Too tight to draw

I smoked a Bolivar Belicoso tonight and it gave me nothing but problems. I could feel how tight the last portion of the cigar was. Pressing on it didnt even move it really. I poked a tooth pick into it a few times but I don't think it got deep enough :smiley6: My humidor is at 73% and I haven't added water for weeks. I don't think that is the problem cause all my other cigars smoke fine. I think it was just a dud. My tobacconist would replace it if I mentioned it but I am not sure if I would bother. Anyone have any solutions to get a tightly rolled cigar to smoke nicely? :smiley23:

I've smoked many Bolivars and this is the only one so far I have had a problem with.

Well you may not think that 73% is too high but it is, especially for Cuban cigars.........

I usually take the pin that holds my shield in it's case and stick it into the cigar, works pretty good since it is about 2 1/2" long. My brother uses a thin drill bit, he screws it in and kinda pulls gently to open it up..... whatever you do, never use a paper clip. I learned that the hard way, paper clips are not stiff enough so it went right thru the side of the cigar, had to keep my finger over the hole while smopking it

Excellent idea Tommy :smiley20:

I use an ice pick as a poker which usually works pretty well. I had a box of San Cristobal de la Habana El Morros that were plugged so badly (December, 1999) that even the ice pick trick couldn't save them :smiley19:

I then tried using a 3 1/2 x #12 or #14 drywall screw, literally screwing it into the clipped end of the cigar and pulling it out to remove enough tobacco leaves to make the cigar smokeable. It worked with a few.......

Some places sell "cigar pokers" for people to use to try to fix plugged cigars.

Tommy's right, the bent paper clip trick is suggested by some and works for some but I would not recommend it.

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Originally Posted by Roham

I smoked a Bolivar Belicoso tonight and it gave me nothing but problems. I could feel how tight the last portion of the cigar was. Pressing on it didnt even move it really. I poked a tooth pick into it a few times but I don't think it got deep enough :smiley6: My humidor is at 73% and I haven't added water for weeks. I don't think that is the problem cause all my other cigars smoke fine. I think it was just a dud. My tobacconist would replace it if I mentioned it but I am not sure if I would bother. Anyone have any solutions to get a tightly rolled cigar to smoke nicely?

I've smoked many Bolivars and this is the only one so far I have had a problem with.

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Sorry to hear about that :smiley13: :smiley21: Even cuban torcedors roll too tightly on a bad day. :smiley24:

I like the drill bit idea too BlkCloud :smiley32:

My humidor is now running at 73%rh due to higher temps and humidity. It's a daily struggle. Actually though, I thinnk sungrown tastes better at a higher rh%! Just my opinion!

I use about a 6" x 1mm file that works well with me.

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Originally Posted by grand cru no 2

I use about a 6" x 1mm file that works well with me.

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i never thought about that. my girlfriend has some of those for the models she makes for architecture. i'll have to try that the next flor de cano i smoke

Figuardos sometimes are tougher draws, I've contemplated whether or not that can be attributed to their tapered head. With Belicosos and No.2s I've often found myself re-clipping the head beyond my initial decapitation. Another effective means with cigars that have proven to be tight draws, I clip the cap quite a bit of time before the time of lighting (several hours at least - Sometimes the day before.

Chè

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Originally Posted by Chè

Figuardos sometimes are tougher draws, I've contemplated whether or not that can be attributed to their tapered head. With Belicosos and No.2s I've often found myself re-clipping the head beyond my initial decapitation. Another effective means with cigars that have proven to be tight draws, I clip the cap quite a bit of time before the time of lighting (several hours at least - Sometimes the day before.

Chè

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Thats a good idea :smiley20: