Is my hydrometer lying to me?

[geewiz]

I get a box of cigars into my humi and after a couple of days the draw goes south and the wrappers (while smoking) start splitting. I have a humi-care hydro and have done many salt tests and this problem continues. temp varies between 58-64 degrees and humidity stays between 64-68%. I have wood heat and the house stays quite warm so I have my humi in a closet to keep it cool and avoid big swings in temp. any help would be appreciated.

geewiz

[bigwhiteash]

Normally, wrappers split because the cigars haven't fully stabilized at your humidor's Rh. Most vendors keep cigars at 70% or even higher, when you store them at smoke-able humidity levels, the first part to "dry out" so to speak, is the wrapper. I always advise leaving them to rest for at LEAST a week before smoking... even longer is better. You want the entire cigar to stabilize at the Rh you keep in the humidor.

From what I've read, the splitting can be caused by excess moisture in the fillers, that actually turns to steam, swelling the filler enough to split the wrapper. There are other causes, but this one makes sense to me.

[Shelby07]

Normally, wrappers split because the cigars haven't fully stabilized at your humidor's Rh. Most vendors keep cigars at 70% or even higher, when you store them at smoke-able humidity levels, the first part to "dry out" so to speak, is the wrapper. I always advise leaving them to rest for at LEAST a week before smoking... even longer is better. You want the entire cigar to stabilize at the Rh you keep in the humidor.

From what I've read, the splitting can be caused by excess moisture in the fillers, that actually turns to steam, swelling the filler enough to split the wrapper. There are other causes, but this one makes sense to me.

This is all true. Another thing to realize is that until the wrapper dries to about 65% it is much less porous. So once the the wrapper begins to breathe after a few days, you will have a cigar with a dryer wrapper and foot, and filler that really hasn't had a chance to begin to dry. My own rule of thumb is that a cigar needs to rest in the humidor at 63-65% for at least a month. And as stated in the previous post, the longer it sleeps, the better.

[geewiz]

Thanks, not what I wanted to hear but.... I'm just not very patient... business is not well, so I tend to smoke'm as I get'm

geewiz

[bigwhiteash]

Not all wrappers are going to split like that... I find mostly Cameroon wrappers give me this problem. I'm with you, I can rarely let new cigars rest for even a week before trying one.

Personally, I prefer corojo, habano and sun grown wrappers, and they tend to be a bit tougher.. so I don't run into any problems smoking them early.

[pmp]

This wont happen with all cigars. I remember when the original padilla miami's came out this was a huge issue.

[NullSmurf]

Thanks, not what I wanted to hear but.... I'm just not very patient... business is not well, so I tend to smoke'm as I get'm

geewiz

Your patience will come as your stash grows - and grow, it will.

[Shelby07]

Another thing you might consider is finding another cigar shop where they keep their humi a bit dryer.

[NullSmurf]

Whoa...splitting wrappers and Montana? You have another problem that patience isn't going to cure. This won't help your burn problems, but there is a trick you can use to stop the splitting wrappers. Before you clip, give the cigar a quick bath with tap water, just long enough to wet it. I usually roll it in my hands a few times. Clip, and light. Low humidity might crack it anyhow, but this usually staves it off till the last inch or so.

One more thing, its hygrometer, not hydrometer.

[geewiz]

One more thing, its hygrometer, not hydrometer.

sorry for the brain fart.

Thanks for all the replies!