A few questions about ash;

1) What does a long, firm ash represent?

2) What is the meaning of a fallen ash leaving behind: a)a protruding burning cone vs. a straight break

b)a sunken hollow core

3) What if the ash has protruding curls or flakes on it's circumference?

4) What if the ash has a length-wise fissure, but the wrapper is intact?

shiloh check the pic. post, that's what happens when you got a great gar, nothing but ash...

pablo

Long ash is a sign of a couple of things, including the fact that you're cigar is constructed of leaves running its length. Also that it is not too loose. Keeping ash, and not knocking it off, promotes a more evenly burning cigar and contributes to a cooler, less harsh smoke.

If you have a cone, then you're *in theory* smoking your cigar too quickly, or the wrapper is loose. If it tunnels, then the inside is too loose. The protruding curls or ribs are from each of your puffs. Lengthwise fissures are usually the result of a leaf vein.

thanks herfman

b) I've seen a protruding cone left behind due to what I think was a plugged (hard draw, rolled too tight?) section.

c) Flakes/curls, like ragged edges, may form on thicker wrapper leafs, but I don't know for sure --- too small of a sample tested here. Maybe they're on cheaper cigars, but I've at least seen them on some good cheap ones. Maybe they have more prominent or more numerous veins in the wrapper leaf?

And you didn't ask about the little white dots.