To cut or to punch, that is the question.

[Lionhound]

Dudes, especially you with years of experience and wisdom.:hail::hail::hail:

I've always cut my seegars but have recently been asked:stupido3:,more than once, why I don't use a punch?:hmpf:

I don't bloody know do I?:confused: I've never tried:mad: I don't have a punch:eviltongue:Why bloody ask me?:eek:

Can one of you nice Gents help?:cowboyic9:

Please explain the good, the bad, the ugly, the pro's, the con's etc. Then I can answer with some authority and may even try one of the punched little suckers myself to see.

Thank you.:smoke::smoke:

[Cigar-aficionado]

A punch works well on larger ring gauge stuff like robusto or churchill size etc but I have always found on the smaller vitolas it can concentrate the tars in one small spot...besides which you can't use one on pyramids:smile:

[daverave999]

I like the tidyness of a punch. I only use them on the larger ring gauges; depends on my mood when I do though.
I have a Wolf Easy Punch (http://www.wolfertz-gmbh.com/com2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9&Itemid=2) and one of these (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CIGAR-PUNCH-KEYRING-GREY_W0QQitemZ370292022847QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Co llectables_Tobacciana_Smoking_LE?hash=item56371fde 3f). Neither is amazing but I haven't got round to sharpening them yet.

[rokkitsci]

Please explain the good, the bad, the ugly, the pro's, the con's etc. Then I can answer with some authority and may even try one of the punched little suckers myself to see.

In factually, I never had a punch until the good Sir G-Man kindly gifted me one recently.

I must only partially agree with the other gents who advocate punching only larger ring gauges. Obviously, if yer puff preference is a little, skinny, phin phing, the punch will only serve to mangle the end. Howsoever, assuming yer stogie has the requisite girth to accommodate the punch thingie, my choice of cutting device is determined by flatitude. Clearly, a torpedo or belicoso or salomon is too pointy to punch and must be snipped.

That leaves us with ascertaining the roundiness vs. planar aspect of the bit that you're going to stick in your maw. If yer gar resembles the Death Valley salt flats, I recommend a punch on accounta if you snip that bugger, there's a strong likelitude that your cap is gonna unravel on you. Whereas, should the end look more like the lovely swell of a gentle breast, you have more latitude to clip yer tip without adversely affecting the remainder of the applied end cover.

That's my story and I'm sticking with it.

[PoohBore]

i like the punch as it keeps the end of the cigar nice and tidy. I use figure 8 and cloverl leaf holds on the larger sizes.

[cj121]

Yup, what they all said:smile:

I find that the punched cigar's smoke/flavours get a wee bit more concentrated too (psychological?)

But don't ignore comments made earlier about the tarring of smaller guage sticks. When that happens, it gets schitty:eviltongue: I've punched down to a 42RG without major dramas, yet.

[cohibaIV]

Got converted to using a Punch by Robusto and TJ....

So now I swap between the two for that extra bit of difference...:41:

[TJCoro]

Got converted to using a Punch by Robusto and TJ....

So now I swap between the two for that extra bit of difference...:41:

http://www.easyfreesmileys.com/smileys/free-sexy-smileys-944.gif (http://www.easyfreesmileys.com/Free-Sign-Smileys/)Punches are for pus....err, I mean suckers.

The :grouphug: Coro Clan use the fabulous Cuban Crafter Cutter (first brought to the attention of this forum many, many moons ago by the senor :tinfoil3:science) almost exclusively these days,

http://www.easyfreesmileys.com/smileys/free-mad-smileys-120.gif (http://www.easyfreesmileys.com/Free-Sign-Smileys/)But what the hell do they know??? The Coro Clan stopped posting around these parts months ago so they could continue on their so-called :hippie: "Definitive Journey" into the darkhttp://smiley.onegreatguy.net/ninjastealth.gifsea of awareness.


Names :catsmoker: Perro, El Perro, and I do all the posting these dayz.


:juggle: Keep up the good work, ya' stupid lookin' dawg smiler! :pound:

[monkey66]

I started of cutting, spent about a year punching and now am cutting more than punching..... so that's that cleared up :stupid:

I had this same conversation with the Chaisemiester and he goes through the same kind of cycles.

[ACMCC]

I think a couple of extra factors can be added to the above, If your a wet smoker!, a punch helps to stop end getting too wet, stopping the flavour being added to by the taste of the wet leave's. you should be tasting the smoke only.

I tend to punch all NC's and 50/50 with cuban's, also if your smoking while doing something, a punch cut cigar can be held in the mouth with your teeth more successfully for a moment or two, freeing up both hands, cut cigars can unravel more easily.....:smoke:

[Boss Hog]

I like the tidyness of a punch. I only use them on the larger ring gauges; depends on my mood when I do though.
I have a Wolf Easy Punch (http://www.wolfertz-gmbh.com/com2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9&Itemid=2) and one of these (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CIGAR-PUNCH-KEYRING-GREY_W0QQitemZ370292022847QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Co llectables_Tobacciana_Smoking_LE?hash=item56371fde 3f). Neither is amazing but I haven't got round to sharpening them yet.


I have the same one, How would you sharpen them?

[Stevieboy]

I'm back to using a cutter...a Cuban Crafters one at that after the Mexican twat put me onto them :biggrin1:....perfect cut every time :hail:

[skyhigh]

i've been using the punch more of late, mainly on the larger ring guages, but i cut ceegars that appear alittle tight as it makes the draw easier.

[daverave999]

I have the same one, How would you sharpen them?
I'll have a go and if I have any success I'll post about it? I'm probably going to try 600 grit diamond at about 45°.

[ACMCC]

I'll have a go and if I have any success I'll post about it? I'm probably going to try 600 grit diamond at about 45°.

be handy to get some sharpening tips... Cheers Dave :biggrin1:

[snooky]

Mainly down to preference, i prefer to cut, and that way dont get caught if you are offered a torp.:849:

[daverave999]

I've had a go at sharpening one and it seems to have been reasonably successful. I've put a post up on my blog (http://fistload.co.uk/blog/2010/02/18/sharpening-a-cheap-cigar-punch/) if anyone's interested.

I wouldn't go out and buy a sharpening stone just for the purpose, but if you've got one hanging around and a spare punch, it might be worth a play. I ended up using a ceramic for the final edge and it will now slice printer paper which is a vast improvement on before.

[TJCoro]

I'm back to using a cutter...a Cuban Crafters one at that after the Mexican twat put me onto them :biggrin1:....perfect cut every time :hail:


In case you missed my response in the other thread, senor :playball: stevietheungrateful....http://www.mysmiley.net/imgs/smile/mad/mad0044.gif (http://www.mysmiley.net/free-cool-smileys.php)

:catsmoker:

[whisky77]

Always preferred a cutter or scissors TBO.Never really took to the punch thing.

[jdawg]

Always preferred a cutter or scissors TBO.Never really took to the punch thing.

me too!

[Kdot]

i started of with a cutter, dabbled a bit with scissors, wasnt to keen on it than moved onto a punch now back to the cutter...full circle i guess, best to try all options i think and use what suits you.

[tippexx]

Cuban Crafters self sharpening cutter from Rok .... perfect, clean as a whistle every time!

[El Greco]

I punch. It keeps my cigars dry.

Great sharpening tip daverave999. Thanks. I 'll try tonight.