Cracking?

[celsis]

OK guys, question for you. I keep my cigars at around 69%RH and sometimes, and it always seems to be torps, the wrapper starts to crack when I light the cigar. Doesn't happen all the time, but it's annoying as pieces of the wrapper start to fall off.

Any ideas as to why this happens?

[cohibaIV]

Been getting the same problem lately, with Cubans and NC's. My humi is at 69% to???

Only started getting the problem over the last couple of months?

[Seriesteve]

Strange ...There shouldn't really be a problem set at 69% so long as the Temp doesn't drop to low....My Humi has been set 69% and 69*c for years and no Probs
Could have just had some very slight damage on them before they were put into your Humi
.. Thinking you didn't freeze them when you got them ?
Something I'd never do personally
Ss

[tippexx]

Maybe your hygrometers need adjusting Celsis?

SeanP's thread explains how even brand new ones can be unreliable till tested and calibrated.

[whisky77]

Calibration.

I normaly run the humi at 72-75 and have a selection of Torps in there in boxes. Never had any probs with cracked wrappers.

As stated previously I would cross reference your calibration.

[Boss Hog]

I've been having the same problem lately, alongside bad burn, canoeing, extremely spongy feel to them, needs constant relighting and all of them tasting the same.
I recently tested and recalibrated my hygro which was correct and they have been kept at 67-69%RH. Temp is pretty much the same too.
I also experienced a bit of mold on a few which had to be thrown.
So I took out all humidifiers on Sunday and it's stayed at 69% ever since.
I took one out and dry boxed it for about 20 hours and it smoked perfectly but the same one from the humi was awful.
Seems like their soaking it up but the humi is staying constant.

I originally thought the cracking was due to over fondling of them.

[larrysputnik]

I originally thought the cracking was due to over fondling of them.


I originally thought the cracking was due to over fondling of them.

Come again?

[peanutpete]

Come again?

i think he just did

[Gary]

To me it sound like there might be a little to much humidity in your humidor. Remember the very best hygrometer's will be at least 1 +/-, so if it's saying 69% it could very well be 70% or more! Try the salt test to test it.

Personally I keep my cigars at around 65% or 66% and never have this problem, but I've had cracking of cigars in the past after lighting and have been sure it's been because of over humidity. The comment above regarding the mold on cigars is a sure sign of too much humidity.

One thing is to pick the cigar you want several hours before your going to smoke it and dry box it for a number of hours and see if that sorts the problem. Other than that stick some additional cedar in your humidor to take up more humidity.

[snooky]

69% is good but if variations have occured ie too damp too dry then cracking may happen, check hygrometers and maintain a constant humidity for 2/3 weeks to settle. If problem persists send the torps to me and buy new stock, all the best.

[cbob]

Check the humidity of the place where you smoke.
One of the chief causes of wrapper cracking is lighting up in a dry location-even worse if it's cold and dry- especially if you tend to keep your humidors at 70% or higher.

When you light up, the interior of your smoke is pretty well protected by all the tobacco but the dry air hits the wrapper and as the cigar swells a bit with the heat, it tends to split and crack.

I originally did not humidify my Cava de Puros, trusting the humidification system in the humidors to keep my smokes in pristine condition @ about 68% RH. This worked fine during the summer and fall when the RH in the Cava sat at 70%-65% but as soon as the first winter weather hit, the heating had to be cranked up and the RH dropped below 50%, every cigar I torched up would split the wrapper. The past two winters I've run a humidifier in the room to maintain about 46%-50% RH and my cigars smoke perfectly.

BTW
I know it's a bit "anal retentive" but hey, It's MY hobby but I've been monitoring the RH at my smoking locations in Cuba, where humidity is NEVER a problem. When you are relaxed at the beach and the RH is 86%, your smoke gets the "soggy wrapper" syndrome where the outer portions of the cigar get so wet from the atmosphere that the cigar tunnels quite badly.
But the wrapper doesn't crack!

[Robert747]

OK guys, question for you. I keep my cigars at around 69%RH and sometimes, and it always seems to be torps, the wrapper starts to crack when I light the cigar. Doesn't happen all the time, but it's annoying as pieces of the wrapper start to fall off.

Any ideas as to why this happens?

Been getting the same problem lately, with Cubans and NC's. My humi is at 69% to???

Only started getting the problem over the last couple of months?

Hmmm a strange and intriguing case Watson. Given the humidity is at 69% would this narrow down the problem to the very low winter temperatures causing wide daily fluctuations in the room (very cold night time and probably very warm day time).

[daverave999]

Very useful and interesting information, thanks Bob.