Best option for this

[aherzing]

Try and stick with me on this one guys:

My buddy has this humidor, he was compaining the "it doesnt hold a good humidity" I told him A: Those foam bricks arent a good method, B: you're using the solution improperly C: You cant trust that analog hygro D: The glass and hygro hole are probably areas where air is leaking....

http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/ab154/aherzing/photo-66.jpg

So we set to fix the problem...

-Calibrated the hygro
-Sealed the glass top and the hygro hole with odor free silicone
-We then seasoned it, according the analog hygro it shot up to 80% for the night and later the next day dropped to 60% without being opened or anything and the shot glass of DW is still in there
Do you think this indicates anything?


He's being dumb and doesnt want to buy a new hygro right away, partially because Ive been storing his sticks for him and we are about to part ways for the summer so he wants to make sure his humidor will do the job ASAP.

So the real question, without a hygro and not being 100% sure its leak free, what humidification method should I set him loose with?

I was thinking the Crystal Gel Humidifier Jar from Cigar Solutions
Monster Magma Gel from CM
The Xikar Crystal Humidifier
or Boveda Packs

I know theres gonna be a push for boveda but I think the other two will turn out better in the end?


Whats everyones thoughts.

 

[SuprHasan]

Boveda. No question about it.
Nothing else comes close, and for $4, you can't go wrong.

 

[veeref]

Boveda packs or beads. I would put my faith in either of those if I knew I didn't have a reliable hygrometer.

Regards,
Randy

 

[IPH]

questions:
1) when you say seasoned, what was the process to do so?
2). I know the glass top is sexy but what about a short term fix of Tupperware with some cedar and Bovedas?

 

[aherzing]

questions:
1) when you say seasoned, what was the process to do so?
2). I know the glass top is sexy but what about a short term fix of Tupperware with some cedar and Bovedas?

Whenever I suggest the tupperware route i get "But this one looks so good and i spent good money on it" so Im not gonna win that battle

Seasoning- Wiped down the inside with DW (i know this is a controversial practice) then left the towel in the humidor on an empty shot glass so its not touching any wood along with a second shot glass half full of DW

 

[danthebugman]

Without knowing if your hygro is accurate I would also say Boveda. You can have reasonable assurance that as long as you're packs are squishy, you're maintaining around that humidity level. Longer term though, he needs a different hygro. Possibly a different humidor also. It'll prove less stressful.

Dan

 

[IPH]

Dan, as always, speaks the truth. The analog is suspect. Worse comes to worse, use 2 types of humidifying agents, as long as 1 is the Boveda since it is a true 2 way process. If the humidor is too moist, the Boveda draws in, too dry and it gives it off. That's how I manage both my desk tops.

 

[aherzing]

You think 2 packs is enough?

 

[Craig Mac]

Get a digital hygrometer and calibrate it. Get some heartfelt beads for humidification, throw the sticks in a zip lock bag with the beads and toss a bowl of distilled in the humi until it reads the desired humidity. Transfer the sticks back to the humi and be done with it.

 

[apaniagua]

aherzing...maybe it's not holding humidity because of the seal. I have a humidor like that, and I sealed the top, and still...I had to use tape. Look the picture:

 

[IPH]

You think 2 packs is enough?

From the pic, I'd guess 2 would get you by.
What's the size of the humi? If the number you respond with is the manufacturer's spec, subtract 25% of that. I've never seen a 25 count actually hold 25, nor a 50 hold 50, unless they are all petite coronas.

Ian

 

[Rupe]

To season your humidor correctly you generally need a little bit longer than 1 day, even with the "wipe down" method. My experience is that it usually takes at least 2 wipe downs and 3-5 days (if not longer) to get them to stabilize at 70%. The reason that it hit 80% initially and then went to 60% the next day is that the moisture from the wipedown was in the air initially but was then absorbed by the drier wood. You only put moisture on the outer layer of the wood and into the air but have not thoruoghly saturated the wood yet. Give it one more wipedown and some additional time and you should get it to stabilize.

As far as humidification, if you are happy at 70% the Xikar or Cigar solutions gel should work just fine. Personally I have used Drymistat tubes in the past because they take up less space than the jars. These worked very well and are less expensive than Bovedas. Contrary to what many say, The gel in these is 2 way. They are designed to maintain 70%, will both give off AND absorb moisture, and are easier to maintain than beads. (not that beads are that difficult).That being said, unfortunately 70% is the only humidity level option with these. If he wants to keep his sticks at 65% then I would go with the beads (in tubes) or the Bovedas.

Anyway, this is just my 2 cents. Hopefully you can help him get this worked out.

Rupe


PS...If he goes with the Bovedas, the formula is one pack plus one additional pack for every 50 cigars of capacity. That would be 2 for a 50 count, 3 for a 100 count, 4 for a 150 count and so on. My personal opinion is that this is too expensive since they need to be replaced every 2-3 months but there are many others here that will claim it is a cheap investment to take care of their cigars. Just like anything else there is really not a right or wrong answer, it is just a matter of personal preference.

 

[GoingPostal]

Consider the analog decoration no way to trust it.
A Few questions:
Regarding the Seal
when you let the lid drop does it slam shut or is there a woosh sound? if it's a good seal should hear a woosh.
It's a glass top does sunlight directly hit it? are there wide temperature swings in the room it's in? Glass is a poor insulator so got to keep it out of the sunlight and away from AC / Heating vents.
How long did you leave the towel in there to season? Minimally should of had the shot glass inside(no towel) for a week

Regarding the Humidifier
without a digital hygrometer Boveda is your only worry free choice. I know some people think they are pricey best thing is buy 6 packs. Use 3 and when they start to get a little cruchy just swap them out with the 3 extra while you "rehydrate" the others and keep the rotation going.

 

[Rupe]

Regarding the Humidifier
without a digital hygrometer Boveda is your only worry free choice. I know some people think they are pricey best thing is buy 6 packs. Use 3 and when they start to get a little cruchy just swap them out with the 3 extra while you "rehydrate" the others and keep the rotation going.

GoingPostal...A little bit off topic for this thread but I did not realize that there was a way to rehydrate Bovedas. Would it be possible for you to post something here or in a seperate thread (or PM me) on how to do it? When I used them in the past I just threw them away when they got hard which is why I consider them to be too expensive. If there is a way to "rehydrate" them then I would seriously consider going back to using them in my desktops.

Rupe

 

[aherzing]

Rupe, my thought would be, since Bovedas are two-way (meaning they can absorb as well as humidify) to rehydrate one you would put it in a tupperware with a sponge, paper towel, shot glass full/soaked in distilled water and the boveda would gradually reabsorb the moisture...



Thanks for all the help guys! He is gonna pick up some bovedas in the next couple days and we shall see...

Ill check on the "woosh" with the seal

 

[danthebugman]

GoingPostal...A little bit off topic for this thread but I did not realize that there was a way to rehydrate Bovedas. Would it be possible for you to post something here or in a seperate thread (or PM me) on how to do it? When I used them in the past I just threw them away when they got hard which is why I consider them to be too expensive. If there is a way to "rehydrate" them then I would seriously consider going back to using them in my desktops.

Rupe

http://www.botl.org/community/forums/showthread.php/60908-Rehydrating-Bovedas?p=1089262#post1089262

Enjoy :thumbsup:.

Dan

 

[zirotti]

1) Boveda
2) Smoke & Enjoy