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Last post 21 years ago by Slimboli. 24 replies replies.
Torpedo Clipping
550025 Offline
#1 Posted:
Joined: 08-08-2001
Posts: 153
How much of the torpedo end do you typically clip off before smoking? I try to clip off as much as my cutter will handle without losing the whole shape. Any thoughts?
GetYourOwn Offline
#2 Posted:
Joined: 04-05-2002
Posts: 734
There is no cap so you can cut them as you like. This is my favorite shape cause it fits the best.
Cut it till it feels good I say.
bullwinkle Offline
#3 Posted:
Joined: 05-03-2001
Posts: 1,206
I usually cut about 1/4 off, just enough to get a good draw..
550025 Offline
#4 Posted:
Joined: 08-08-2001
Posts: 153
They are my favorites as well. I feel guilty knowing only the master rollers get to work the shapes (they are a little more difficult to roll) and here we go snipping them off.

I'm with you. Go until it feels good.
RICKAMAVEN Offline
#5 Posted:
Joined: 10-01-2000
Posts: 33,248
it doesn't seem to bother rabbi's.
Slimboli Offline
#6 Posted:
Joined: 07-09-2000
Posts: 16,139
One thing to keep in mind when cutting a topredo (Belicoso) ...

The larger the cut, the cooler the smoke will be. The same can be said of a guillotine vs. punch cut. The smaller the hole the smoke has to travel through, the more concentrated it is going to be ...

I usually follow the same rule when I cut a torpedo as I do any other cigar ... and make the cut just above the shoulder.
rayder1 Offline
#7 Posted:
Joined: 06-02-2002
Posts: 2,226
Slim...where do you put the roachclip when you clip a torpedo at the shoulder? You might lose 1/2 to 3/4 inch of good smoke from an agressively tapered torpedo..LOL
Slimboli Offline
#8 Posted:
Joined: 07-09-2000
Posts: 16,139
... too funny.
Charlie Offline
#9 Posted:
Joined: 06-16-2002
Posts: 39,751
The smaller the hole, the better!!! Whoops!
Charlie
Slimboli Offline
#10 Posted:
Joined: 07-09-2000
Posts: 16,139
... make that E-Charlie.
BMW Offline
#11 Posted:
Joined: 10-21-2000
Posts: 3,010
Slim, I think that's charlEE. LoL
Barry
SteveS Offline
#12 Posted:
Joined: 01-13-2002
Posts: 8,751
I clip as little of the torp as I can and still open them up well ... in terms of ring-gauge, I would estimate that I'm creating about a 24+ opening ... never cut more than about 32 ring at the most extreme ...

Experiment ... try cutting them larger, smaller, whatever and decide how YOU like it best ... then do it that way, no matter what any of the rest of us do
1goodfellow Offline
#13 Posted:
Joined: 06-14-2002
Posts: 29
My general rule is 3/4 of the diameter, works for me anyway...
Charlie Offline
#14 Posted:
Joined: 06-16-2002
Posts: 39,751
Torpedos and Belicosos are my favorites and I clip as little as possible, using a X-kar that is very little! This enhances the cigar and makes it last longer (I think)!!! Help me Slim!

Charlie
GetYourOwn Offline
#15 Posted:
Joined: 04-05-2002
Posts: 734
Sounds like everyone does it different. I have never tried those cuts smaller than 1/2in. Also most people can't accuratlly judge 1/2in. Not you guys just a general observation.
E-Chick Offline
#16 Posted:
Joined: 06-15-2002
Posts: 4,877
Wow Charlie, not even a slap on the wrist! Slim's slipping...
rookie139 Offline
#17 Posted:
Joined: 03-02-2000
Posts: 2,149
I also cut just above the shoulder...If I cut higher, then I don't get enuff smoke-..If I cut too low (below the shoulder) then like all cigars, the wrapper can unravel
ceo Offline
#18 Posted:
Joined: 09-11-2010
Posts: 150
I only use a "V" cut on a torpedo.
GetYourOwn Offline
#19 Posted:
Joined: 04-05-2002
Posts: 734
I never tried the V-cut or punch fads. Dont think i'd like em for a torpedo.
Slimboli Offline
#20 Posted:
Joined: 07-09-2000
Posts: 16,139
V-cuts and Punch cuts are not 'fads' ... they've been around for a long time ...

The 'punch' cutter is ideal in several respects. It gives you a wide enough
hole to get a good clean draw and leaves the round outer rim of the cap intact.
The key here is to buy a good quality punch that has a very sharp blade
(some manufacturers sell replacement blades). It's also one of the simplest
cutters to use. Just place it against the head of the cigar and twist gently.
As you twist the cutter out, you should get a nice clean recessed hole about 1/4"
in diameter. These are great for wide-body cigars like, Toros, Churchills and Robustos.
The only drawbacks to using this cutter is that if the cigar is dry, the pressure of
twisting the cutter, even gentle twisting, can crack the head of the cigar. They don't
do well on slim cigars like Panatelas or small cigars due to the narrow ring sizes
and you can't use a punch at all on a Pyramid because of the pointed head. Suffice it to say,
Punch cutters are great 'starting pitchers', but you should also have a straight cutter
standing by in the bull pen.

The 'V' cutter is a very cool tool both in concept and practicality. When used properly, like a
punch cutter it will also give you a nice clean cut while preserving the round edge of the wrapper cap.
The 'V' cut forms a straight, 1/8" wide, wedge-shaped slice that goes into the body of the cigar at a
depth of about a 1/4 inch. This deeper cut opens more surface area of the filler creating a bigger and
more 'luxurious' draw. What's nice about this type of cutter is there's no guesswork involved. You just
place the cigar against the indentation on the cutter and press the lever. Voila! If you use a 'V' cutter
on a narrow ring cigar it will slice across the entire cap from edge to edge. On a large ring cigar, it will
cut a nice neat slice in the middle of the head preserving the round outer rim of the cap. If the blade is
really sharp, the cap should stay intact regardless of ring gauge. The 'V' cut is especially good to use
on figurados like Pyramids and Torpedos because it slits open the head without chopping off too much
of the point. The main thing with the 'V' cutter is, you have be sure to buy one that's really sharp, not
only to get the cleanest cut possible, but because of it's design, you can't sharpen or usually replace
a 'V' cutter blade.

GetYourOwn Offline
#21 Posted:
Joined: 04-05-2002
Posts: 734
When something is new and lots of people use it for a relative short period of time and then revert back to what they used before, I call that a fad. People used teeth for a while, then they probably used knifes. Now the majority of people that I see use guillotines or scissors. My 99 cent cutter chops the cap off and I can smoke just fine. My teeth dont come together so I can't use them.
The Razor scooter is also a fad. They will probably sell thousands of those soon.
Good info about the types of cuts Slim. Damn Im bored. I wish I was not at work.
ceo Offline
#22 Posted:
Joined: 09-11-2010
Posts: 150
Back in the late 50's we lived next to a old timer from
Cuba. I grew up in Fla. I can remember him showing my dad how to cut a torpedo and it was a "V" cut. You lose very little of the cigar but open enough surface area for the perfect draw.
Tobasco Offline
#23 Posted:
Joined: 02-08-2003
Posts: 2,809
I cut to about 2/3 of the overall diameter. That works
well from my experience-Magnafide
RICKAMAVEN Offline
#24 Posted:
Joined: 10-01-2000
Posts: 33,248
if you have 400 to 500 cigars, should you really worry about losing a bit of the end, which you never smoke to anyway, unless you want to burn your lips.
Slimboli Offline
#25 Posted:
Joined: 07-09-2000
Posts: 16,139
I love the V-Cut GYO ... it's my favorite way to cut a cigar. I use my surgical steel teakwood V-cuttter on about 90% of my cigars ... and have for quite awhile now.
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