Even under optimal conditions in a humidor, some cigars can be cranky. It might be the leaves or the contents, it might be how they were rolled, or how they’re acclimating to the humidity in your humidor or the outside environment. Either way, you’ll inevitably have a cigar or two crack — when the wrapper splits apart or breaks. This can also happen when you cut the head of the cigar, as that loosens the cap and the rolled leaves.
Your first instinct will probably be to throw out the cigar unless it is expensive. In most cases, you can fix the problem without much hassle. Because trying to smoke a cracked cigar, depending on where the damage is, will throw a wrench in your experience. You’ll either have to fuss with an unfurling wrapper or deal with relights to make sure it’s burning properly. The trick is to use cigar glue to fix the damage.
The cigar in the featured image has been cut so there’s no saving that one. But for small damage, cigar glue is the way to go. If you’ve never used it before, or never heard of it, you’re probably a bit alarmed at using glue or chemicals on your cigars. I don’t blame you, but here’s why that’s the wrong way to think.
While I cannot vet every single type of cigar glue out there — there are many different brands — most are made with food-grade materials, meaning it’s relatively safe to glue the cigars back together and smoke them once that’s dry. The majority inclusion is pectin, which is a naturally occurring thickener or stabilizer used as a glue or an adhesive. It’s actually a heteropolysaccharide, a structural polymer, made to thicken edibles like dessert fillings, sweets, juices, and so on.
The cigar industry uses pectin exactly as you’d expect. To seal and adhere various elements of the cigar. They’ll use it to seal up the wrapper and hold the tobacco leaves together. Also, they’ll apply pectin or glue to the labels and bands to ensure they are tightly bound.
How do you repair a damaged cigar with cigar glue?
Source: Amazon
It sounds gross, but in some cases, you can use spit or moisture to reseat a loose wrapper. You don’t always have to break out the glue. But that’s best used while smoking at home or in private and you don’t want to slobber all over the cigar. You just take a small amount of spittle on your finger and apply it to the loose area of the wrapper, rubbing your finger over it to moisten the leaf and also press it back onto the cigar.
If the wrapper is more cracked with substantial damage, cigar glue is your best bet. It’s fairly easy to use, too, and often comes in vials with a brush — similar to makeup or eyeliner applicators. You just take a small amount of the glue, apply it to the damaged area, and fold the tobacco leaf back down. If you’re repairing a larger crack or seam you’ll want to give it a little extra time to dry after you apply the glue.
Use the glue to dab on the loose leaf and fold it back over onto the cigar tightly.
OR, dab lightly on the damaged area of the wrapper to cover the gap or holes.
After applying, wait about 40 seconds to let the glue start the drying process.
Puff lightly to draw the cellulose fiber net — created by the glue — into the hole or gap.
Don’t worry, once dry, the pectin or cigar glue is tasteless and won’t affect the flavors or aromas of the cigar.
Do not use super glue or other traditional forms of glue. Make sure you’re using pectin-based adhesives.
In a dry climate, like Arizona, a cold climate up north, or a hot and humid climate — like Florida where I live — you’re going to run into some issues eventually. It doesn’t matter how well you store that cigar and how perfect your humidor RH levels are, it happens. The cigar is exposed to extra-dry or extra-humid conditions and it takes its toll on the wrapper and interior leaves.
It’s always good to have some cigar glue handy. That way you can fix cigar wrappers and damage issues in a pinch. I don’t know about you, but I find it to be a real pain in the ass having to fuss with a cigar. It ruins my relaxation and smoking experience. No one wants that.
Briley has over 16 years in the publishing and content marketing business. He's been writing about cigars for nearly half that in various forms. What makes him a tour de force is he also smokes them.
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
Source: Amazon
Source: Rendy Novantino / Unsplash
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