CigarFox

HIGH TIMES Presents: 2009 Gear Guide

When you begin smoking cigars, you are going to have to make a lot of choices. You are going to need to try several different types of cigar so that you can find the brand that suits you best, and you are going to need to find all of your accessories. A few of the accessories that you just can’t live without when you are a cigar aficionado include humidors, which will keep the moisture in the cigars, and a good ashtray to hold your ashes. You will also need to have lighters and cigar cutters. The good news is that you can find cutter and lighter combinations, and that should make choosing the right ones even easier. Some of the cutter types from which you will be able to choose include guillotine cutters and punch cutters.

One of the most popular types of cutter available is the punch cutter and lighter combination. People enjoy this cigar cutter lighter because they are able to kill two birds with one stone, so to speak. They will be able to have a nice butane lighter to give their cigars an even light, and they will also have a cutter that can get their cigars ready to smoke. The convenience of having them both in one tool is nice as well.

First, you need to understand how the punch cutter works. You will find them easy to use, although it might take a few tries to get the hang of it. With a punch cutter, you simply place the cutter on the cap of the cigar and then use the punch. This will create a small hole in the cigar. This is where the smoke will come through. Because the hole is so small, you will find that it can cause moisture and tar to gather around the hole. You will also find that this type of cutter does not work with the larger cigars.

With the smaller holes from the punch cut, moisture and smoke can sometimes build up at the hole. This is something that many cigar smokers can’t abide. Also, they don’t work with large cigars. You might want to have both a punch cutter and a guillotine cutter so that you are always prepared no matter the type of cigar you have available.

Before choosing your type of cutter, weigh the pros and cons of each style and choose the one that suits your smoking habits the best. The punch cutter and lighter combo is great for those who want the convenience of having both tools in one convenient place.

About the Author:

Dave Sabot is the owner of an online specialty lighters store. With expert knowledge of cigar accessories, including Zippo lighters, Dave also authors a highly rated lighter repair blog.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Punch Cutter Lighters

Cigar lighters come in all shapes, sizes and styles, and they are one of the most important accessories for any serious cigar aficionado.

There are many brands available on the market today, most of which can be purchased at one of the numerous online cigar stores found on the Internet. One of the most popular and respected models, the IM Corona Double Corona Lighter, is flint reliable and holds butane released by a patented dual nozzle. It, along with many other brands, is available at Cuban CraftersÂ’ online store.

Other popular brands include the Colibri 3003, the ST Dupont Gatsby and the Blazer Z Plus. Lighters can run anywhere from just a few dollars to over $100. The most expensive models, such as the Colibri Vortex II, are made of hand-crafted silver and boast wind-resistant flames and built-in cigar punches. Many of these high-end cigar lighters are available from the Cigar King, an online provider of some of the finest cigars and cigar accessories.

Lighters are just one set of the many products available to a serious aficionado. Various types of humidors, chests, boxes, cutters and portable humidifiers can be purchased to preserve and display a collection, or enhance the smoking experience.

During the U.S. cigar boom of the 1990s, the demand for quality accessories like cigar lighters was stronger than ever. Riding a wave of popularity ushered in by public the endorsements of celebrities and by the emergence of online availability for discounted brands, cigars have seen dramatic sales increases, particularly among younger generations looking to emulate the elegant, debonair lifestyle touted by magazines like Cigar Aficionado. Though many still swear by the notion that a cigar can only be properly lit by a match, the cigar lighter has become an indispensable accessory for the serious collector and casual smoker alike.

Cigars Info provides comprehensive information on cigar smoking, Cuban cigars, discount cigars, humidors, lighters, boxes, and more. Cigars Info is the sister site of Humidors Web.

Stainless Steel Bullet Cutter

The Christmas season is once again just around the corner. Maybe you need some unique gift ideas for him? Following is a list of Christmas gift ideas that are sure to be greatly enjoyed by the dad, uncle, grandpa, good friend, co-worker, boss, brother-in-law, cousin or father-in-law on your shopping list.

Personalized keepsake items are always fun and unique gift ideas. Items like: glass or ceramic coffee mugs, crystal or marble picture frames, leather wallet or checkbook cover, Swiss army knife, crystal or marble award/plaque, leather travel bags, passport cover or holder, jewelry, iPod or DVD/CD cases, funny T-shirts, hats and sweatshirts or crystal barware items like: decanter sets, glassware, carafes and other home bar essentials.

Also try these fun and unique gift ideas: personalized bar signs, fine art wall poster prints, banner/garden flags, gift baskets and smoking accessories like: a humidor box, holding case or cutter for the cigar lover. Best of all these gift items can all be personalized with names, dates, initials, even poems and famous sayings or quotes, depending upon the size and style of the item chosen.

Another unique group of gift ideas are as follows: grilling tool set, gardening tool set, maintenance tools, garage organizing items, a gift certificate to a favorite store and NFL sports memorabilia which comes in a large variety of items for the die hard sports fan. All these items are great ideas for every guy on your list, just match the right gift to the right guy and he?ll not only enjoy his gift but also have something to look forward to as well.

Going out and doing fun stuff for a gift idea is always a big hit with him. Gifts like: a relaxing massage, a day at the spa, a weekend getaway with the family or the guys, hunting or fishing trip, tickets to a favorite concert, game or other event, a game of golf or tickets to an amusement park are all fun to both give and receive during the holiday season. You just have to pick which gift he would like best and watch his eyes light up when he opens his gift.

Another option is to have everybody go in together on a gift. Gift ideas like: a big screen TV, massage chair, iPod, blackberry, surround sound system, took box, power tools, laptop or computer and plane tickets for an event or vacation are all great gift ideas that can be out of reach for those sticking to a budget. When everybody split?s the cost, you have the chance to get him one big gift that he?s sure to love and enjoy.

This last group of gift ideas is a combination of all the different gift groups. Items like: cufflinks, flasks, shot glasses, valet trays, watch boxes, desk accessories like: nameplates, organizers, memo pad holders and pen sets or golf gifts like: a shoe bag, shadow box, a divot tool and ball marker and new clubs or wine gifts like: crystal glassware, carafes, stoppers and presentation boxes, plus leather toiletry bags or grooming kits can all be personalized and are something he can use, look forward to and will appreciate.

No matter who he is to you or what kind of man you are shopping for, remember to look around for the best deal possible. The internet is a great way to get both the quality you want and best price available when looking for that perfect Christmas present. So start looking early and find what you want, thus eliminating any last minute shopping stress.

Most importantly remember to find the gift that best fits his personality. Items that he can use, allow him to pursue his hobbies or can enjoy are always the best kind of gifts to give. Plus whether it?s personalized Christmas gift or a fun and memorable vacation/getaway, you know he will love and cherish your unique gift for years to come.
Happy Shopping

About the Author:

Angelique writes articles for helping shoppers find gifts, providing shopping tips and how to benefit from personalized gifts. Check out the personalized Christmas gifts at Wealthwood Christmas Gifts Article Source AE437: wealthwood.com

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Unique Personalized Christmas Gifts for Him

San Marco Humidor by Tampa Humidor

Cigarette Maker rolling Station by CigFactory

Perhaps the movies are to blame. All those scenes where the powerful businessman or politician says to the ingenuous hero, “May I offer you a cigar,” then-without missing a beat-brandishes a gold-embossed cigar case. A case with no humidity controls. A case that is not a humidor.

Whatever the reason, many casual cigar smokers-and even fairly committed lovers of premium cigars-don’t realize how important it is to store your cigars in a humidor.

In fact, if you’re like many smokers, you’re asking yourself what a humidor is, and why you should use one. A humidor is, basically, a box that’s designed to maintain your cigars at a certain level of humidity (near seventy percent) and a proper temperature (seventy degrees or below) when you’re not, you know, smoking them.

Why exactly is that near-seventy-percent humidity figure so important? To answer this question, we have to remember what a cigar is-a set of cut, dried, cured, fermented, rolled-together leaves. When the cigar maker picked these leaves, allowed them to dry, and cured them, etc., it put those leaves on a process that ends in the death of the leaves, and the death of their flavor. In the open air, these leaves can easily dry out completely, and the cigar loses its taste. In a too-humid environment, on the other hand, they get moldy. Basically, the moment you purchase a cigar, you are in a war with the elements; your job is to keep the cigar’s flavor alive, while the elements (air, bacteria, etc.) want your cigar to be spoiled.

Humidity is your ally in that battle. The tobacco plant has evolved to thrive in an environment near seventy percent humidity-the condition in which you’ll most often find it in nature-and if you can replicate that humidity, your cigars are in good shape. The best humidors use Spanish cedar or Honduran mahogany to trap that moisture, and they have a hygrometer-a device that controls and allows you to monitor moisture levels.

Now that you know why you need one, here are some tips on the care and feeding of humidors. First of all, new humidors need to be “seasoned.” When you buy your humidor, before using it, wipe the interior wood with a moist cloth, then leave a small, closed container of water inside the humidor for 12 hours. After those twelve hours are up, check to see how much of the closed vial of water the humidor has “drank.” If it’s nearly empty, then repeat the process for another twenty-four hours. Repeat this process until the water stops evaporating; now the humidor is ready for your cigars!

You’ll also need to fill the hygrometer (the device controls humidity levels). Use distilled water-or a humidifying solution (the humidor should come with instructions regarding this choice). Let the excess water drip from the hygrometer into a sink, and wipe off the outside of the device. Put it in the humidor. Another option should you choose not to use a hygrometer, is a new product that many veteran keepers of the stick have turned to: Bóveda Packs. Bóveda Packs are an amazing invention. Each pack is rated for a certain humidity level, either 72%, 69% or 65%.

Simply place the correct number of Bóveda packets inside your humidor to maintain a precise relative humidity. Each Bóveda packet consists of a specially prepared saturated solution of pure water and natural salt. This saturated solution is contained within a water-vapor permeable reverse osmosis membrane. Within a closed desktop humidor Bóveda maintains a predetermined level of (RH) by releasing or absorbing purified water-vapor-as needed-through the membrane. Boveda Packs are only to be used once, they are not refillable. They become very stiff when the contents are spent. These amazing packs last around 2 months in an average humidor.

Another recommendation: don’t keep your humidor near any home appliances that tend to affect home humidity, or any places in the home where these appliances tend to be stored. These might include heaters, air conditioners, vents, fans, and windows. Keep it away, also, from sustained direct sunlight; pay attention to the way that sunlight exposure changes throughout the seasons, too, because some “safe places” in your home might be less safe during the summer, when the sun’s rays creep further in and stay longer.

And lastly, know what to do if, in spite of all your preparations, your cigars suffer an attack of tobacco beetles. This irritating species preys on tobacco and, in some cases, can bore through a humidor. First of all, remember not to let the temperature in your humidor go too high-tobacco beetles flourish at temperatures over 75 degrees. (So a tobacco-beetle infestation means you haven’t monitored that humidor carefully enough!) Take out the cigars that have been infested and keep them in your freezer for 48 hours. Refrigerate them for another day after that. Now they should be safely returnable to the humidor-which, in the meantime, should be thoroughly cleaned, checked for structural integrity, and if necessary, replaced. Spanish-cedar humidors, by the way, are slightly better for keeping these nasty beetles out in the first place.

About the Author:

CigarFox
provides you the opportunity to build your own sampler of the finest cigars that include cigar brands like Montecristo, Romeo & Julieta, H Upmann, Macanudo, Cohiba, Partagas, Gurkha and many more. Choose from more than 1200 different cigars! Other cigar products include cigar humidors, cigar boxes, and cigar accessories like Zippo Lighters.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Humidors to the Rescue: A Necessity For Every Cigar Smoker

Problem with homemade humidor humidity?

I have a homemade humidor, made of an airtight wooden box. I lined the inside with cedar wood that I got from breaking up cigar boxes, and I have a humidity puck that I made from some florist’s oasis. I mixed some propelyne (sp) glycol with water at a 50-50 mix, but my humidity doesn’t stay at approx. 70. I’m having to soak the oasis every 3 days and re water the cedar wood to keep it at 70 for 3 days. If I don’t, it drops to 60 and stabilizes there. I’ve been adding only distilled water, as from what I understand, the more glycol, the less humidity it creates What am I doing wrong and how can I keep the humidity at 70 for more than 3 days?

most of those pucks dont work well .. look for the jars that have the “crystals” in them.. the retain the moisture better… also make sure you are keeping your humidor out of sight.. the more exposure to the air the quicker the de-humidifying happens

Cigar is a cylindrical roll of tobacco. It is used in smoking with a wrapper leaf. Always, most expansive leaves are used in cigars. In terms of characteristics, it is stronger in odor and smoke. It bears pleasant flavor and good burning properties. As per historical evidences, cigar was introduced by Maya Indians in 10th century. Christopher Columbus and other explorers have revealed this fact in their notes.
?    Gustave Bock was a Dutch immigrant. He owned a cigar factory in Cuba in the 1830s. It is believed that it was the first to place a paper band around his cigars. It was just a paper ring with his signature.
?    Very soon, it prominently flourished and became very profitable business. However, now cigar rolling has become mechanized but still few prestigious companies adhere with traditional stuffs. They do mention phrase on the boxes such as ‘totalmente a mano (totally by hand) or hecho a mano (made by hand)’.

A glimpse upon manufacturing of premium Cigars
?    At first tobacco leaves pass through curing process and it takes approximately 25 to 45 days which depends upon climatic condition and construction of sheds or barns used to store harvested tobacco as well.
?    After curing, second process is fermentation. Under this process, major characteristics like flavor, burning, and aroma are primarily brought out in the leaf.
?    Once after properly being aged, leaves are used as filler. Under this process, these are continuously moistened and ensured proper utilization each leaf as per the quality.
?    Few premium brands cigars (viz. Acid Cigars, Padron Cigars, Ashton Cigars, Dominican Cigars) use special varieties of tobacco. For instance, long leaves are thoroughly used in long filler cigars which are supposed as higher quality of cigar.
?    For long term storage of cigar, lower storage temperature viz. 40C/400F is recommended. There are special storage boxes available in the market like wooden box or humidor. Such containers carefully control ideal conditions for longer period.

Packaging of cigars
?    The outermost portion or wrapper comes from the widest part of the plant and its color in itself speaks a lot about character and flavor of cigar. There is also a myth prevailing in the cigar market that the darker the wrapper, the fuller the flavor. One must keep in the mind that darkness refers to sweetness on the other hand light one means dryness to the taste.
?    Fillers are available in two forms either short or long. Recently an addition has been made of medium filler cigars. There is a special category of filler known as ‘sandwich or Cuban sandwich’. It is made by rolling short leaf inside long outer leaf.
?    Cigars are prominently categorized on the basis of shape and size and all together known as ‘vitola’. Few names under this category are Parejo, Figurado and little cigars.

After the development of printing industry, cigar got more vibrant looks and cigar companies prominently focused on branding of their products. During World War I, there was fall down in its popularity. But, it was remained for the very short span.

About the Author:

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Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – An Untold Story About Cigars

Seasoning a cigar humidor.