toasting vs. drawing while lighting

Originally Posted by Da Klugs

There are probably an infinite number of ways to get a good light. Here is one. I toast the foot.. flame on or a little off of the tobacco. In between I blow on the glowing foot. Take no draws on the cigar during the process. Try to get the entire foot including the wrapper glowing. Usually its 2-3 toast and blow alternations to get a good even burn. After it is achieved wait a few seconds and start taking light draws on the cigar and recheck the evenness of the burn. If necessary torch and blow again.

Starting with light vs heavy draws on the cigar helps prevent an initial run and improves the burn for the entire cigar.

Originally Posted by ucla695

I toast the foot of the cigar evenly and then light it while drawing.

Originally Posted by bigloo

After the draw I breath through the cigar to expel any super hot smoke...thats my method at least, each his own.

I'm mostly with Dave [Da Klugs] on this one with slight variation to include Mike's [ucla695] & Lou's? [bigloo] technique. I've got a single flame/torch Xikar combo...the EX [this one: http://www.xikar.com/product_lighter_ex.asp# ] and while I love how it looks and the Xikar warranty, I'm finding it's doing a so-so job at lighting. It could be me but it just takes too long. I'm thinking I might have to go with Volt's below or at least a double torch, although I know I'm not supposed to rush it.

Following Dave's method, I slowly rotate the cigar in my hand, toasting the foot with the flame. But I find that the results are often very uneven lighting. I'll toast and look and blow on the foot to get it glowing and repeat until I've mostly gotten it all glowing. If it's being stubborn or I'm being impatient (usually it's the latter as I, like Golfman, tend to drool in anticipation as I'm lighting. ), I'll torch & draw. When I say the cigar is stubborn, sometimes I've gotten it off to an uneven burn due to inefficient rotating or there's a plug right at the head or whatever, it's just not lighting the way it should be, evenly.

If I feel I've gotten it too hot or the breeze blows and gives me the urge, perhaps I might blow through it like bigloo.

Originally Posted by Volt

In fact, give me a triple flame on high and stoke that puppy up.

So should I move on from the Xikar EX and get a double torch? If so, which one? I've heard trips (triple torches) take way too much gas....

[Rockestone]

Spark it up and draw until the flame is about 2 inches high. Then blow it out.

Originally Posted by Rockestone

Spark it up and draw until the flame is about 2 inches high. Then blow it out.

or there's that...