I'm sure that I'm not the first to do this, but earlier today I cut a torpedo, leaving ~5/8" of exposed cigar. The draw was too stiff for my liking, but I was too close to the end of the cap to cut again; so I punched it.

As you can imagine, when I retracted the punch, all I had done was to outline a circular hole in the head, whereupon I used the rod in my pipe tool to dig the tobacco out.

The results weren't magic, and they were a bit messy, but I did get a better draw such that I had no complaints smoking that cigar.
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I have never tried this but it sounds like a solid idea.
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Did you get bits and pieces of leaf in your mouth?
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Would this work with a V cutter?
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No bits and pieces. Remember that the punch only outlined a hole; I was digging out the tobacco that was attached to the binding long-leaf below. Whatever I didn't dig out was bound.

I don't possess a V-cutter and only from pictures taken at the side-not the top after the cutter has done its work-do I have some idea of what it does; thus I am unable to even hazard a guess.

From what I can tell the V-cutter scores a shallow v-shaped cut across the top of the cigar. The smoker then makes another cut at a 90º angle to the first cut. True?
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There are a couple of figurado's that I punch -- I learned this from a rep at an LFDC event. He punched a Chisel for me instead of letting me cut it -- it's much better to punch this particular stick (and those shaped like it) than to cut it.

Just goes to show that there is a place for everything...
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I've never used a handheld V cutter, just the table top and I was very impressed with it. Would eventually like to get one for my bar, I have wondered about cutting a cigar (regular cutter) and then using a punch afterwards, but I thought it might be too much overkill.
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Never heard that. Just one cut with a V cutter.

I am not a fan of the V or the punch for any cigar. I like to have the most available surface area for the smoke to travel. Plus I have had too many tar build-up issues with the other cuts that I always ended up cutting them with my Palio anyway to get rid of the tar.
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Well the punch is designed simply to remove the cap and leave the filler in place. To cut it and then punch it is not the way it is designed but if it works to then remove the filler with a tool I guess do it if it helps.
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A tool... like a drill bit maybe? Image
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T.G.,

Marvelous idea to use a drill bit instead of the punch after a cut as I think it would automatically remove the tobacco that I had to pick at to remove.

A drill bit is my next move, but probably not used too often as there is usually enough room for a second cut if the first leaves you with an unsatisfactory draw.
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I wish I had a giant electric pencil sharpener to cut my cigars.
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I used a drill bit and although it didn't extract all the tobacco that it had cut, it did make the process much easier, much better than the rod on my pipe tool.
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It's sounds like you are going to a lot of work here...

The whole process is supposed to be simple and enjoyable: Sip your drink, A simple cut or punch, sip your drink, toast the foot, sip your drink, light your cigar, sip your drink, take a puff off of your cigar, sip your drink...
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Try a draw poker
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not a fan of punch..cutter rulezzz ngehehehe
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For me, a draw poker is worthless. Most times when I use it, poking all the way out through the foot, the only way to in fact improve the draw, the wrapper bursts; if I just poke the first two inches, the wrapper may not burst but the tool has no effect.

The only way that I can think that a draw poker could be used in conjunction with the cutter and punch would be after both of these tools have been used, and you are trying to remove the interior tobacco of the punched head.

But far superior to a poker is the drill bit. It not only cuts but also removes the tobacco that it cuts.
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My Feelings, Exactly! :-)
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i guess it all depends on where the blockage is...or if the draw is tight because of the overall roll of the cigar. the one time i used the poker on my pipe tool (which is max. 3 inches long) it did improve the draw.

the drill bit is an interesting idea.
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Yes, you're exactly right. I always want to light quickly, so I can get my first taste like a crack addict needing the first hit! I really should slow down and enjoy the whole experience.

:-)
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