Henry's Cigar Draw Correction Tools - FREE

[palm55]

I hope to let y'all know in the near future how effective Henry's tool is (that sounds wrong in so many ways!!!)

let me try again....

Hopefully I can soon provide y'all with feedback regarding Henry's poker (that doesn't sound any better either!!!!).

one last time....

I let y'all know if Henry's invention is any good at unplugging cigars.

LMAO... Your tools... Er' your pokers... Er' your set is going out tomorrow, and we'll be looking forward to your feedback!

I'd like to have sent more than 5 evaluation sets out, but Henry's "production schedule" (the time in-between cigars and naps) limits us to about 20-30 sets per week.

Hopwefully, with input from BOTLs, we'll come up with a "new & improved" version soon!

 

[Stogiefanatic182]

Received my tool today. Look forward to trying it after I get back from vacation in Virginia on Tues. Thanks Again

 

[[OT] Loki]

it's always great to see botl helping each other out

 

[cigar_040]

Sounds like a good concept !! Quick question.....are the tips pointed or blunt ?

I currently use an arterial access needles w/ a sharp beveled point 18ga. It's about 2.5-3" long. It gets the job done !! If you want I can try and find an extra in case you might want to get some additional ideas......let me know

 

[palm55]

Sounds like a good concept !! Quick question.....are the tips pointed or blunt ?

I currently use an arterial access needles w/ a sharp beveled point 18ga. It's about 2.5-3" long. It gets the job done !! If you want I can try and find an extra in case you might want to get some additional ideas......let me know

______________________________________________________________

Andy,

Your resourcefulness is exceeded only by your resourcefulness! If it gets the job done, more power to you!!!

Henry's tools could hardly be considered "surgical"!! He makes them up in his work shed with the aid of such precision machines as a hacksaw, crummy old lathe, ancient grinding/buffing wheels, and a couple of jars of stain and urethane.

His short tool measures about 4-1/2" (plus the "L" handle), and comes in handy with the shorter sticks. His long tool measures about 7" (plus handle), and gets through just about anything, including the giant coronas. He grinds a "chisel-point" on the rod, and insists that's the "secret" to his tools (though I would question that).

So far, we've received two suggestions for improving the tools:

1. Flatten the point to a larger bore, in effect creating a "spade point."

2. Lengthen the wooden handle by about 1/4".


I'll be waiting for more input so that Henry can improve the tools set. At this juncture, suffice to say that I believe that the tool (or homemade versions thereof) is an essential part of making the smoking experience "right."

I'll pass on the info, Andy... But I should mention that henry HATES hospitals!!

 

[Bob]

I got a Thompson's draw poker as an incentive gift but I forgot where I put it. If I get a plugged cigar, I use an aluminum kebab skewer. Works great but you need a steady hand.

I do the same ...never had a Thompson's draw poker though.

 

[Stogiefanatic182]

Review

After getting home from vacation yesterday which was a 10hr drive I decided I needed a cigar and realized it would be a good time to use the tool. I went to the humi and picked out a Montecristo Double Corona. The first one I had was kinda tight so I thought this would be a good cigar to do the test on if it was anything like the first one I had a while back.

Initial Reaction of Tool- Thought I would stab myself because the tool was very sharp, handle is small, and the actual rod seemed kinda flimsy.

Use- I lit my cigar and puffed on it a few moments. Draw was a little tight. I followd the directions that came with the tool. It was kinda hard to use at first but then I was able to get it to work effectively. It took two tries but the poker actually made the draw very easy.

Suggestions- Make handle longer, flatten tip like others have said, try and make the rod not as flimsy. It was kinda akward feeling.

Overall- I liked the product, with some few minor changes it should be quite good. Thanks for the tool.

 

[stormin]

I received the package in the mail yesterday. Thanks. The tools look good. I immediately tried it out on a plugged small RG cuban cigar. The tool worked good. I didn't have any problem. Handle seems OK to me. The cigar was plugged solid and the tool didn't really help. no fault of the tool. After I poked a nice hole in it i got a good draw. I lit it up and draw was good at first but i wasn't getting any smoke. Very weird. Cigar was burning but no smoke. The only draw I was getting was through the hole I poked. As the cigar heated up and softened I had to push it together again to get some smoke. But then it wouldn't draw again. Poked it again. Good draw, no smoke. This went on for the whole smoke. Whoever rolled this one should get some sort of prize. There has to be a lot of skill involved to plug a cigar up that bad. I fought the cigar tooth and nail and it never got better. I would have ditched it after a while but I wanted to give the tool a good run for its money. As I said this one was entirely the cigar's fault not Henry's tool. I tried another poker that has some serrations along the shaft to act as a saw and it didn't do any better.

Sorry I can't give you any better feedback yet. I would say the tool works fine.

 

[palm55]

I received the package in the mail yesterday. Thanks. The tools look good. I immediately tried it out on a plugged small RG cuban cigar. The tool worked good. I didn't have any problem. Handle seems OK to me. The cigar was plugged solid and the tool didn't really help. no fault of the tool. After I poked a nice hole in it i got a good draw. I lit it up and draw was good at first but i wasn't getting any smoke. Very weird. Cigar was burning but no smoke. The only draw I was getting was through the hole I poked. As the cigar heated up and softened I had to push it together again to get some smoke. But then it wouldn't draw again. Poked it again. Good draw, no smoke. This went on for the whole smoke. Whoever rolled this one should get some sort of prize. There has to be a lot of skill involved to plug a cigar up that bad. I fought the cigar tooth and nail and it never got better. I would have ditched it after a while but I wanted to give the tool a good run for its money. As I said this one was entirely the cigar's fault not Henry's tool. I tried another poker that has some serrations along the shaft to act as a saw and it didn't do any better.

Sorry I can't give you any better feedback yet. I would say the tool works fine.

Stormin,

You've got me perplexed here! I used the short tool just last night to loosen up a notoriously troublesome Onyx Reserve Corona, and the smoke volume was very good!

It seems a shame to me that a premium-priced Habano should have such construction problems. But then again, I've paid a lot for some Dominicans that have left much to be desired.

We're trying out a "spade" point (versus the current "chisel" point) this weekend. Our concern is that the added point diameter may cause wrapper fracture on some of the more delicate cigars (cameroons in particular). We shall see!!

Nevertheless... I DO appreciate the feedback, and hope you'll continue with it! It's easy to develop a "so-so" product, and let it fly as it will, and ignore any shortfalls. We'd rather take a look at the shortfalls up-front, and do what we can to eliminate them.

 

[palm55]

Review

After getting home from vacation yesterday which was a 10hr drive I decided I needed a cigar and realized it would be a good time to use the tool. I went to the humi and picked out a Montecristo Double Corona. The first one I had was kinda tight so I thought this would be a good cigar to do the test on if it was anything like the first one I had a while back.

Initial Reaction of Tool- Thought I would stab myself because the tool was very sharp, handle is small, and the actual rod seemed kinda flimsy.

Use- I lit my cigar and puffed on it a few moments. Draw was a little tight. I followd the directions that came with the tool. It was kinda hard to use at first but then I was able to get it to work effectively. It took two tries but the poker actually made the draw very easy.

Suggestions- Make handle longer, flatten tip like others have said, try and make the rod not as flimsy. It was kinda akward feeling.

Overall- I liked the product, with some few minor changes it should be quite good. Thanks for the tool.

Fanatic,

THANKS for the honest review! Your suggestions are duly noted, and I'll be meeting with Henry tonight for a smoke and discussion of improvements to the tools.

There's a "threshhold of pain" on the rod diameter... Anything much thicker is more difficult to work through the cigar, and has the potential to cause wrapper-burst. HOWEVER, we may look at a different steel alloy... Something a bit harder that can still be "worked" into a suitable point.

To date, here's where the tool is going:

-- We're going one size larger (3/8") on the handle, and making it a bit longer.
-- We're adding a protective sheath, so that the tools can be carried safely in a shirt pocket.
-- We're experimenting with a "spade" point to determine whether it works better than the current "chisel" point.

Thanks again for the input! And we hope you'll continue with the comments! We're not concerned about "mass marketing" these darned things... Our goal is to make a good, custom tool available to those who want to make a good smoke better.

 

[Baric]

Our goal is to make a good, custom tool available to those who want to make a good smoke better.

A commendable goal-keep the updating going as i for one would be interested in these. theres nothing so annoying as a plugged 'gar! [perhaps these should be sold with all boxes of R&J Churchills lol]

 

[palm55]

A commendable goal-keep the updating going as i for one would be interested in these. theres nothing so annoying as a plugged 'gar! [perhaps these should be sold with all boxes of R&J Churchills lol]

Actually, your remark isn't too far-fetched!!!

Yes, makers like CAO draw-test their cigars, and seem to do a pretty good job on draw issues.

But there are MANY MORE makers who offer wonderfully flavorful cigars that fall flat on their face when you discover that they're rolled tight-as-a-drum!!!

I'll keep you posted on prgress in the "UPDATE" thread on this board... We've had some EXCELLENT feedback from BOTLs inside and outside of CS!! And we're cautiously optimistic about being able to offer a markedly improved tool set within a week or two.

 

[palm55]

Review

After getting home from vacation yesterday which was a 10hr drive I decided I needed a cigar and realized it would be a good time to use the tool. I went to the humi and picked out a Montecristo Double Corona. The first one I had was kinda tight so I thought this would be a good cigar to do the test on if it was anything like the first one I had a while back.

Initial Reaction of Tool- Thought I would stab myself because the tool was very sharp, handle is small, and the actual rod seemed kinda flimsy.

Use- I lit my cigar and puffed on it a few moments. Draw was a little tight. I followd the directions that came with the tool. It was kinda hard to use at first but then I was able to get it to work effectively. It took two tries but the poker actually made the draw very easy.

Suggestions- Make handle longer, flatten tip like others have said, try and make the rod not as flimsy. It was kinda akward feeling.

Overall- I liked the product, with some few minor changes it should be quite good. Thanks for the tool.

Fanatic,

We took your feedback VERY seriously, and spent the better part of yesterday working on improvements. Please see the "UPDATE" thread for the latest changes.

Thanks once again for your evalutation!!!!