Greetings,

I was smoking an Onyx Reserve Churchill a couple days ago (I really liked it). Before I finished the cigar the draw got a little sluggish. I re-clipped the end another 16th of an inch and this seemed to do the trick. Is this an acceptable/normal practice?

I'm using a double blade guillotine cutter.

Thanks in advance!

I've done that. Sometimes I poke the cigar through the middle with a pipe tool to loosen up a tight draw.

It is only acceptable in California. Everywhere else it is considered crude.

If it helped your cigar smoking experience, then it sure is. I also try and massage the cigar between my fingers if I get a tight draw.

if the massaging doesn't work, i will use a paper clip to alleviate a plugged cigar. cheaper than a drawpoker

When I first started I attempted the reclip method, made a mess of the ash everywhere but firxed the draw problem. Now I go with the massage therapy and a drawpoker at worst case.

Thanks for the tip(s). I'll give these a try.

quote:

Originally posted by drjens:
When I first started I attempted the reclip method, made a mess of the ash everywhere but firxed the draw problem. Now I go with the massage therapy and a drawpoker at worst case.

What end did you clip?

I find that sometimes when I am smoking a cigar longer than a robusto I sometimes start to get some bitter oil building up on the cut end.

When this happens I just trim off a 1/16 or so and have a fresh face on the cigar with no oil.

I keep a pipe nail and a guillotine cutter in my travel humidor (except on airplanes). Sometimes, I need to clip a bit more off the head of a cigar for a good draw. Other times, I use the pipe nail. Only if both of these fail, do I cut off the foot and try a relight.

Siglo I -- off-point I know, but I can't resist; "Ripple," great song! "Wake of the Flood," still one of my favorite albums.

I have found that constructional draw problems in a tight cigar occur well beyond the head and clipping 1/16th of an inch will not increase the draw.
With such a short clip, what you have probably done is to remove a portion of the cigar that has become saturated with saliva and therefore freeing up the draw somewhat.
I don't know what technique you use to smoke, but I have seen some guys end up with one wretched looking soggy mess by the time the cigar is nubbed.

Re-clipping works for me sometimes when I experience an overly tight draw. It's a 50/50 shot in my opinion. With an inexpensive smoke, if re-clipping doesn't solve the problem, I'll toss the bastard! Obviously, with an expensive stick you want to save it and get any remaining enjoyment out of it! I use cigar scissors or a double bladed guillotine cutter. Party on!!

quote:

With such a short clip, what you have probably done is to remove a portion of the cigar that has become saturated with saliva and therefore freeing up the draw somewhat.

Yes, this is what is happening. It's not really "soggy" but the outside edge seems to be saturated with tar, saliva, oil etc. I really only experience this with 7" or greater cigars.

quote:

Originally posted by csmithnj:

quote:

Originally posted by drjens:
When I first started I attempted the reclip method, made a mess of the ash everywhere but firxed the draw problem. Now I go with the massage therapy and a drawpoker at worst case.

What end did you clip?

It was a 5 Vegas Torp went too short on the original clip. Also wasnt excatly sober at that time so I am sure that had more to do with it then anything else.