silksow
Active Member
...is the correct gauge guitar string to use like a .10 or is it more like a .38 or .48? If the latter, flat wound or no?
When the draw is too tight, but it's too good to put out...
- Thread starter silksow
- Start date
ChinaVoodoo
Moderator
I use a drill.
Boogeyman81
Member
Draw tools are available, but I know a clean drill bit works as well. If you're using a guitar string, star with the D string and go up in guage from there, just be very careful it doesn't bend and poke through the wrapper
Sharpen the point of a steel rod (from steel fence wire) of about 17 ga.
Bob
Bob
I’ve used a metal coat hanger. It worked well. I’ve previously had to pierce a commercial cigar all the way through to get it to draw, I don‘t think a guitar string would be nearly stiff enough.
Snowblithe
Moderator
I've used a piece of acoustic B-string bent into a tiny hook in the past. No idea the gauge. It's risky, but if the stick is unsmokable anyway... Drills are easier but they leave little bits of tobacco in the teeth, whereas a little hook tears bigger chunks out, if it doesn't yank out half the filler...
A stiff, long, sharp needle leaves no bits or tears (if you aim straight), but if the underlying cause of a difficult draw is not a knot or two, the needle seldom solves the draw on an over-packed cigar.
Bob
Bob
GreenDragon
Well-Known Member
I always test the draw before lighting. If it's too tight, I'll set it aside to disassemble and blend into my next batch of home rolls. Not worth fighting a bad draw IMHO.
There have been occasions when a particular batch of commercial cigars was consistently too tight. Then I would cut one cigar in half, creating two cigars of ½ the length. I smoke the lower (foot) half first, to keep it from unwrapping. I have never had to do this with a home-rolled cigar. (I'll bet that torcedores working in factories that allow them to take home some smokes at the end of each day never roll cigars for themselves that are too tight.)
Bob
Bob
MarcL
Well-Known Member
You could keep poking a hole through it. String bad. (I'm almost waiting for the major 9 cord or the punch line.) Best if you can remove material. If you can't fix it by massaging it out, it might be in the head. Did you buy said stick? if so, you might pull the wrapper and relax it to higher ring gauge. Higher customer service providers will replace it for a valued customer. If not, do not do that. What ever burn and draw rate you prefer, it is achievable. Are you still in roll one smoke one?
silksow
Active Member
I was actually kidding, but in return I get an embarrassment of riches! Thanks for all the great tips.
I wanted to try 2 different wrappers on a blend painstakingly arrived at, so I jumped to roll 2, smoke 2 - and of course bound them both too tight lol, lesson learned.
Snowblithe
Moderator
Haha, I was just pleased I wasn't the only one to have used guitar strings... Can't say I've continued the practice, it just worked for me a couple time ten years ago, and only because the plug was right near the head.
MarcL
Well-Known Member
ha. did you know Lennon tuned his D string flat to keep it recognizable? In addition, his L6-S was tuned a half step down.
I like to set the burn in the body and leave my draw tuning in the head and shoulder. If I want a real smoker, I open up the body.
I like to set the burn in the body and leave my draw tuning in the head and shoulder. If I want a real smoker, I open up the body.
silksow
Active Member
Guitar paraphernalia for rolling update:
Slide casquillo. Perfect. Mine's brass, belonged to blues/folk legend Stefan George. I must have looked right at it a dozen times before making the connection.
Slide casquillo. Perfect. Mine's brass, belonged to blues/folk legend Stefan George. I must have looked right at it a dozen times before making the connection.
Snowblithe
Moderator
Ooh, for a cap cutter? You've got me thinking, maybe my chaveta would make a good guitar pick... Nah, but I'll be damned if a capo isn't somehow useful for cigar making... like how a clothes pin is...
GusAvocado
Well-Known Member
I use the thinnest brass screw I could find. Thread it in gently by hand and pull it out more gently. It brings a little tobacco with it. My punch is a rifle case with the mouth sharpened and the primer drilled out just big enough to thread the screw in.