how do I condition beads?
- Thread starter FireDragon
- Start date
What kinda beads we talkin bout here?
ChefBoyRG54
BoM Sept '14 & BoY 2014
They could be 62% beads
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Maybe they are just dried out. Yet it seems like no matter how much moisture I add to the humidor, the RH doesn't really change, in fact it's going down. One cigar box I was keeping stuff in had visible water stains on the inside but the humidity was still going down. I am using both beads and also foam and gel humidifiers in the same boxes.
The only thing that is happening that is new is the room temperature dropped to 65 degrees. It's so cold in Florida that the heater in my apartment cannot keep up with it. But I don't know if that's the cause (I live in an old apartment and it has low insulation in the walls, typical of the time period in Florida).
The only thing that is happening that is new is the room temperature dropped to 65 degrees. It's so cold in Florida that the heater in my apartment cannot keep up with it. But I don't know if that's the cause (I live in an old apartment and it has low insulation in the walls, typical of the time period in Florida).
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Yes, but just until the humidity got up to about 75. Maybe not long enough? Initially the cigar humidor would just drink up the water for a few days. I did not use the wipe-down method as I think that is a bit crazy to use on naked wood, I used a gel humidifier and some small pipe pouch humidifiers.
I'm thinking about "abandoning ship" and moving all the cigars into Zip-Locks with a Boveda. It's not a big humidor, about 12 cigars. I don't want to ruin the cigars.
Might be a good idea until you get that sucker stabilized!
While you've got it emptied out, I definitely recommend re-seasoning and wiping the wood down with distilled water. The idea sounds silly, but it works. Spanish cedar is equally good at absorbing moisture and releasing it. So you won't ruin the wood. You just want to lightly dampen, not saturate it. Hope this helps. Good luck!
Ducttapegonewild
Actual Size
First thing, take out the foam. and the gel humidifiers. I would recommend that you go with one type of humidification, otherwise, every type you have will be battling the others. No matter what you do, throw the foam away, and determine which one path to go. I would recommend going strictly with Boveda packs, but only because I have had nothing but luck with them and use them to keep everything I own where I want it. In addition, have you calibrated the hydrometer? If not, that may be your issue there. Do you know what level you are at with your beads? Are they 60% or 62% or 65% or 90%? You will not be able to maintain beads at 65% if they are designed for 60%
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My hygrometer is really good. I got it from an avian supply company and I tested it a few times.
I'm thinking about just getting some more small Rubbermaid lunch boxes, some more 8 gram Bovedas, and using those and forgetting the humidor altogether. It's getting to be too much of a pain. I'm also looking into HCM beads because they work differently from silica beads (they don't have a specific RH that they are conditioned to work at). I still like the fact that beads absorb ammonia, it definitely improves the cigar smoking experience.
I'm using Cigar Mechanic beads. If you directly wet them, they start to pop and fizzle and later, make dust everywhere. So I'm using it along with other humidification so I don't directly wet them. They are mostly clear looking with a few that are white.
I'm thinking about just getting some more small Rubbermaid lunch boxes, some more 8 gram Bovedas, and using those and forgetting the humidor altogether. It's getting to be too much of a pain. I'm also looking into HCM beads because they work differently from silica beads (they don't have a specific RH that they are conditioned to work at). I still like the fact that beads absorb ammonia, it definitely improves the cigar smoking experience.
I'm using Cigar Mechanic beads. If you directly wet them, they start to pop and fizzle and later, make dust everywhere. So I'm using it along with other humidification so I don't directly wet them. They are mostly clear looking with a few that are white.
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That's weird that you can't add water directly to the beads. I know with heartfelt beads a little mist of water and they are good to go.
Are you sure the humidor has a good seal? If its not a really well built humidor I would ditch it all together and get a sterilite container from target and add some empty boxes from your B&M for singles. You can get the size container you think you need and it's air tight. I also like the fact I can look through the box to see what's going on.
http://www.target.com/p/sterilite-air-tight-storage-tote-transparent-with-aquarium-blue-latch-54qt/-/A-15079778#prodSlot=medium_3_19&term=sterilite
Are you sure the humidor has a good seal? If its not a really well built humidor I would ditch it all together and get a sterilite container from target and add some empty boxes from your B&M for singles. You can get the size container you think you need and it's air tight. I also like the fact I can look through the box to see what's going on.
http://www.target.com/p/sterilite-air-tight-storage-tote-transparent-with-aquarium-blue-latch-54qt/-/A-15079778#prodSlot=medium_3_19&term=sterilite
Cigary43
Just Another Ashhole
Reaching a target RH can be a real grind esp. if your equipment is working against you. As others have said refrain from using more than one type of media...it will constantly give you false readings. Gels and foam is probably the worst media around as it sets you up for issues later. Boveda paks are good and popular and tend to be a no brainer...kitty litter works great and it just requires a little time to dial in the RH you want but it works to perfection. Having the right humidor that doesn't leak is another thing to consider.....check it with a 'dollar bill test' or light to ensure you have a good seal on it. Beads works well but you have to choose what RH you want...65% is the most popular and if you can't get your beads to get to that percentage I'd say the problem starts with the humidor....rarely is it the beads fault.
Craig Mac
BoM 4/10 7/11 12/14
Here is the info from the HCM website as to why you can't directly water HCM beads:
NEVER add water directly to your beads. HCM beads can become very hot and melt their bag or canister. It is not a chemical reaction that causes the heat, it is the friction created by the water rushing into billions of tiny pores at an incredible speed. Adding water directly to the beads will also upset the delicate balance that is equilibrium. Once that balance is thrown off, it takes a huge amount of effort to bring the beads back to their proper set-point.
I found with the hearfelt beads they would tend to crack over time when directly watered and wouldn't be surprised if it was the same reason listed above, just happening on a smaller scale because the heartfelt beads are not as absorbant
I am currently experiencing a similar situation. One of my humidors just wouldn't get up past 60. Figured with the winter and the fact that it really dry here in Ut I needed to re-season. So I put all my sticks in a tupperdor and some sponges in the humidor. Turns out my sticks needed some re-seasoning as they are at 60 in the tupperdor. In the end I think I just need more patience but not too much. Don't want to let the RH get too low before I do something about it. In a week or so I'll check the humidor and hopefully by then my sticks will be up a bit so I can put them back in. I think if I'd have waited to for the sticks/humidor to come back up it would've taken too long. Humidity isn't quick. I use heartfelt and HCM beads, all @ 65%. My tupperdors hold like a rock, my humidors are a bit more susceptible to the weather. Actually, if I knew then what I know now I would have spent my money on cigars and went with tupperdors exclusively, live and learn. And of course, dump the foam and gel, go with beads or Boveda as others have said.
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I thought at first the beads were bad but now I'm fairly certain it is the humidor , based on the feedback I have gotten. Apparrently, Cigar Mechanic beads are not considered the best, either, by some people with more experience. For whatever reason, they do not keep the most stable humidity. They are better than gel or foam but not as good as Heartfelt, HCM, or Boveda. I think I'll save the beads for scavenging ammonia, but they aren't very reliable for holding humidity.
How is the seal on your humidor? It seems to me that sub-par seals are the norm on many humidors. And humidity can leak through the wood itself. I'm using a used Chinese humidor (one of those freebies you get from Thompson), I removed the felt, sealed the bottom with silicone and varnish, which helped a great deal, and it was doing fine until the recent cold snaps we've been having in Florida. Just opening the lid to get a cigar or check on the humidity a few times a day seems to be killing it.
the seal on my himidor is good, passes all the tests and was working much better before winter hit. I just think that the fight between the dry air here and the himidor is eventually won by the air. Definitely try and stay out of it as much as you can. I have a travel case that I use for my weekly smokes to avoid opening the 'dor. But the humidity reading in my office right now is 12% and stays around there most the time, tough to keep up with that. (I keep my smokes at work to avoid conflict with SWMBO)
Jfire
BoM 9/9' 9/11' 8/12'
You answered your own question. The humidor you have is probably one of the tiny 20-25ct desktops that are terrible humidors. Now that winter has hit in your area, you have turned on a heater. The cheap humidor is not holding RH. (It never was you just live in a fairly humid area.)
Throw it out and grab a 3 dollar tupperware from your kitchen or retail store.....
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The ambient humidity has been about 40-50 all winter. I don't know if that is low or high- it feels OK, nothing unpleasant. We have a dehumidifier for the apartment (the AC didn't work right for a year) and it never runs in the winter here. The humidor was not a real pain to take care of till the humidity dropped to 25%, however.
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The bottom of the humidor feels clammy compared to the top, maybe humidity is leaking through the fiberboard? I tried sealing it weeks ago with varnish but maybe that only stops liquid water, not humidity.
I also have an old Decatur humidor I have been testing. It is made from milk glass and solid walnut. The humidity seems to be much more stable.
I also have an old Decatur humidor I have been testing. It is made from milk glass and solid walnut. The humidity seems to be much more stable.
