Torp Trouble

acewoodson

I usually smoke parejos but in some of the recent samplers I've purchased there have been several torpedoes. Out of about half of the sticks I have had draw problems. My humidity stays steady at 70. Is this a pretty standard issue with torps? I wind up cutting them as far as I can with out trashing the cigar. I even cut my cigar and then tried to use the punch. Any advice would be much appreciated

bigharpoon

Torpedos are my least favorite vitola (well, besides nubs and gordos) specifically because of this. I've had far more draw issuse with torps than all others combined. I'm not sure you can do anything if it's packed, pinched or rolled too tight. You can roll it in your fingers, stab down the cut with a long, skinny poker or try a V-cut, which I've had some success with.

jlmarta

bigharpoon:

Torpedos are my least favorite vitola (well, besides nubs and gordos) specifically because of this. I've had far more draw issuse with torps than all others combined. I'm not sure you can do anything if it's packed, pinched or rolled too tight. You can roll it in your fingers, stab down the cut with a long, skinny poker or try a V-cut, which I've had some success with.

What he said.... I almost always have a problem with torps so I use my poker on 'em. I think the problem comes because the torcedores sorta roll & twist that end of the stick in order to get it to taper down into a point. That's my guess, anyway. But the poker is my answer.

scarlin

You could always light the tapered end and smoke out of the foot. Just sayin'

Krieger

I dont think ive had many draw issues out of torps at all. Just cut a quarter inch off, draw through, if it needs more, wet the wrapper with your tongue or something and cut a tiny sliver more off... I love me some torps. Wonder if its because I tend to smoke my stogie at 67-68% humidity?

gmill880

I have not really experienced any more trouble out of torps than anything else . Just make sure you have a proper cut .

Toombes

Never really had any trouble with torps, either. I just make a cut, try the draw and proceed from there. If it continues to be tight, then I whip out my trusty poker. Problem solved. Any torps you don't want, Ace, I'll gladly take them off your hands. Heck, I'll even come get them. We can hang out, have a smoke and catch up. Ain't that far for me...

The Sniper

Probably not the answer you want and some people are gonna howl that Im wrong, but here's my answer...

Aging, aging, aging.

I used to have a lot of trouble with draw on torpedos as well, to the point I stopped buying them. Of course, that didnt keep people around here from bombing me with them occasionally. I put the date on every stick I get... one day I was rummaging around the humi for something to spark up and found a torpedo. Figured eh, what the he11 - its got nearly a year on it and I like the brand, lets see what difference some time makes.

The difference was night and day. Which of course started The Great Sniper Torpedo Aging Experiment. Seems like six months or more, the draw is usually fine. Much less than that, the draw frustrates the sh!t outta me like they used to.

My .02, Chive On!!! :-)

415

just out of curiosity, what brand is it that you are having trouble with? i only ask becaues ive only had one torpedo with draw problems

stephen_hannibal

bigharpoon:

Torpedos are my least favorite vitola (well, besides nubs and gordos) specifically because of this. I've had far more draw issuse with torps than all others combined. I'm not sure you can do anything if it's packed, pinched or rolled too tight. You can roll it in your fingers, stab down the cut with a long, skinny poker or try a V-cut, which I've had some success with.

Agreed... I try to never buy torps.

kuzi16

interesting... i have not had issues with them. maybe next time i have one ill show a close-up pic of where i cut and how much i take off. that may or may not solve any issues you all may be having, but at least that info will be out there.

acewoodson

Thanks for the feedback guys. Dave, please give me your addy as I'd like to send a few your way not to give you stuff I don't want but to bless you back for the good smokes you've passed my way. We need to get together again. I had a blast with you and Daniel in Lexington.

OchoZacho

I'm with Kuzi on this one, although they are not my favorite vitola, mostly because they lend to larger ring gauges, I haven't had much trouble with them at all. I have had only one that I can remember give me the ever dreaded "tar-ball" but I believe that to be my fault, not the cigar's as, I stored it at too high of a humidity. The caps on most torps require a bit of a deeper cut than normal, just to get a good draw though. I have tried the V on a torp, and while it was a weird fish-lip looking experience, it worked great.

acewoodson

The issue has been pretty random and may have been due to keeping them at 72% I have come down to keeping them between 68-70 so I will see if this works.

kuzi16

bringing down your RH will also lower your risk of mold.


bonus.

taythegibs

I will have to try aging the torps i have to see if it will help them. Also, on the lower Rh, i think it makes for a much better smoke... then again it could just be the placebo effect of thinking its better.

Rhamlin

I like to cut torps with a slight angle to it. That seems to open it up a little.