Uneven hollow burn, need suggestions!

[Stryprod]

Okay folks; please help me with my problem! My cigars are aged well at 65% humidity using the beads in a seasoned humidor. My lighting technique for cigars is proper enough and the cigar burns pretty evenly to about the ½"-3/4" mark. Around this area, the cigar continues to burn inside the filler but it doesn’t keep pace with the wrapper, or the wrapper just stops burning altogether making a hollow pipe like appearance out of my cigar. I first thought it could be that I am not smoking fast enough; about a puff every 40-70 seconds, but puffing more frequently I begin to taste a hot nicotine taste. Could the problem be the higher outside humidity where I live near the coast, 70-80%? I can’t imagine humidity affecting the cigar that fast but I’m open to its possibility. Any suggestions or problems you see with this scenario? It’s beginning to make me crazy having to relight the edges just to have to do it again 10 minutes later. Thanks in advanced!

[Kenyth]

A common burn problem. It can be very frustrating if a whole batch of cigars has it. When this starts happening, the quick fix is you just touch up the tip with a lighter, just like any other burn problem. If it's real bad, it can ruin your smoke. These are the risks that come with cigar smoking. If you notice this happening with all the smokes in a box or bundle, you can just take the cello off of them. This will speed up the wrapper drying to the proper moisture content. With cello on, it can take months for slightly wet cigars to dry properly.

[Newfie]

I had a similar thing happen (in a real bad way) with just one cigar, it just tunneled real bad. I couldn't even hold it an inch above the visible burn on the wrapper.

[Stryprod]

A common burn problem. It can be very frustrating if a whole batch of cigars has it. When this starts happening, the quick fix is you just touch up the tip with a lighter, just like any other burn problem. If it's real bad, it can ruin your smoke. These are the risks that come with cigar smoking. If you notice this happening with all the smokes in a box or bundle, you can just take the cello off of them. This will speed up the wrapper drying to the proper moisture content. With cello on, it can take months for slightly wet cigars to dry properly.

I am going to give your suggestion a try as it seems that what you descibe is occuring. I had a problem getting humidity down until about 3 weeks ago, so the cigars were exposed to 72-75% humidity for quite some time. Now that I think back, I just recently had an ELDM, which are wrapped in tissue paper, and it smoke pretty well probably because it had more time to dry. Thanks for the insight guys!!!

[cls515]

It may also be the cigars. Some cigars burn perfectly, while others don't. Try to smoke them at a slower pace, and make sure the light is well. Sometimes when it is windy I can't get a light like I want and I notice burn problems. Toast the end for about twenty seconds or so, then light the cigar by puffing it while holding the flame at the end. After you think it is lit, look at the end and the end should be completely lit. Then go ahead and take your real first glimpse into the taste of the cigar. Don't be shy when drawing the cigar as you smoke it, and give the cigar time as well. Don't rush it.