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Trim Your Ash?

JonathanEJonathanE Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 401
Hey, ya'll, I'd be curious to get some feedback on what your experience has been on something. I've found that when the ash falls off my cigar that I'm looing at a degree of harshness and often times a relight. Has this been your experience?

Last night I tried something new and was very pleased with the result. I used my cutter to trim the ash on my cigar, keeping it around 1 to 1.5 inches long.

Well, it worked! I needed a touchup light once but I never had any harshness and things were just lower maintenance in general I think. Has anyone else tried this?

JDE

Comments

  • lilwing88lilwing88 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 2,787
    I'm constantly retouching my cigar. I'm kind of a freak about an even burn..... I never really notice harshness unless the cigar goes out on me.
  • DiamondogDiamondog Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 4,169
    lilwing88:
    I'm constantly retouching my cigar. I'm kind of a freak about an even burn..... I never really notice harshness unless the cigar goes out on me.
    Me too, its a god@m addiction in itself...
  • djbeeniedjbeenie Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 469
    lilwing88:
    I'm constantly retouching my cigar. I'm kind of a freak about an even burn..... I never really notice harshness unless the cigar goes out on me.
    Ditto
  • JonathanEJonathanE Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 401
    lilwing88:
    I'm constantly retouching my cigar. I'm kind of a freak about an even burn..... I never really notice harshness unless the cigar goes out on me.
    Haha, I like to keep the burn even by artificial means myself!

    BUT, my question is about trimming ashes. Am I the only one??

    JDE
  • djbeeniedjbeenie Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 469
    JonathanE:
    lilwing88:
    I'm constantly retouching my cigar. I'm kind of a freak about an even burn..... I never really notice harshness unless the cigar goes out on me.
    Haha, I like to keep the burn even by artificial means myself!

    BUT, my question is about trimming ashes. Am I the only one??

    JDE
    I don't trim my ash, I just let it fall off. I never have any issues with it personally other than sometimes the ash falls in my lap.
  • lilwing88lilwing88 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 2,787
    JonathanE:
    lilwing88:
    I'm constantly retouching my cigar. I'm kind of a freak about an even burn..... I never really notice harshness unless the cigar goes out on me.
    Haha, I like to keep the burn even by artificial means myself!

    BUT, my question is about trimming ashes. Am I the only one??

    JDE
    Yea. I never trimmed my ash with a cutter. I'll have to try it next time.
  • kuzi16kuzi16 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 14,471
    never did that either. i smoke very slowly and i usually end up with an ash that, when it falls, leaves a bit of ash left on the end. all of it doesnt fall so i dont tend to have this problem
  • kaspera79kaspera79 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 7,144
    I like to let the ash grow as long as possible, then tap or roll it into the ashtray. I only touch up a burn that gets waaaay off.
  • danielruasdanielruas Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 778
    kaspera79:
    I like to let the ash grow as long as possible, then tap or roll it into the ashtray. I only touch up a burn that gets waaaay off.
    +1
  • t_evan50t_evan50 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 1,725
    Never cut the ash but do tend to keep it an inch or less. Seems to me a well made cigar will burn well no matter how I treat the ash.
  • docbp87docbp87 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 3,521
    kuzi16:
    never did that either. i smoke very slowly and i usually end up with an ash that, when it falls, leaves a bit of ash left on the end. all of it doesnt fall so i dont tend to have this problem
    This. Also, leaving the ash on acts to cool the air drawn into the cigar as you are smoking it.
  • JonathanEJonathanE Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 401
    docbp87:
    This. Also, leaving the ash on acts to cool the air drawn into the cigar as you are smoking it.
    Bingo! That's why I've been trying to figure out a way to keep no less than an inch of ash on the cigar at all times. I can really detect a change in flavor when it falls off and I think it's because the smoke temp goes up a lot.

    JDE
  • GoldyGoldy Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 1,636
    JonathanE:
    docbp87:
    This. Also, leaving the ash on acts to cool the air drawn into the cigar as you are smoking it.
    Bingo! That's why I've been trying to figure out a way to keep no less than an inch of ash on the cigar at all times. I can really detect a change in flavor when it falls off and I think it's because the smoke temp goes up a lot.

    JDE
    I doubt the air is actually cooled by the ash but what is probably going on is that the ash is restricting oxygen which in turn reduces the temperature of the burn. Next time you knock the ash off see if the cherry changes color, if it gets brighter then its getting more oxygen and burning hotter.
  • JonathanEJonathanE Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 401
    Goldy:
    JonathanE:
    docbp87:
    This. Also, leaving the ash on acts to cool the air drawn into the cigar as you are smoking it.
    Bingo! That's why I've been trying to figure out a way to keep no less than an inch of ash on the cigar at all times. I can really detect a change in flavor when it falls off and I think it's because the smoke temp goes up a lot.

    JDE
    I doubt the air is actually cooled by the ash but what is probably going on is that the ash is restricting oxygen which in turn reduces the temperature of the burn. Next time you knock the ash off see if the cherry changes color, if it gets brighter then its getting more oxygen and burning hotter.
    Right on. I have already observed that the cherry is MUCH brighter when the ash falls off and that's kind of where I was coming from on this thread in the first place, my hypothesis being that the increased heat tends to make the flavor turn a little harsh.

    JDE
  • GoldyGoldy Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 1,636
    JonathanE:
    Goldy:
    JonathanE:
    docbp87:
    This. Also, leaving the ash on acts to cool the air drawn into the cigar as you are smoking it.
    Bingo! That's why I've been trying to figure out a way to keep no less than an inch of ash on the cigar at all times. I can really detect a change in flavor when it falls off and I think it's because the smoke temp goes up a lot.

    JDE
    I doubt the air is actually cooled by the ash but what is probably going on is that the ash is restricting oxygen which in turn reduces the temperature of the burn. Next time you knock the ash off see if the cherry changes color, if it gets brighter then its getting more oxygen and burning hotter.
    Right on. I have already observed that the cherry is MUCH brighter when the ash falls off and that's kind of where I was coming from on this thread in the first place, my hypothesis being that the increased heat tends to make the flavor turn a little harsh.

    JDE
    I agree with you and I have noticed the same harshness right after knocking off the ash so I might need to try your ash trimming method.
  • JonathanEJonathanE Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 401
    Goldy:
    I agree with you and I have noticed the same harshness right after knocking off the ash so I might need to try your ash trimming method.
    Yeah, the trouble is that, when the ash falls off, if you give the cigar some time to cool before you start puffing again so that you get the right taste, it goes out! It seems like its trim the ash or just deal with the bad flavor for a few minutes. ...a terrible thing to do half way through a great cigar.

    I have done some additional experimenting in the last few days and have found that it takes very little remaining ash to avoid the problem. Trimming an ash is not classy but it works and I don't have to deal with the harshness as often anymore so it's worth it to me.

    JDE

  • kuzi16kuzi16 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 14,471
    JonathanE:

    how long does it take you to smoke a toro?

    how hard do you pull on a cigar when you puff?


    have you ever heard of purging?


  • JonathanEJonathanE Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 401
    Hi Kuzi! I looked in my records and the last two Toros I smoked were 85 and 90 minutes. I think I tend to be on the slow side so these times should be a little longer if not for the blasted wind!

    I puff several different ways but I don't think I ever pull hard when I'm taking the smoke in. ...unless the cigar is trying to go out on me that is!

    Is purging where you blow smoke back through the cigar? I do that all the time! I can't get butane gas out here so I'm stuck with using a zippo so I purge every time I use it.

    Does some of this stuff have an effect on the cigar when it drops the ash?

    JDE

  • kuzi16kuzi16 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 14,471
    JonathanE:
    Hi Kuzi! I looked in my records and the last two Toros I smoked were 85 and 90 minutes. I think I tend to be on the slow side so these times should be a little longer if not for the blasted wind!
    thats about right. i take about 100-110 min for a toro but i smoke WAY slower than most.
    JonathanE:

    I puff several different ways but I don't think I ever pull hard when I'm taking the smoke in. ...unless the cigar is trying to go out on me that is!
    an easy pull is good. this is not part of the problem.
    JonathanE:

    Is purging where you blow smoke back through the cigar? I do that all the time! I can't get butane gas out here so I'm stuck with using a zippo so I purge every time I use it.
    id just go with a bic at that point....
    not blowing smoke back through, just air to get the stagnate smoke out of the cigar. if you do this just after you ash and after you touch up it could help.
    also using the -1,2,3 smoking method works well. this may eliminate some of the harsh after the ash falls.
    JonathanE:

    Does some of this stuff have an effect on the cigar when it drops the ash?

    JDE

    yes... and no. some of them combined may.
  • dbeckomdbeckom Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 1,807
    Early on I noticed a change in flavor after ashing my cigar so I almost always roll my ash on the ashtray before it gets too long and falls off. This allows me to keep a 1/4" or so of ash over the cone.
  • kevin1323kevin1323 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 294
    kuzi16:
    also using the -1,2,3 smoking method works well.


    what is this?
  • kuzi16kuzi16 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 14,471
    kevin1323:
    kuzi16:
    also using the -1,2,3 smoking method works well.
    what is this?
    it is a variation of a classic smoking method... 1,2,3 method.
    1,2,3 is one soft puff, then a second puff that is also very small then a third pull that is the actual puff. the theory is that it will keep the correct temp of smoke.

    i use the -1,2,3 method.
    this is one very light purge, one light puff, and one big slow puff. it clears the cigar of style smoke first, then it gets the smoke to temp, then the puff.
  • JCizzleJCizzle Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 1,910
    JonathanE:
    I can't get butane gas out here so I'm stuck with using a zippo so I purge every time I use it.

    This will be fixed soon.
  • kevin1323kevin1323 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 294
    kuzi16:
    kevin1323:
    kuzi16:
    also using the -1,2,3 smoking method works well.


    what is this?
    it is a variation of a classic smoking method... 1,2,3 method.
    1,2,3 is one soft puff, then a second puff that is also very small then a third pull that is the actual puff. the theory is that it will keep the correct temp of smoke.

    i use the -1,2,3 method.
    this is one very light purge, one light puff, and one big slow puff. it clears the cigar of style smoke first, then it gets the smoke to temp, then the puff.


    Thanks for the clarificaiton! Funny thing is that I often use the 1,2,3 method without knowing that it was a "method" at all. The more you know.
  • JonathanEJonathanE Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 401
    Thanks for the good info, Kuzi. ...and thanks for the butane, JC! I won't miss using that Zippo at all!

    JDE

  • JonathanEJonathanE Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 401
    kuzi16:
    ...not blowing smoke back through, just air to get the stagnate smoke out of the cigar.
    For the record, I do NOT blow smoke back through my cigars! Thats like mouth to mouth resuscitation; nasty!
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