Flaking outer wrapper

60% isnt dangerously low. maybe you just got a bad cigar.

Sounds to me like a humidity problem. These guys are right 60% is not horrible, but I prefer at least 65 myslef. What you are discribing is typically a byproduct of not the humidity level but rather a rapid change in the humidity. For example, if you recently turned on your heat in your house or if some outside factor caused a 10% jump in RH. What occurs is the humidity either leaves or enters the cigar too quickly and tobacco requires time to catch up and sort of equalize and balance witht this change. If the cigar does not have the time to settle and you light it up which really can agrivate the cigar, it will peel, flake, shed, you name it.

Most smokers observe this phenomenon when a cigar obsorbs humidity too quickly. They pull it out without letting it eaqualize and when the light the foot you can almost watch the filler expand shattering the binder and putting big crack in the wrapper. It can almost look like an eruption. (FYI, if this happens, remove the cigar band immediately)

My advice, let the rest of your stash rest. If you dont have a digital hygrometer, invest in one. Analogs with or without the salt test are just not very good. Also, use extra pillows, a sponge, etc to suppliment for lost humidity due to environmental changes outside or in the house. You might want to try to bring up the humidor about 5 - 7% and let it sit at that level for a few weeks time.

Not sure but were you outside?

The tempature change and the heat from lighting your cigar could have a lot to do with it?

Also do you use a digital hygrometor & has it been salt tested?


Personally I have dropped the RH in my humidor to 60% for the winter.
I find less problems with the tempature & cigars cracking.


Macallan's post seems right on!

My humidor I find was sitting in direct sunlight on the dresser.

Click to expand...

Not good!

When the heat comes on it is like a moisture vacum. It sucks the water right out of the air. As for putting them in a case. You will find different cigars behave differently. For example, my diplomas must be smoked with 20 mins of leaving the humidor. Otherwise they get all fussy. However, I can take some of my cusanos out and smoke them the next day without repercution.

Temperature has a lot to do with it as was said. I smoked a Flor de Oliva last night that had belled from being in my car. I even had a boveda pack in the freezer bag with it. Just like yours about halfway in it just started falling apart.

i smoked a punch yesterday right from the local shop, and it flaked on me too. :?

when i was inspecting my cigars i found i have 8 diplomas with bad cracks in them. what the hell is that about? ive never had a cigar crack on me just sitting in a humidor.

Send 'em to me, I'll figure it out for you.