Storing cigars in the caribbean

[apaniagua]

Hey guys, as you may know already, I live in the Dominican Republic. That means, I live in the middle of the Caribbean, with temperatures above 28Celsius (normally) and the humidity above 80%. My room usually has 77% or 80% in humidity and 25C in temperature.

Thing is, i got 2 humidors (bought 1 from Fire_Doc). I got like 110 cigars only and i share the space between the humidors. I made tons of research for the humidification devices...it results we don't need to "add" humidity like in the US or places with 24/7 A/C but to remove.

I bought HCM Beads but they didn't quite work...Also tried the Boveda Packets at 65%, which I thought would absorb extra humidity and never run-out since they will not run dry. Well, guess that isn't working out since I got them inside the humidors and the humidors read 70% or 71%. I lowered the humidity by turning on my A/C at night, but still...70% is the average on a daily basis.

HOW then, can I store my cigars at 65% in my country? I can't pay for a Vinotemp (we have one but for wines)...electricity + price tag here are expensive....It's driving me nuts. Help!

 

[fireman mike]

70% is a good level Abraham. Try and keep the temperature around the same. Dry beads should absorb some moisture after a couple days.

 

[Skitalets]

If you find the beads get too moist, you may need to dry them out with a hair dryer (on blow only, no heat).

 

[vperlman]

You might try the beads from Heartfelt Industries and watch their color. They turn from white to clear when they are saturated. When that happens, take them out and dry them as described by Skitalets. However, use a very low speed on the hair dryer and keep it at a distance, unless your beads are in a closed container; otherwise, they will blow all over the place. Also, if the dryer has a very low heat setting, I would try that, again, keeping it distant from the beads. Just watch the beads and make sure that nothing is melting.

 

[keinreis]

I live in florida, and the air conditioner pulls a lot of humidity out of the air inside the house. I use beads as well, if they are not working to reduce the humidity I say more beads, and dry them out before putting them into your humi.

 

[apaniagua]

HCM Beads are kinda weird...removing the humidity to them is putting them inside the refrigerator...I'm going to try putting them infront of the hair dryer. 70% is too moist here, since when I smoke, ambient RH is above 80%, so cigar gets more moist easily...

Do heartfelt beads have set points? Like 65%?

 

[Stogiecidal]

HCM Beads are kinda weird...removing the humidity to them is putting them inside the refrigerator...I'm going to try putting them infront of the hair dryer. 70% is too moist here, since when I smoke, ambient RH is above 80%, so cigar gets more moist easily...

Do heartfelt beads have set points? Like 65%?

EDIT: Just read the entire thread. Have you tried to follow the instructions the HCM beads come with to lower the RH of the beads? I don't think I have ever read that anyone has used a hair dryer to dry out HCM beads but could be wrong. Perhaps PM'ing Michael (CigarNut) with your questions and maybe he can help.

Heartfelt beads can be purchased at preset RH's of 60%, 65% and 70%.

FWIW I use both HCM and heartfelt 65% beads in the humi but I am by no way an expert when it comes to RH. Sets my mind at ease if anything.

 

[apaniagua]

EDIT: Just read the entire thread. Have you tried to follow the instructions the HCM beads come with to lower the RH of the beads? I don't think I have ever read that anyone has used a hair dryer to dry out HCM beads but could be wrong. Perhaps PM'ing Michael (CigarNut) with your questions and maybe he can help.

Heartfelt beads can be purchased at preset RH's of 60%, 65% and 70%.

FWIW I use both HCM and heartfelt 65% beads in the humi but I am by no way an expert when it comes to RH. Sets my mind at ease if anything.

I followed instructions, what happens is that when I get it out of the refrigerator, it goes back to its humidity and temperature, since the change is radical.

 

[CWS]

Heartfelt beads are pretty easy to use to draw down and maintain humidity. Just do the reverse of what we need to do. Pull em and dry em.

 

[Jfire]

I would buy the HF 65% beads and buy 2x what the chart (HF website) tells you to get for the size humi you have. Knowing that your in the DR and humidity is that high just use the beads dry and never add water. If you want figure out how many ounces of beads you'll need and I'll trade you for the HCM beads..... LMk thru a pm as trades are not allowed in this area.

 

[twenty5]

It doesn't matter if he has HCM or Heartfelt, they both do the same thing. What does matter however is the quality of the seal on the humidor itself.

Once you take the time to make sure there are no leaks (dollar bill test, light test, "whoosh" noise, etc.) you need to dry the humidor out. It doesn't matter if you put HCM or heartfelt in there, you might have to pull the beads out 10 times to dry it out to get it close to where you want it. I would go as far as damp rid if it is really that bad. Once you get it to 65%ish, then put the beads in dry (or at the 65% set point with HCM) and let them do their thing. A little maintenance drying every month or 2 should be all you need after that.

It wouldn't be a bad idea to have a spare set of beads that you could keep dry, swap out with the soaked set and let the soaked set dry, then repeat.

 

[keinreis]

Tried drying out my beads with a hair dryer once... make sure it is on low. Those things get light when dry, and tend to fly.

 

[apaniagua]

Thank you guys for the tips...

It doesn't matter if he has HCM or Heartfelt, they both do the same thing. What does matter however is the quality of the seal on the humidor itself.

Once you take the time to make sure there are no leaks (dollar bill test, light test, "whoosh" noise, etc.) you need to dry the humidor out. It doesn't matter if you put HCM or heartfelt in there, you might have to pull the beads out 10 times to dry it out to get it close to where you want it. I would go as far as damp rid if it is really that bad. Once you get it to 65%ish, then put the beads in dry (or at the 65% set point with HCM) and let them do their thing. A little maintenance drying every month or 2 should be all you need after that.

It wouldn't be a bad idea to have a spare set of beads that you could keep dry, swap out with the soaked set and let the soaked set dry, then repeat.

I made sure that the seal was working. The humidor I bought from Fire_Doc has an awesome seal. And the other one, was leaky but I fixed that with tape on the borders. I know they are not leaking cuz they maintain humidity, a high one, but their humidity don't change easily.

I'm testing my hygrometers with 65% Boveda Packets and 1 is saying 65% the other one saying 69%. Really weird...

Drying out the humidor will be the solution. I'll put cigars inside some ziplocks and dry the humidors with the hair dryer...re-season them if necessary. I'll need to test the HCMBeads to see if they are at 65%.

 

[twenty5]

Drying out the humidor will be the solution. I'll put cigars inside some ziplocks and dry the humidors with the hair dryer...re-season them if necessary. I'll need to test the HCMBeads to see if they are at 65%.

Dry them out with damp rid or something like that, I wouldnt take the hair dryer approach but that may just be overly cautious.

 

[apaniagua]

Heartfelt beads are pretty easy to use to draw down and maintain humidity. Just do the reverse of what we need to do. Pull em and dry em.

I understand, but if they get into a "Preset" 65%...wouldn't they absorb humidity and release them till they hit 65%? Something like the HCM...

 

[twenty5]

All beads do the same thing and it is done basically the same way.

If the set point is 65%:

The humidor humidity is less than 65% they release moisture. As long as the humidor is lower than 65%, they will continue to release moisture until they are completely dry. At this point, the humidor humidity will continue to fall until it levels out with the surrounding humidity of the space.

The humidor humidity is more than 65% they absorb moisture. As long as the humidor is higher than 65%, they will continue to absorb moisture until they no longer have extra room for the moisture. At this point, the humidor humidity will rise with nothing to lower it until it levels out with the surrounding humidity of the space.

 

[Jfire]

All beads do the same thing and it is done basically the same way.

If the set point is 65%:

The humidor humidity is less than 65% they release moisture. As long as the humidor is lower than 65%, they will continue to release moisture until they are completely dry. At this point, the humidor humidity will continue to fall until it levels out with the surrounding humidity of the space.

The humidor humidity is more than 65% they absorb moisture. As long as the humidor is higher than 65%, they will continue to absorb moisture until they no longer have extra room for the moisture. At this point, the humidor humidity will rise with nothing to lower it until it levels out with the surrounding humidity of the space.

I thought HCMs were set at 70 thus the reasoning to have him buy 65% or 60% HF. Rather then try to have him "recondition the HCMs" in a environment that's not very favorable for doing so(70-80% Rh)
Now seeing that HCM are shipped at or around 65% I definitely agree that it is still a humidor issue IMO with leaky seals. That coupled with not enough beads in such a humid enviroment.

 

[apaniagua]

I thought HCMs were set at 70 thus the reasoning to have him buy 65% or 60% HF. Rather then try to have him "recondition the HCMs" in a environment that's not very favorable for doing so(70-80% Rh)
Now seeing that HCM are shipped at or around 65% I definitely agree that it is still a humidor issue IMO with leaky seals. That coupled with not enough beads in such a humid enviroment.

Mine were conditioned to 65% and there's no leaky seal of my humidors. They can keep a humidity for days, even when the outside humidity changes a lot. But yeah, HCM Beads are not so great in this humid environment. Sent PM.