I've had some cheap cutters, got around to getting an Xi8 sometime back and just recently purchased a Palio. So how do You cut your cigar using your preferred cutter?
[Reply]

I use my Palio's almost exclusively. Put the cigar in the hole and squeeze. :-)
[Reply]

This.
[Reply]

Sometimes I use my cigar scissors, sometimes a cutter, I have been known to cut a hole in the cap with a pocket knife, same theory as a punch but a bit more effort. Just keep in mind not to cut past the cap so the wrapper unwravels, other than that there isn't much to it.
[Reply]

This video is the best one out there imo

http://cigarobsession.com/2011/03/10...smoke-a-cigar/
[Reply]

Xikar MTX Scissors or Xikar Punch. Pretty self explanatory after that.
[Reply]

That's the video I watched when I first started. It was very helpful. Although, there is something about that guy that annoys me...I can't put my finger on it, though...
[Reply]

talk to him,
hes a member here :-)
[Reply]

I cut mine with a machete, like a real man.
[Reply]

Seriously though, there's some good info here.
[Reply]

Bite off the crown and spit it at the nearest wench I see...other than that, I have a Cuban Crafters perfect cutter that always takes off the top cap.
[Reply]

I try to use a punch foe everything. Smaller ring gauge and piramides get cut by my palio
[Reply]

An old post that I made a few years ago:

Cigar Cutting 101 - In Pictures -


Ron
[Reply]

Palio...I try to shave off the wrapper head without any other tobacco being cut. I am usually pretty close when not perfect.
[Reply]

Tom... what?
[Reply]

My preferred way is to run my pocket knife around the cap and then lift it off.
[Reply]

:-)

I tend to just use Shanes (aka Blak Smyth's) Palio :-) Works great!!! :-)
If hes not around, I use my Monte...works every time (getting dull though)
[Reply]

I didn't look at the video links (stupid slow connection) so they may have covered this way of doing it.
When I first started, I would lay the cutter on a table, put the cigar in it to cut, takes off the perfect amount most times. For me it was a good way to learn exactly how much to take off.
[Reply]

For havanas, this works exceptionally well, I find. Other countries, not so well.

By the way, OP, YOU DO know there were other user names available at the time you joined, right?? :-)
[Reply]

That video that was linked hits a very good point that I am sure not a lot of people starting out know.
The 'flavor' in the smoke is not what is created by combustion. Combustion just makes smoke and very
little flavor is created that way. The flavor comes as the warm smoke passes through and around the
leaves of the bunch and oils are vaporized and some kind of fairy-magic osmosis occurs. The flavors
come mostly from the un-burned tobacco and are merely carried by the smoke to your mouth. That is
why smoking slowly and deliberately is so important. Partly because of the heating up of the entire item,
which is bad, but also because you lessen the time the smoke has to interact with the leaves. This is
also why people recommend the slowest puff rate you can manage and still keep the cigar lit and going.

It's just like the gas pump. There is still gas in the hose when the pump shuts off that never makes it
to your car. You paid for it but did not get it. Luckily, YOU DID get the gas that the LAST guy pumped
into the hose and paid for. So it works out. That smoke remains in the cigar until your next puff and mingles
with the leaves for 30 secs to a minute, picking up flavor. Your puffing draws THAT smoke into your mouth
and delivers flavor while it also loads the cigar with a little smoke that you will enjoy on the next puff.

Wo-ho, blog entry.....
[Reply]