for me, the "nub" varies from cigar to cigar ... there are those that become nubs with an inch or so on them and of course there was one really awful stick a month or so ago that became a nub at about 3" in length ... but others, like a beautiful dream, require me to get every possible puff of goodness and for those, I've been thinking maybe the well-being of my fingers requires that I buy a "roach-clip" ...