know, but I am a little curious. Thanks for reading!
 
There are no stupid questions...but a lot of inquisitive idiots :) j/k. Try toasting the foot first then rotate while lighting. Sometimes too humid of a cigar won't burn evenly either.
 
Are you rotating the cigar while toasting the foot? What I usually do is use my lighter, aiming up at an angle, toasting the top half of the cigar's foot while turning it back-and-forth. Once I see that the foot is almost completely/mostly lit, I'll then put the cigar in my mouth and puff while continuing to turn and light. Then after a few puffs, I'll look at the end of the cigar while lightly blowing to see if the end is completely lit. I'm sure that everyone has their own way of lighting their cigars, but hope that helps! To each his own. Whatever works for you, works for you.

Also, if you meant that your cigar continues to burn unevenly throughout the duration of smoking it, it may not be due to the cigar initially being lit incorrectly. Rather, it can be caused by a lot of things. Ex. the construction of the cigar, humidification level, wind, and many other factors play into the correct/incorrect burning of your cigar. An over-humidified cigar will be a lot more difficult to get going, as well as keeping an even burn on it or staying lit. Plus, it'll start tasting extremely bitter after the intiial 1/2-1 inch of the cigar. I learned the hard way. =( hahah
 
Some guys make a huge ritual of lighting their cigar. I don't.

I rotate the cigar and toast the foot until it's evenly charred edge to edge. Then I'll draw on it while holding the torch far enough away to prevent the direct flame from touching the foot. You'll see the end flame up while drawing if you're doing it right. I'll give it two or three draws, then I always look at the foot to see if the burn is even. If not, I touch up as required. I believe it's always good to start off with a nice even burn across the foot of the cigar.

Only takes a few seconds, though.....second nature by now.
 
I need to get one of those. The portability though would suck.
 
BlindedByScience said:
Some guys make a huge ritual of lighting their cigar. I don't.

I rotate the cigar and toast the foot until it's evenly charred edge to edge. Then I'll draw on it while holding the torch far enough away to prevent the direct flame from touching the foot. You'll see the end flame up while drawing if you're doing it right. I'll give it two or three draws, then I always look at the foot to see if the burn is even. If not, I touch up as required. I believe it's always good to start off with a nice even burn across the foot of the cigar.

Only takes a few seconds, though.....second nature by now.
Click to expand...

I basically do what Tom does here...but after the 2-3 pulls with the lighter after charring it, I put it in the ashtray (or hold it in my hand) to rest for a minute or two before actually smoking it. It gives the ash a chance to cool down after all that torching...but before I take a puff, I give a few gentle 'blows' to remove any stale smoke from the cigar before enjoying it.

The other method is to char it with the lighter all around the tip...then do the 2-3 pulls with a lit stick of cedar to get that woody taste in there...then let it rest for a bit before smoking it.

It's all a matter of personal preference...ask 10 guys, all 10 will do a different variation of the same thing! I personally enjoy the cutting/lighting ritual, it's part of the whole mystique of smoking a cigar :thumbs:...just like I helped my friend learn, some of you may know him...



Idontalwayssmokeaciagr.jpg
 
When I started smoking a couple mos ago I could not figure out why my smokes were crappy, they were too wet. All sorts of burn issues, never thought I could get a smoke to humid in Arizona but it can be done. In my searching trying to find out what was wrong with my stogies I cam across a youtube thing from Cigar Aficianado. Gordon Mott was talking about lighting up with 3 matches. Its long but I figure I got time to smoke for an hour I can take the time to light up as well.
 
If I were smoking indoors, I might take the time to slow-light my cigars. Since I'm outside with unpredictable winds, I just stand in the corner and try to get it going as soon as possible. I usually use a torch to toast around the edges of the foot and quickly across the foot, itself, to get the wrapper burning, and then use a soft flame for the "turning draw" light.

I've found, for me, this two lighter technique that takes all of about 15 seconds if the torch lights the first time keeps the cigar burning pretty evenly the entire stick without going out. I just never got the torch lighting thing down. I'd either overheat it or not get it toasted enough to catch fully and I'd have constant issues with it.
 
BBS and Ironpeddler have it right . . . not the liquid oxygen part, lol, the rest of it. Those BBQ guys are effin' ate up with the crazy!

Take a little extra time with toasting the foot and getting a good, even light and it pays off for the rest of the cigar. If it's going wonky on you after that . . . SLOW DOWN. I used to have to touch up a lot with even super premiums going sideways on me until I learned to slow down and let the cigar self correct.

~Boar
 
carddoug said:
This may be a stupid question but it's been bugging me lately.

How long does it take you to light your cigar? It takes me a few light ups to get it fully lit. I like to burn it all around to make sure I get it all. But I usually always get an uneven burn, I've been wondering if I'm doing something wrong. So it had me thinking about my light ups, should I just light it one good time and let it do it's magic or should I continue lighting it up multiple times to get it burned all around at first?

Stupid question I know, but I am a little curious. Thanks for reading!
Click to expand...
It usually takes me about a min. or two, the reason being is that I don't want to rush it being lit.. I sort of roast it. It gives me an even light and pleasant smoke! IMO it also brings out the flavors better. Not a stupid question BTW. ;D
 
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