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Cigars/Ring gauge puch cut.

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Expert: - 1/1/2009


Question
What ring gauge are most punch cutters? Do they make bigger ones? What is the biggest ring suggested to use a punch cut on?
muchas gracias a ti!

Answer
Hi Andrew,

The size of a punch cutter is usually around 25-29 ring gauge which is approximately the circumference of a cigarette or cigarillo cigar.  There are some generically-produced punch cutters 30 ring gauge or larger for larger cigars such as churchills or robustos.  There's no rule that states a maximum cigar size should be used with punch cutters so smokers who love punch cutters will use them on all cigar sizes.  For larger ring cigars, they may double punch the cigar so that it has a "figure eight" (8) cutout to increase the draw.

However, cigar smokers that use both guillotine and punch cutters usually prefer to use punch cutters for parejo-shaped cigars 45 ring gauge and smaller and use a guillotine cutter for parejo-shaped cigars 46 ring gauge and larger.  This allows larger cigars to have a bigger and smoother draw.

Hopes this answers your question.  If you have any more questions, please feel free to just ask and I will be happy to help.

Regards,
James

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James Yee

Expertise

My main area of expertise is Cuban cigars but I can also assist you with cigar etiquette, humidor maintenance and troubleshooting. Unsure of a certain cigar brand? Wondering what a certain cigar tastes like? Have any questions about Cuban cigars? Just let me know! I have smoked every brand of Cuban cigars and most reputable non-Cuban cigar brands on a regular basis so I know a fair bit about taste profiles, cigar etiquette and other fine nuances to cigar smoking. (NOTE: My main focus is on premium, hand-rolled cigars and not cheap, machine made, convenience store cigars.) IMPORTANT: PLEASE NOTE THAT I DO NOT PROVIDE CIGAR OR CIGAR-RELATED APPRAISALS. If you have a vintage cigar item and you want to know if it's worth something, please contact an antique dealer that specializes in "TOBACCIANA".

Experience

I currently have 19 dedicated years of cigar smoking and counting. I have smoked every brand of Cuban cigars and most reputable non-Cuban cigar brands on a regular basis so I know a fair bit about taste profiles, cigar etiquette and other fine nuances to cigar smoking. For 5 years, I studied with Cuban torcedores (rollers), catadores (taste testers) and revisadores (inspectors) on every aspect involving the production of the Cuban cigar and I am currently writing a book that will help beginners understand everything they need to know about cigars and cigar smoking.

Publications
Maple Leaf Gardens: Memories & Dreams 1931-1999 (1999; ISBN: 0920445616)
50 Things Every Guy Should Know How To Do (2006; ISBN: 0452286654)
The [London] Times (October 8, 2009)


Education/Credentials
B.A. University of Toronto

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