I have never used a punch for my cigars. I thought it time to expand,so I have a question for you who use one. I tend to smoke larger ring cigars,would a puch be good for a 60 or 56 ring guage? Does it matter at all about ring size?
[Reply]

I've used a punch on about 5-6 of maybe 5000 cigars. Unless you dont have a cutter handy its pretty much a waste of time. Kind of like lighting with matches, gets the job done but no different than any other method. :-)
[Reply]

I don't have as much experience with punches as Bob, but I do tend to smoke larger ring gauges... From my experience I'd agree with Bob, It doesn't really make a difference in my opinion other then having the cap to lick on instead of the tobacco texture to the tongue, I keep a punch on my key ring only in case I happen to forget or loose a cutter, otherwise I prefer having the tobacco exposed because it adds to the enjoyment for me...
[Reply]

If you are not having any problems with your cutters you may not find any advantage to a punch. I've used both and both work OK -- you can use punches on larger cigars, but the one thing I have noticed with a punch is that I get more tar buildup as I smoke -- because all the smoke is forced through a smaller area (punches remove less cap than the typical cutter).
[Reply]

As Bob said, "(it) gets the job done but no different than any other method". An opening in the head of the cigar is an opening. You can do two offset punches in the head of the cigar so it looks like a figure-8 or you can use a guillotine. Either way, you get a draw and smoke the cigar. You might get a bit fewer tobacco fragments on your tongue with the first draw from a punch but thats about all I can think of for significant differences.
[Reply]

Rare occasion alert - I disagree with bobarian.

A punch can alter the experience of the cigar, some people prefer it because it is often a much cleaner opening, leaving much less stray tobacco than a guillotine. Using a small rg punch on a large rg cigar can however leave a less than desirable effect, look for a large rg punch. Xikar makes one, well worth the money if you end up liking a punch (as I do).

On a seperate note, I've learned to use the edge of my fingernail to remove a portion of the cap, almost the same way a punch does. It's not as neat, but it accomplishes a similar effect and takes up considerably less room in my pocket.
[Reply]

I use a Xikar Magnetic Cigar Double Punch Cutter Wolf

Image

I picked mine up Ebay, but if you look around I'm sure you can find one.
[Reply]

I love punches but I tend to find my cigars get tarry from them as well. I would think its because you're leaving a rounded edge that the smoke and tar can collect at.
[Reply]

I use a Palio cutter 95% of the time or more...when I do prefer a punch is when I have a larger ring gauge cigar that is slightly underfilled....a couple of the recent Ramon Allones EL/REs come to mind. Tend to smoke cooler/slower for me when I punch them rather than cut them.
[Reply]

I like them. I used them all the time when I first got into smoking. I too, have one on my keyring. I still use it, just every time, but I would say 1 in 5. I do notice the build up but nothing crazy.

I have used the punch cutter on the Diesel Shorty, CAO Gol and Ciao(big ring gauge) Normally I use one punch.. If I feel it is to small.. I go ahead and punch another one.. Giving the outline of a 8.
[Reply]

I like using a punch on box pressed, I feel like it's a "cleaner" method.
[Reply]

I've got a Xikar, a Palio, and a Xiker punch in the tray where I smoke. I use the punch ~90% of the time, I find it cleaner. Anejo's and a couple others like to tar up with the punch, which is when I reach for a cutter.

Honestly if used correctly, there isn't much difference, IMHO......
[Reply]

Tar build up keeps me from ever going back to a punch. It only has to get on your lip once to turn you away.
Someday I want to try a v-cut though.
[Reply]

my cheap $5 punch cutter has seen many cigars a good (100 or so) its almost time to replace it. It works great, it is always on my key chain. I have never had tar build up, on larger sticks I overlap the cut 2-4 times depending on the ring size, 2 being a shotgun barrel, 3 overlapping triangle and 4 a square. This method works great! Just not on perfecto's or torpedos
[Reply]

Thanks for all the responses. I got tied up with work. Never considered the tar effect. I can see that being an issue maybe. I notice that some of the larger cigars sometimes have a looser draw. I'm thinking a punch might be good in some of those incidents. I might pick up a cheap one to try I appreciate the feed back.
[Reply]

Now where did you ever get an idea like that? :-)


[Reply]

When I want to use a punch, I use a Xikar 008. It's a larger punch than the 007. I like the larger punch versus doing 2.
[Reply]

Goodluck with the cheap punch, mine never let me down till the chain broke and it disappeared after 6 years. You shouldnt need to spend more than 5 bucks
[Reply]