Newbie here, just wanting the pro and cons for punch vs. cutters. I tend to punch cigars that i can, but would love feed back to see if there is anything to learn. Im scared to ask about smokes right now. I will do a little recon on my own before i ask the harder qstions.Ill go have this bad frog and wait for a response (hehe).

I like a cutter. Punch creates too small a hole. All the tar builds up in that area instead of being filtered more evenly. Cut most of the cap but not all as to leave a little to hold the wrapper together.

P.S. Welcome. I'm pretty new here too.

Tapeworm?

Had one once, killed it with a bad frog.

I cut the majority of my cigars. But, have recently decided to start using a punch on the larger ring sizes (over 55)at the head. Not that I mess up with my cutters (got some bad a$$ scisors for big boys), just trying to minimize the posibility.

But hey in a pinch I might still be seen nibbling the cap.

BUD

jking about that bad frog hehe. but like the info thx. ill try cutter and punch on same brand of cigar and see if i can taste a diff. In the name of science i will do this study, over and over if thats what it take.

I also cut, more smoke, bwtter draw I think.

Also would like to see what the preference is out there

For torpedos, definately cut. For others, it depends for me. I have always cut, but recently picked up a punch to try it out after a friend introduced it to me. I've been using the punch on my 50+ guage sticks and it's been working pretty well - helps to keep the cigar all nice and neat, though it does cut down on the draw a bit.

Take it easy and welcome to the crew.

Nothing interrupts a evening's smoking experience better than a nice, thick coating of yummy, gummy tar on your tongue. I always cut.

Cutting is an art and a fun one at that. I use the Stackhouse stainless double guillotine I picked up here for $5. It cuts up to 60s. I'm about 30/30 perfect cuts with that rig so far cutting up to 54.

sketcha

i'll be happy to send you one of my punches to see how it works. it makes a decent size hole. email me your snailer

rickamaven

hotmail

com

As a former collector for loan sharks I prefer the cutter over the punch for cigars or fingers. JonR

I've been using a double guil. cutter since I started smoking cigars, so I can't really make a comparison. I will say, however, that there must be an art to the cut, since some cigars I get flawless cuts out of, and others end up a little ragged on the end. /:

Anyone got any cutting tips (aside from a sharp cutter)?

Practice. No substitute. I give mine a little spit polish to wet the cap first. No comments please Robby.

Great Rick! email sent.

I prefer the to use the scissors, they usualy give the best cut. I have a set of Xikar that work very vell. My Colibri has a punch in the bottom and it was a favorite for a long time until I started to smoke more of the full cuts.

I think that as with it all it's a matter of personal preference. If experimenting means you can smoke that many more... Lets see there's a punch, single blade guilletine, double blade, scissors, v-cut... I gotta go smoke now, thanks for the time.

I've got 2 Xikars, a punch, a V-cutter, and TONS of guil cutters that I got from various places. My preference is with the Xikar. Never tried scissors though. I'd be curious to see how well they cut.

IMO, the best thing about cigars is the experimentation. Try different gars, cutters, humidors, etc. I've only been smoking for about 1-1/2 years and I'm always learning something new.

Here's an email I sent to RICKAMAVEN after trying out his patented punch...

Well Rick, I got your punch a few days ago, thanks. I had a few torps to try including the Buc Clasico Mad. so I didn't get to try it until last night. I punched a Padron 3000 Nat. It worked perfectly. It made a much larger hole than the average punch. I didn't notice any difference in the cigar and I smoked it to the nub.

I have to say that I still enjoy cutting but I will use your rig from time to time in celebration of it being the first gift I received from the cbid gang.

Thanks again Rick,

Kendall (AKA sketcha)

I use the punch on some and definately cut on others. Once that drop of tar hits your mouth, you'll be watching for it from then on. I punch first and wait until I see the tar forming, then cut it. In this way, I know which ones can be punched. My wife prefers punch so she doesn't get bits of leaf in her mouth or the cap unwrapping. Padrons can definately be punched. La Glorias are a definate cut. IMHO

Dan

Most of the time I punch except for the torps. The punch that I like the best I bought here at CBID cheap.

http://www.cigarbid.com/auction/lot.cfm?lotID=114802 

You can also make a pretty good one yourself with a cartridge casing and a Dremel tool with a conical stone bit. 30.06 is good size. The only problem is that since it's brass it dulls quickly. The CBID ones are stainless steel and keep their edge better.

Depends on the smoke with me!

If it's boxed, I like to use a V-Cutter.

If it's short, I like to use a punch.

If it's Churchill(or longer), I use my Xi2 cutter.

Many ways to get downtown - Charlie Chan

I prefer a cut but sometimes portability dictates what I use. I don't like carrying a separate cutter and most of the combo lighters have a punch cut. Can't think of the name of it right now, but my favorite combo cutter-lighter is a Colibri with the little scissors that slide out at the end. This gives me a good cutting tool integrated into the lighter. One drawback is I don't have any idea how the scissors blades can be sharpened and they are bound to eventually get dull since I use it so much.

P.S. As I indicated in another post I used to carry a separate X1tar cutter but it sprang open in my pocket and when I reached for my truck keys I got a nasty cut that required wearing a bandaid for about 2 1/2 weeks.(coerat