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Last post 20 years ago by rjdc. 17 replies replies.
burns through the center?
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0patience Offline
#1 Posted: Sat, Aug 2 2003, 3:24 PM EST
Joined: 07-20-2003
Posts: 1,023
Not sure how else to explain it, but has anyone ever had a cigar that burned up thru the center?
Had one today that burned about 2" up the center of the cigar, but not the outer wrapper.
I let it go out and erlit it and it still wanted to burn thru the center.
I've never had a cigar do that.
RICKAMAVEN Offline
#2 Posted: Sat, Aug 2 2003, 3:26 PM EST
Joined: 10-01-2000
Posts: 33,248
mr O

i think you have a cigar that was dried out and revived. only a guess, but i'm sure more ideas will follow.
billyjackson Offline
#3 Posted: Sat, Aug 2 2003, 3:56 PM EST
Joined: 08-19-2002
Posts: 2,860
I had that happen with a Diamond Crown one time. A buddy gave it to me. It was really loosely rolled and probably a little dry to boot.
Slimboli Offline
#4 Posted: Sat, Aug 2 2003, 4:54 PM EST
Joined: 07-09-2000
Posts: 16,139
That is what is commonly called 'tunneling' ...

Your cigar is tunneling when the inner filler is burning down, and the outer layers, including the wrapper and binder, are still unlit. There can be more than one of the channels, and they can be anywhere in the cigar (the side or the center). They make the cigar burn very bad, produce little smoke, burn hot and tend to go out.

Tunneling is normally found in cheaper daily type cigars. However, even the finest cigars may tunnel sometimes. There is not much you can do to save them when they start to tunnel. Slow down a little and hope it fixes itself. It can be caused by improperly lighting the cigar, or by smoking too quickly, puffing away like mad. The best way to fix this is to leave the cigar alone and let the outside catch up as soon as you notice it is happening. The sooner you "back off", the sooner the cigar will even up.

You can see the tunnel when you look at the foot. I have tried packing some burned ash into the tunnel but, I have had only very limited success. Also, if your cigar tunnels you can try to fix it by using your cutter and clipping down the unburned exterior and then try to relight the cigar.
Robby Offline
#5 Posted: Sat, Aug 2 2003, 5:04 PM EST
Joined: 10-30-2002
Posts: 5,067
** edited due to competitor reference
Robby Offline
#6 Posted: Sat, Aug 2 2003, 5:05 PM EST
Joined: 10-30-2002
Posts: 5,067
Doh! Sorry, didn't see that they had merchandise.
Slimboli Offline
#7 Posted: Sat, Aug 2 2003, 5:07 PM EST
Joined: 07-09-2000
Posts: 16,139
Oh shucks ... and I just put on my 'studded' gloves ...
Robby Offline
#8 Posted: Sat, Aug 2 2003, 5:26 PM EST
Joined: 10-30-2002
Posts: 5,067
Sorry Slim, seriously, I didn't know they had merchandise. You should speak more in your own words though, you have a lot of knowledge about cigars and I'm sure would have valuable input in almost any thread. Anyone can cut and post. Why not say what you have to say? I think excessive C&P reduces the luster from the throne that is "Slimboli" lord of discipline.
Slimboli Offline
#9 Posted: Sat, Aug 2 2003, 5:38 PM EST
Joined: 07-09-2000
Posts: 16,139
... getting lazy in my old age, I guess ... LOL!

Sometimes it's just easier to 'cut 'n paste', if what I was going to say has already been said before, and it's in print ...

... reduces 'typos' too!
usahog Offline
#10 Posted: Sat, Aug 2 2003, 6:16 PM EST
Joined: 12-06-1999
Posts: 22,691
I had this happen a few yrs back along with Canooing on the Old band HDM Rothchilds I got off cbid about 3 yrs ago... found out I was tryin to Rifle or Bogart these babys Down!!!! and lighting them with a Bic lighter rather then a torch flame...

Hog
Steve*R Offline
#11 Posted: Sat, Aug 2 2003, 6:36 PM EST
Joined: 07-23-2001
Posts: 1,858
Tunneling is very common in cigars that have inconsistent RH throughout the cigar. Cigars that have been rapidly humidified may have significantly higher RH at the wrapper, binder, and outer edge of the filler than at the core filler. Consequently, the drier tobacco burns more rapidly. Early H2000 wrappers, like the Cabanas H2000 maduro, were notoriously thick, and were reluctant to burn. It was both a function of the thickness and the amount of RH that it retained. It was very difficult to get them to burn without tunneling.
Go Stars! Offline
#12 Posted: Sat, Aug 2 2003, 6:47 PM EST
Joined: 12-16-2002
Posts: 62
very helpful, gents! thx
0patience Offline
#13 Posted: Sat, Aug 2 2003, 6:55 PM EST
Joined: 07-20-2003
Posts: 1,023
Thanks all.
Appreciate the info.
godfather1453406 Offline
#14 Posted: Sat, Aug 2 2003, 7:41 PM EST
Joined: 06-11-2003
Posts: 426
The first cigar I had do that was a Punch. It was so hot it made me lean back and say Oh My
rayder1 Offline
#15 Posted: Sun, Aug 3 2003, 9:34 PM EST
Joined: 06-02-2002
Posts: 2,226
I agree with SteveR as well. I just recently had a bad tunnel on a 5 Vegas. I had it in a humidor that I let the humidity get down to below 60%. My fault, I shoved it back under the bed behind a small suitcase and forgot about it.

When I found it the humidity was under 60% for at least a month. The cigars still felt soft and springy. So I gave the humidifier some 50/50 to perk up the humidity. The hydgrometer came up to 70 over a week.

I kept them there for a couple weeks before smoking one. I fired up a cinco and found it wanted to burn through the middle. Obviously the wrapper got the benefit of humidity before the inside of the cigar. Tasted fine.

I used my torch to adjust the burn when it started to tunnel. Except for the extra work, it wasn't too bad but I will let them sit for a couple months before I hit another one out of the same humidor.
tommyt99 Offline
#16 Posted: Mon, Aug 4 2003, 5:16 AM EST
Joined: 04-16-2003
Posts: 167
It happens to me alot. My sticks are kept at 70/70 as close as possivle. I usually notice it in my car. I think all the air currents do it. I just light the end up again and it usually stops. Its happened with very fine sticks too!
arwings Offline
#17 Posted: Mon, Aug 4 2003, 5:28 AM EST
Joined: 02-09-2003
Posts: 950
I posted about this problem a while back. Can't remember who now, but someone responded that tunneling tends to happen more with maduro wrappers. Because of their thickness, oilyness(sp?), and ability to retain moisture. Had two pretty "up there" cigars (one was a Perdomo 2; can't remember the other) do this back-to- back. Frustrating as Hell, but he was right; they both had maduro wrappers. Only way I could semi-fix them was to cut the cigar off above the burn and start over.
rjdc Offline
#18 Posted: Mon, Aug 4 2003, 2:10 PM EST
Joined: 05-26-2002
Posts: 682
What Slim said. My exact woids!
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