Help, Under Crown cracking !

MoleRat

I bought a box of under crown  and last three that I smoked  have cracked from the cutting end to the label. My humidifier reads 69 and I keep a constant humidity of  69 to 70.  I have had no problems with other brand of cigars in the same  humidor. Is it me?  

90+_Irishman

How do you measure your rH (humidity level) and what do you use as a humidification device? What are you using to cut the cigar and as detailed as you can, are you able to walk me through step by step how you do so? The more information you can provide with detail the better answer I, and others, can provide

Brett

MoleRat

I use Boveda 72%. I  recently use that product two receipts in my humidor. 
 When I cut a cigar or use the guillotine cutter and try to take it at the Or even a little less.   I moisten the cigar with my lips prior to cutting. This process seems to help a little.   I have added a picture of the inside of my humidor, I hope this helps.  

MoleRat

Oops I meant reseason!

MoleRat

 OK, let me start again. I cut it as close to the Or less then If can .   Darn I made a mess of the first one , 

silvermouse

try a v-cut with a razor or very sharp pen-knife. It could be your cutter is dull

MoleRat

Thank you, I just tried another cigar with a new cutter and had the same result.  I think I'll try a punch next time. 

miller65rod

Try dry boxing for 24 hours or so. Also for me 72 is way too high. I am a 65 and below smoker and I rarely have burn issues unless it is really windy and that still does not always cause an issue. 

MoleRat

Thank you miller!

Patrickbrick

Your cutter might need to be cleaned/sharpened, there are a tone of factors here that could cause that to happen.  Are they the cheep "free" cutters, or something like a xikar?

MoleRat

Patrickbrick, I agree! I have had them in my box for over a week. Maybe it is the 69 to 70%.  But it's pretty dry out here?  

CharlieHeis

I had this problem a couple years ago. I was using an older cutter. Not a lot of mileage on it but it was a cheapo. I bought a quality Xikar and have never looked back. Yes, they are expensive, but they have a lifetime warranty.

avengethis

Check out the Colibri V-cutter.  It works on every cigar I have had because you can control how deep the v cut is.  I also have a couple Xikar guillotines that work very well but have been very partial the the V as of late.

90+_Irishman

If you look very closely at a quality hand made cigar there are typically 3 lines that are seen and that is the cap. This is what holds the cigar wrapper together from being unravelled, make sure you are not cutting at or below this. 

Moistening with the lips helps a lot as well, I had a similar problem until I started doing that years ago. Make sure if you are using a Xikar guillotine cutter that you are using steady and even pressure from both sides, and that it is not so much a "pinch and snap" but a smooth constant pressure to close the sides together (thats what she said hehehe )

Hope this helps, here is a pic of that triple cap for reference: 

Brett

Patrickbrick

To add to Brett's post, remember to go fast.

avengethis

Patrickbrick said:

To add to Brett's post, remember to go fast.

Yeah you hear that all the time dont you

90+_Irishman

Im just gonna leave that were the good lord flung it.....

Brett

Patrickbrick

I know what I said.

MoleRat

Thank you all very much! I have an Xikar cutter but I haven't Been using it.  I'll try that and go fast

avengethis

Yeah if you have issues with the Xikar they do have a lifetime warranty so you can send it in and they will sharpen and send back to you at no cost.

onestrangeone

It's always best to look at the obvious first, but there ls also a chance that you got some damaged sticks. I got a box of Herrera  Esteli that I KNOW the cap is going to come off when I cut it no mater how I cut it, I'm guessing that the box probably got dropped during shipping.  

Guitarded

You might be pushing or pulling when you are cutting, and not realize it. Set the open cutter on a hard surface, put the cigar in, then try to cut in a steady motion. Just an option.
Dull cutter or a dropped box are possible issues also. Good luck!

MoleRat

Thanks again everyone.  I think that I may not be cutting it fast enough.  By what I have picked up here at least.  Well, I'll give it another try later this evening, I hope.  If not,tomorrow for sure.

MoleRat

Success!  The different cutter and faster motion worked!  I have been a cigar smoker for many years and I guess I fell into some bad habits. You can teach an old dog new tricks!

Lee.mcglynn

Well I don't smoke anything de but if you have a xikar cutter and your not using it well wtf! That being said worst case is just peel the cap off with your fingernail 

MoleRat

Lee, you're right, I don't know what I was thinking!

90+_Irishman

Glad it worked out MR, been a while since I had some DE stuff but that Undercrown is a very solid smoke and I don't have anything bad at all to say about them. Welcome again and enjoy, you're among friends here

Brett

MoleRat

Irishman, thank you!  Is that a Road Glide you're riding?  I can't be sure from the picture. 

Lee.mcglynn

MoleRat said:

Lee, you're right, I don't know what I was thinking!

I forgot to welcome you! So welcome naked mole rat 

90+_Irishman

MoleRat said:

Irishman, thank you!  Is that a Road Glide you're riding?  I can't be sure from the picture. 

Thanks and always happy to help, I love to talk and live in front of a computer so am always posting and annoying people with how much I talk

As for the bike, agree hard to see in the pics but that is a 1985 Kawasaki GPz750, the original Ninja as in 1986 they slapped that name on it and changed to liquid cooled instead of air cooled.

Brett

Dark_Roast

MoleRat said:

Lee, you're right, I don't know what I was thinking!

A box of Under Crown saved by the CCOM BOTL! Thank You Lee!