I've had it with throwing away cigars after a few puffs because the tight draw ruins it. I have a Draw Poker, and while the idea is good, it doesn't go far enough; the pointed needle basically pushes tobacco out of the way - temporarily. I knew the answer was more like a 'coring' device that actually removed tobacco so it couldn't close back up. I have started testing cigars before lighting them. Tight draws do not get lit - I put them aside; or i did until recently. One day I cut a cigar for smoking and it was tight. As I stood there thinking about what to do with it, a thought crossed my mind. I went out to the garage and got out a small case of special drill bits for use in an electric screwdriver - they each have a 1" long hex adapter that fits right in the driver for quick changes. This part also makes handling the drill bit handy with the bare hand. I took a 1/8" one and eased it into the center of the cigar, keeping it as straight as possible, then I turned it to cut out the tobacco. This worked so well that I pushed it all the way in and cleared out a smoke hole about 3" in. I knocked out some loose dust and blew some more out from the big end. The draw now tested great. Lighting and smoking the cigar turned out to be exactly the same as one with a naturally easy draw. On large-ring smokes you can do two or more holes. I now keep the drill bit in my accessories desk (an old 'secretary' with fold-out writing board) along with all my cutters, punches, carrying pouches/cases, etc. I do not expect to ever use the 'Draw Poker' again. I suppose someone will take this idea and come up with a modified Draw Poker that uses a cutter instead of a needle. Whatever, you don't need it. 9 times out of 10 a short vent cut into the center from the head end will usually open up a cigar for you, and most everybody has a 1/8" drill bit.
I lost most of my interest in cigars after spending a lot of money on unsmokable stogies. When I pay ten to twenty bucks for a cigar I shouldn't need a rotorooter to make it draw properly. At one point in the late nineties a cigar that drew nicely was the exception to the rule. That being said I have just the tool. An M14 gas piston cleaning drill bit.
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download/file.php?id=5358
That'll do the trick for sure. What's the approx. dia. on that bit? I found that 1/8" is about right - anything bigger makes too large a cavity. I had to do it again today, and its definitely worth the 30 seconds it takes. I would have thrown that one away after five minutes, but after coring it nearly burned my fingers. Since this problem is the primary disadvantage in buying lower-priced cigars, it really makes a difference. Today's smoke was the Cu-Avano 'Intenso' torpedo. I get these for about $3 by the box when I can find a special. The great majority of them are excellent with a light draw, but a few will be tight. NOT ANY MORE! Even at about 5" after snipping, this very full-flavored Maduro lasts through every word and crossword puzzle in the paper, about an hour. I'm going to be up the creek this winter if it turns out to be as cold and wet as its forecast, because I never smoke in the house. Also, as of 12/1, there will be no smoking in any public restaurant/club/bar in VA except for those with special dedicated HVAC in the fully isolated smoking area. At least I have a covered front porch. What I'd really like is a 'Florida' room off the back of the house.
I used a long and thick syringe needle (about 5" long), but eventually bought a drawpoker, The drawpoker works about 90% of the time, but the real tight ones might be better served by the drill method. I've had a couple of really tight cigars split in the drawpoker.
Joined Oct 2005
3K Posts | 14+
Central Canada, eh?
You have to be careful putting any type of solid wire up the center of a cigar, because if the whole cigar is tight from wrapper shrinkage, you can very well split the wrapper quite easily. I have experimented using tooth picks, paper clips, etc, but find that the small drill bit works the best.
