I'm fairly new to cigars but have enjoyed them for several years. I bought myself a 100 count humi for Christmas [seasoned it according to instructions] and filled it with Rocky Patel ITC 10th aniversary specials and fusions and Perdomos and Bahia Blus and a sample box of Nubs [can't wait for them to set a couple of weeks]. I've put a jar of beads and a humidifier that I add some distilled water to and 2 analog hygrometers that I calibrated to keep the humidity at about 70%. My problem is that about 1 in 5 cigars will crack or come unraveled when I smoke them. What can I do to prevent this or is this normal?  This my 1st post and I enjoy reading the other posts while in the MAN HOLE [as my wife calls it] smoking a good cigar.

You're probably cutting the whole cap off the cigar. Don't cut so much off. As far as the humidifier, if you're just putting in plain distilled water, you're going to have problems. Don't do that.

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phobicsquirrel:

ummm milk it..

duty--I use distilled water on the foam pad and 50-50 solution in the jar. am I doing the right thing?

I should also say that the cracks are up about half way on the stick.

I think your humidity is too high. When a cigar cracks like that, it can often be traced back to a level of humidity that is too high as the excess moisture in the cigar causes the tobacco to swell as it is heated and the wrapper cannot stretch enough to accommodate that. I'd recommend getting a digital hygrometer that can be trusted and using the 50/50 solution on your foam pad, that will help keep the humidity in check.

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When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

Thomas Jefferson

Also, let the humidor sit for a couple days to stabilize. Don't get in the trap of checking it every couple hours because that will keep it from getting to a stable spot.

One other important factor is that if the humidy in the ambient air is much different than your humidor, you may want to let the smokes sit for an hour or two before lighting. The differential could cause the stick to split.

bwcarter54:

duty--I use distilled water on the foam pad and 50-50 solution in the jar. am I doing the right thing?

No... I haven't used the jars, but I believe some of those are meant to just take plain distilled water. The foam pad, on the other hand, is supposed to take PG solution (at least the first time). You can re-charge it with distilled water, but using water right out of the gate will cause your humidity to be too high. This will, as has been pointed out, cause your cigars to swell, and the wrapper to crack.

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phobicsquirrel:

ummm milk it..

Thats must be it. I recalibrated my hygrometer and it was off by 5 points since christmas. I'll get a digatal. I took the foam pad out and just using the jar. I'll check humidity in the morning then time will tell about the cracking. Thanks man.

j0z3r:

I think your humidity is too high. When a cigar cracks like that, it can often be traced back to a level of humidity that is too high as the excess moisture in the cigar causes the tobacco to swell as it is heated and the wrapper cannot stretch enough to accommodate that. I'd recommend getting a digital hygrometer that can be trusted and using the 50/50 solution on your foam pad, that will help keep the humidity in check.

interesting, I thought it was if it was too low.. cool good to know.

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FAV. Smokes are in my Profile....Reviews

Ditto on a digital hygometer!!!

I'm using a 50/50 and still am about 3-5% too high and have about a 2% difference from the top above the shelf and bottom.  I'll check every few days and it's almost always 2% lower on bottom, which in my case is good. 

I'm trying to get the humidifier dried out a little which is working as it's down 1% or so, but I'm learning I need to get it down to < 70% I think.  2 sticks that I have on the top shelf split or as I'd describe, burst on me.  1 was very, very slight but it did.

I keep my humidor at a steady 65% and have no issues. When I tried to keep it around 70% I had tunnelling, cracking, explosions, hard draws, etc...

Do yourself a favor and drop down to 65%, you won't be disappointed.

wow, my humi goes between 68 - 72 and I haven't had any cracking or anything. I for some reason can't get 64 or 64. I have more than enough beads but just can't get that low. maybe I need 60% beads. On another note, I got a pamplet in a cigar order that said cracking occurs from too low RH. I wonder how accurate that is since I think most of you know your sh*t......

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FAV. Smokes are in my Profile....Reviews

You can get cracking at a low rH or a high rH. The swelling/bursting is real. I've never had any problems in my desktop humi, other than it running too dry once we crank the heat up in the winter. I've snice found a magical spot in my house that alleviates those problems, and also promises to work well during the summer months. This spot has been running a steady 69-71 degrees ever since I started tracking it. I have 4 larger thermometer/hygros that I got cheap on-line a couple years ago when we bought our piano. I wanted to make sure the piano was kept in a stable environment. I've been using the others to track and adjust the heating/cooling systems around the house.

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phobicsquirrel:

ummm milk it..

Hey van-that is exactly my problem.  The cracks occur while I'm smoking. I do believe my rh was to high. I'm going lower. Hate those tight draws.

phobicsquirrel:

wow, my humi goes between 68 - 72 and I haven't had any cracking or anything. I for some reason can't get 64 or 64. I have more than enough beads but just can't get that low. maybe I need 60% beads. On another note, I got a pamplet in a cigar order that said cracking occurs from too low RH. I wonder how accurate that is since I think most of you know your sh*t......

How do you fill your beads? I have a spray bottle to mist the beads. My humi stays steady at 65 for weeks before I have to fill them again. You should never soak the beads because they will crack if oversaturated.