Why don't more people use punch cutters?

[steffanan]

When i started smoking cigars, I used a double guillotine cutter, even though my xikar lighter has a punch built in. I figured it was the worst way to do it because it doesn't leave a large hole for the smoke to get through, or I thought it would be harder to suck through. The other day I figured i would give it a try. I loved it! It was so nice to not have to carry the cutter around. Also, I didn't get any tobacco in my mouth, and it was just a nice clean cut. Why don't more people use punch cutters?

[Devil Doc]

In my experience, punch cutters promote the formation of tar. Some folks will disagree, vehemently. To each his own, until you get a mouthful.
Doc

[hed]

Until last week, I've only used punch cutters. Depending on the rg, I'd punch 1-3 overlapping holes. Now, as long as my guillotine blades remain sharp, I can't see using the punch much anymore. There are quite a few lighters that have built-in guillotines, but most I've seen are single-blade. Here's one with a double-blade though.

[badwhale]

In my experience, punch cutters promote the formation of tar. Some folks will disagree, vehemently. To each his own, until you get a mouthful.
Doc

I'm pretty much a Xikar guy. I have and use punch cutters, but like Doc's saying, you end up with tar a lot of the time. Not all the time, but a lot of the time.

Will

[CoventryCat86]

In my experience, punch cutters promote the formation of tar. Some folks will disagree, vehemently. To each his own, until you get a mouthful.
Doc

I used punch cutters for years and never had a problem until I started better cigars like Davidoffs, Opus X & Añejos. If you used a punch cutter on those cigars, at least 1/2 the time you'll get tar so I agree with Doc.

I still use a punch cutter for cheaper cigars but I usually use a cheap guillotine cutter on the more expensive cigars. I have found though that even if you get a tar build up on a cigar that you've used a punch on, you can cut it again with a guillotine and fix the problem.

[victory01]

Most of my sticks are pyramids, torpedoes, bellicosos...it's a mouth feel thing for me. I don't mind carrying a cutter on me. The punch that comes with some of my lighters don't have a stud or punch to eject what gets caught in the blade so I found that kind of annoying.

[Eville]

It's much harder to cut off the finger of someone who owes you money with a punch.

[hed]

It's much harder to cut off the finger of someone who owes you money with a punch.

LMAO My mind's eye can't shake that visualization. It has the makings of a good Mel Brooks mafia movie.

[VancouverMark]

I haven't had the tar issues with any cigars I have used my punch cutter with so far, but that number is hardly high enough to be considered a suitable sample size. I find my punch works better on cigars that have too loose of a draw with a guillotine cut. It seems to make the draw a bit tighter.

Mark

[botlJack]

Each individual cigar smoker, has their own go to cut method. I prefer to use the double blade guillotine cutters.

[Devil Doc]

If any of you guys want to try a punch cutter, but don't want to spend any money, get yourself a .45 Colt or .45 acp spent cartridge and chamfer the inside edge. It works great and automatically stores the cut piece.

Doc

[guado]

It all depends on the cigar I am smoking as to which method to use.

[hed]

If any of you guys want to try a punch cutter, but don't want to spend any money, get yourself a .45 Colt or .45 acp spent cartridge and chamfer the inside edge. It works great and automatically stores the cut piece.

Doc

I was thinking about giving that a try, except using various caliber rifle shells like a .223, .30-06, and .45-70, to cover the different RGs being cut. It would give you more to grip, plus more storage space for the scraps. If you feel froggy and want a keychain version that will punch two different diameters, take a .223 or a .30-06 shell and cut off the flange-end about an inch before the shell begins tapering down to the bullet end.

[kevin7]

I have a .357 and a .44 shell my reloading friend chamfered for me. I dont use punches but they are cool

[craig]

I find fingernails work fine for most of the cigars that I smoke ... for the rest, I find Palio offers more control than Xikar. (I have Perfect Cutters for the car.)

[OrCal15]

I love a punch cutter. Lately I have been using the mistake free cutter.

http://www.cigarsolutions.com/precis...-cutter-metal/

[Disney Lincoln]

That's the cutter I use every day. I used to use a notch cutter but found this double cutter leaves a better end and I don't get as much tobacco in my mouth. I got it off of Amazon. I like that I don't have any mistakes. I just center the stick in the little rear hole and snip and it's a perfect cut every time.

[victory01]

I plan on getting one other those perfect cutters soon. What a great idea!
It would also help my buddies who come over and sometimes take a little too much off.

[nhcigarfan]

If any of you guys want to try a punch cutter, but don't want to spend any money, get yourself a .45 Colt or .45 acp spent cartridge and chamfer the inside edge. It works great and automatically stores the cut piece.

Doc

I did this with a .357 and it worked well.

I have a xikar punch on my key chain I use when I don't have a guillotine. But I prefer the guillotine.

As for guillotines, my xikar is nice looking but I still get the best cuts out of the cheap-o's you can pick up at the register of any cigar shop. The blades are thin and sharp making for a clean cut. I've had my xikar pinch cigars. I attribute it to the twin blades being so thick and not because it has gotten dull. I drop it all the time and am on my 4th or 5th due to the great warranty they come with.