Thank you again for the opportunity to offer reliable resource material to the readers here. Just so we are on the same page here; we are talking about converting a domestic refrigerator to cigar storage and, Tobacco Beetle infestation control.
To that end we start with the domestic refrigerator as it is a purpose engineered machine. The specific design of these domestic refrigerators uses moving air to wick heat from the content inside. Put another way the domestic refrigerators takes heat away they do not put cold in. They do this by moving conditioned air in and out of the structural box lining the inside. This is a controlled atmosphere within the noted box. The same thing happens within the compartment of a frost free freezer. Upon review, “The 2004, CORESTA Sub Group report” seems not to have considered these properties of a domestic refrigerator.
It is the moving air that desiccates (dries out) the items inside the refrigerator and freezer in question. Which is what happens in the grander scale to the snow that was noted in the past posting. (Many here have never seen the “NatGeo Show” that JCinPA referred to. We may only wish them well.) Simple put, the more wind generally the dryer more icy crystal type snow and, less wind wetter snow. To control this moisture effect the refrigerator, many people turn to some type of bagging use within our domestic refrigerators. Yet even the high density polyethylene bags (AKA heavy freezer bags) noted in my past response transpire or surrender moisture through their surface. The transpiration is true of polyethylene even in a “well sealed wineadore” as JcinPA has tried to redirect our attention to.
Consider the very good article for Smokeshope by: Dale Scott. Mr. Scott is also the author of: "How to Select and Enjoy Premium Cigars...and Save Money!" 1997 Available to tobacconists. Contact Coast Creative Services, P.O. Box 113, Julian, CA 92036.
The article for Smokeshope is viewable at:
http://www.smokeshopmag.com/1298/primer.htm
There we see that the last few paragraphs point to the issue of minimizing the desiccating effect in a low temperature storage environment. Therein, Smokeshope, February, 1998, featured the profile on Inter-Continental Cigar Corporation. The reporter notes that Inter-Continental Cigar Corporation:
“. . . consolidate them into manageable-sized bundles and wrap them in vapor-barrier freezer wrap; the metallized Mylar kind that is absolutely air- and moisture-tight. Regular plastic won't cut it. Use a similar vapor-proof tape to seal them.”
The regular plastic they are talking about folks is the high density polyethylene freezer bags noted herein and in my last report. Further they go on to say:
“. . . Be careful to remove the Mylar vapor seal from the cigars only when the humidity of the environment is low, so moisture from the atmosphere doesn't collect on their wrappers, which can mottle or pucker them. It can also warp the covers on the cigar boxes.”
That is the same as ground condensation and yes, just what happens in the weather outside when you get dew on your car. So we move on to the information at website:
www.cubancigarwebsite.com/cigar-pests.pdf
In the last portion of the article we see that Japanese tobacco firms have used a range of 49 to 59 degrees Fahrenheit for long term problem free storage. True the lower range number is within the range noted in my first response and upper number is higher than my memo. It is an overlapping range. This range may be narrowed by the use of aftermarket power humidifiers within the domestic refrigerator conversion we are discussing here. This “fine tunning process” is important because the volume, fixed speed, and velocity (change in speed) of air displacement varies between domestic refrigerator manufacturers. Should the reader need more information please contact the engineering department of the manufacture. They should be able to provide you a differential calculus formula that plots the relative humidity of their own design refrigerator. The solution here is: If an over the counter electronic computerized humidifier is used; the refrigerator conversion will be self regulating based upon the user settings.
The B O T L reader may care to review this report and site from the University of Florida at:
It is informative as it offers an option of both cold and hot storage infestation control.
“Items can be placed in the refrigerator or freezer (16 days at 36°F, seven days at 25°F or 32°F for four to seven days) to kill all stages.”
Or how about this heat method from the same University of Florida report:
“Heating small quantities of infested material in an oven (190°F for one hour, 120°F for 16 to 24 hours) also is effective.”
Moving on the reader will find a full study provided by (hold your breath now) the United States Department of Agriculture, the Agricultural Marketing Service Unit that can be down loaded in P.D.F. from this address:
If we turn to page 35 of this USDA report it notes that:
“Cool storage is also widely used in the cigar industry to prevent cigarette beetle infestation. Valuable sweated tobaccos and finished cigars are stored in rooms at 34° to 55° F. No infestation can occur at these temperatures, since the beetle is inactivated.”
Thus we see an industry used temperature spread with an even lower end than what was stated in my first memo. The above used USDA report contains a list of 19 contributory cited literature sources. I invite the reader to study this report. The report is very good and is currently used by the United States Tobacco farmers and processors as one of the “go-to study sources.”
As stated in my past report: A fair reputable tobacco vender will work with you if there is a problem with the product they sell you. They will do it because they want your repeat business and good public relations. Personally I encountered wrappers that were too thin, excessive stem pieces in a cigar body and, cutters that were not sharp; the replacement and feedback were all handled very well by the venders.
As many of us know: If you use a well known credit card and receive an item you did not order (such as Beetles or other vermin) and after notifying the seller “in writing” without getting a correction by the seller, the credit card company will reverse the charges and discipline the seller. Remember too, that you need to disinfect your storage that contained or was in proximity to the infestation before you restock it.
Now we have seen:
1. The explanation of the true difference between a repurposed domestic refrigerator and an engineered cigar cooler,
A. Why that difference effects the items inside,
B. How to compensate for the difference with an over the counter electronic controlled humidifier,
2. A review (with reference sources) by Smokeshopemag.com that shows the use of Mylar for remediation of desiccation and,
3. Three cited sources including a University and the United States Department of Agriculture report with over nineteen additional contributory sources that offer cigar storage ranging from 55 degrees down to 35 degrees Fahrenheit.
The people here at B O T L are not confused! They are very intelligent and capable of doing the follow-up study for their own use.
In closing, no one here need “call one out” or, “eat crow” or, act like an adolescent emotional child. The wise reader will see that a simple apology and polite conduct will promote respect and further contribution for this very good “Brothers Of The Leaf” site. Thus, the apology from JCinPA is hereby accepted.
So . . . now we light up and puff on . . .
