| From time to time, one will come across a cigar | | | | food-grade substance and one need not worry about |
| which has a loose wrapper. This will inevitably result in | | | | any harm from smoking it. It is odorless and |
| the loss of some of the filler leaf and can cause a | | | | flavorless when combusted so it won't affect the |
| sort of chain reaction where the rest of the wrapper | | | | taste of the cigar adversely, in any regard. This glue |
| begins to come apart. The situation can be easily | | | | is mixed with water in a quantity that results in a |
| remedied. | | | | sort of tacky gelatin which, in reality, is exactly what |
| First, forget any notions one may be harboring about | | | | pectin is. This gelatin is applied to either the free end |
| wetting the wrapper with one's tongue and sticking it | | | | of the wrapper or that portion of the barrel to which |
| back together in that fashion. This will not work. A | | | | the wrapper is to be glued, or both, and held in place |
| glue must be used to stick the wrapper back | | | | long enough for it to set and dry. |
| together. The appropriate glue is available at just | | | | The pectin must be mixed with water. It will take on |
| about any grocery store. | | | | a tacky character and, at that point, it's time to |
| To repair this cigar, one must journey no farther than | | | | affect repairs. Take a bit of the material and put in |
| their local grocery store. There is a natural glue called | | | | on the end of the fingers. Rub it on the loose portion |
| pectin which is used for this process. Remember to | | | | of the wrapper. One may also place some on the |
| never use a chemical glue when trying to repair a | | | | surface to which the wrapper will be affixed but, |
| cigar! The fumes can be quite toxic. If the frayed | | | | generally, less is better. Fold the wrapper over to |
| portion of the cigar is near the foot or the cap, one | | | | where it ought to be and hold it for a few seconds |
| may attempt to trim it back to a more | | | | to let the pectin set. Carefully remove the |
| advantageous portion of the wrapper but real pros | | | | fingers"remember that they will be a bit sticky"and |
| get the most out of their cigars and that means | | | | confirm that the glue has fixed the problem. From |
| making a repair. | | | | there on, one can enjoy their cigar as they'd |
| The glue required is called pectin. It is available in the | | | | intended! |
| canning section of most grocery stores. This is a | | | | |