Ok - the last week has been a serious run of plugged cigars from many different locations. Tonight I tossed a AF Chateau Fuente SG. A jet engine could not have sucked air through that stick. $7 blown in a 1/4"... Is it possible to be doing something that would plug them or just my run of luck. I'm at 65%, maybe even a tad less. This is getting old and $$$ fast.
[Reply]

I am in the same situation. I had a Seijas that was plugged beyond hope. And tonight I ditched a Partagas black that was plugged too. Shame, it had over a year of age on it.
[Reply]

Those Partagas' are a pain but I love 'em, but, they do seem to have a tendency to plug.
[Reply]

I bought 3 SLR Serie G maduros from 3 different B&M's and all 3 were plugged. i feel your pain about bein bitter about losin the $.
[Reply]

I had a run of plugged sticks a couple of weeks ago. That spurred me to order a draw tool from brother groogs. I haven't gotten mine yet as he was making a new batch, but I am excited to get it.
[Reply]

Try this Michael-

-test your hydrometer to make sure it's reading correctly
-straighten out a paper clip and use it like a ram-rod to open up the cigar

That's all I've got man. Hope you get it figured out.
[Reply]

Well, I'm sorry to hear that I am not alone, but also still pissed. If I wanted a shitty cigar I would pay .75 and get a Phillie peach, etc. As with anything handmade, I do not expect perfection, but damn, this is getting unreal. I even hit one with a small shish ka bob skewer yesterday and it still wasn't smokable.

I hope we have better luck this week.
[Reply]

I use a Draw-Poker when I run into these problems. Sometimes it helps, other times not so much.

Try leaving the poker in for an extended period along with dry boxing. Sometimes has a good result.
[Reply]

AF cigars in general are rolled a little on the tight side bro. Never had one plug, but thay are usually tight.

I did ATTEMPT to smoke my first PLUGGED RP Sun Grown on Sat. Had to toss is after 1/8 of an inch.


Oliva cigars are always good for an effortless draw.....:-)
[Reply]

I have hit a number of what I called plugged cigars lately and have been told that there is a difference between plugged and over-tight. One would need a draw tool to fix as there is a physical obstruction that you might be able to poke through, but the other might be fixed through dry boxing. The theory is that they might smoke better if they are allowed to dry up. I just put 5 SC El Principes that have been tight to the point of unsmokeable in a dry box to see what they will be like over the next week or so. Today is the second full day in the dry box and I will smoke one tonight when I get home. They have been kept around 60-63% RH, the dry box is showing around 31%. :-)
[Reply]

I might have to consider the dry boxing, but I have to. If a brand or line in a brand continues to be either over tight or plugged they lose my business. I shouldn't have to work to make what is supposed too be relaxing, be the way it should have been when purchased.
[Reply]

Any problems I've had with cigars from a B&M they have gladly exchanged them. It cannot hurt to try. Local JR pretty much exchanges everything. Some guy bought a 5'er went out to his car and used a pocket knife to slice the pack open. In the process he sliced one of the cigars and they exchanged the whole pack for him.
[Reply]

Try a draw poker. I had to resort to a paper clip the other night and it worked decently.

I prefer to dry box my cigars before I smoke them. I also test the draw before lighting up and if it doesn't draw well, then it gets more dry boxing.
[Reply]

Paper clips work wonders :-)
[Reply]

what causes a plug? I had one a couple weeks ago on a Series 'A'... I was disappointed. It clogged up in the first 1/4" like others have said. I even tried cutting it in half to try to solve it, but couldnt find the "plug" ...
[Reply]

I use a Draw Poker as well and I usually put a couple of "pokes" into the cigar if it is really plugged. Just rotate the cigar a few times and keep putting the rod all the way thru,,,it makes enough of a hole and to test it just purge the cigar before lighting and see how much air you can either blow thru or suck in. Light and enjoy!!
[Reply]