So I have a grand master plan to save all of the bands from cigars I've smoked and make some sort of fancy table/bar with the bands lacquered in. I usually just wait until the burn gets almost to the band so it heats up the glue and it easily separates, but I've been having issues where even though it will separate, it'll take some of the printing off of the bottom side of the band.

Anyone have a better way to do this?
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Smoke more, gives you better odds of getting a band that isn't slightly damaged. :-)

What's wrong with a little tear, tobacco or ink transfer, it just makes things all the more real.
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The best way to separate bands?

Yoko Ono.
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I usually smoke 'em down til it heats up the glue or if I get anxious, I always carry a small pocket knife and use that to get at 'em.
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:-)
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I don't find them difficult to peel off so I usually peel them before I start smoking and throw them in the collection jar...
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heating the glue up is the only thing i have ever heard of that makes it easier, but my girlfriend has made me something similar to what you are doing, she just overlapped the ones with the rough edges so you cant see the damage.
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use a hair dryer on the band. It will heat up the glue and you pull apart very carefully
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Give thought to Bighairlogo's comment... I have seen his girlfriends work and with the overlay you cant even seen any damage on the bands...
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That was my thought as well - was just seeing if anyone had a trick.

Got any pics of the GF's work?
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OMG!! Just spit my Mt. Dew all over my screen!!!
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This is a pic of boredom at work... I took the duplicate bands I had and pasted them into the covers of my cigar journal... a few layers of modge podge give it the shiny look...

[IMG]Image Cigar Journal by Robulous78, on Flickr[/IMG]

Hope that helps give you some ideas...
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funniest thing I've read in a long time
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:-)

You do this while band is on cigar?
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I think he meant after you remove it from the cigar :-)
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after you remove it lol. You guys would throw me in the basement boiler room and throw away the key if i did or suggested that
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Now that's what I'm talkin' about. :-)
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Soak them in a bowl of water. Works almost every time. Dry them afterwards.
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FTW!!!
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