Tupperware Problem?

[HollyVVOOD]

Hey guys,

I have this fairly large Tupperware I've been using for several weeks now. I have 69% Boveda packs in there but the Hygrometer sits at a solid 75% all day. I've used two different hygrometers and made sure they were both calibrated correctly.

I haven't notice any ill effects with the sticks sitting in there but I'm still worried. The Tupperware claimed to be air tight and it does appear to be so. Still, I'm not sure why the hygrometers are reading 75% when they both read a perfect 69% in my desktop humidor.

What do you guys think? Is the Tupperware too large for the amount of sticks in there? Thank you for your help and input here.




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[boltman]

Have you recalibrated with the salt test?

 

[HollyVVOOD]

Have you recalibrated with the salt test?

They were both calibrated with the salt test but no I have not recalibrated them after this fact. I felt it wasn't necessary because they both read 75% in the Tupperware and 69% in my desktop.

 

[Mossome]

Might it be the cigars causing the problem? If they are at 75 and giving off moisture, wouldn't the rh inside the box be that high while the bovedas are trying to absorb the excess moisture until they can stabilize everything at 69?

 

[HollyVVOOD]

Might it be the cigars causing the problem? If they are at 75 and giving off moisture, wouldn't the rh inside the box be that high while the bovedas are trying to absorb the excess moisture until they can stabilize everything at 69?

I didn't think of that but wouldn't the bovedas be expanding if they're absorbing excess moisture from the cigars? They appear to be shrinking normally.

 

[xjsnake]

I didn't think of that but wouldn't the bovedas be expanding if they're absorbing excess moisture from the cigars? They appear to be shrinking normally.

If they are shrinking, you likely don't have an airtight container and so the RH is going to be all sorts of wonky.

 

[boltman]

you can take kitty litter and put it in the oven at 300 degrees for 10 or 15 minutes. Let it cool to room temp and put about a pound of it in your Tupperware container. It will suck the moisture out of the air. I have done this two or three times when i needed to pull moisture from the environment. It worked like a charm for me.

 

[Mossome]

Take the cigars out and leave the bovedas and hygrometer in. If it still reads 75, it's the Tupperware. If it drops back down to 69, it's the cigars.

 

[HollyVVOOD]

Take the cigars out and leave the bovedas and hygrometer in. If it still reads 75, it's the Tupperware. If it drops back down to 69, it's the cigars.

I'll try this first thing tomorrow. Thanks for all the responses, guys.

 

[eastcoast paul]

If it is air tight the bovedas should hardly change at all. I had 2 65% bovedas in mine for nearly a year and they were still good. I kept one in my traveldore and it needed recharging several times in that time period.

 

[HollyVVOOD]

Alright check it out guys. I left the sticks out for a couples hours and guess what, it stayed at 75%.

Looks like I'm going Tupperware shopping. Serious false advertising because this specifically said "Air Tight" when I purchased it.




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[JG358]

Don’t think the Tupperware is the issue. Looks to have an O-ring built into the lid so it should be sealing fine. Since your in S. Florida, I'd assume your ambient humidity is too high(or maybe your cigars humidity) and the boveda packs can’t absorb enough to bring the Rh to your desired level. I'd toss in a container with kitty litter to drop the RH in the Tupperware. Worked like a champ when my wineador got all out of wack.
.

 

[marshall9779]

I personally think it's a calibration issue. Bovedas are pretty spot on. I would get ine of their calibration kits instead of using the salt test.


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[HollyVVOOD]

Thanks for the continued input guys.

It says airtight and it does have an O ring seal but when I inspected the "seal" further, it doesn't appear to be closing tight enough to create that air tight seal. There's four latches on each side but they're not "latching" like you would think. They seem to be weak. I don't know, maybe I got semi defective product that doesn't close all the way.

Now if the RH was too high, and the Bovedas are trying to absorb it all but couldn't, wouldn't they be increasing in size? Or even maintaining? They're definitely shrinking.

Yes I'm in S FL and it's stupid humid outside but the humidity in the room is 56% with a temperature of 72* most of the day, according to both of the Hygrometers at least. I'm definitely going to get a calibration kit just to make 100% sure they are not at fault.

Also, I agree bovedas are spot on. I use the same 69 Pack in my desktop which reads a solid 69% with either of the two hygrometers.

 

[SharkyZiff]

I also think your hygrometer is off. Boveda calibration kit is the way to go IMO to be 100% sure.

My Ziplock brand Tupperdors from Wally World hold RH like a champ. If you are worried about your current Tupperdor, I say go spend the $12 and swap it out for piece of mind for all of those nice cigars. You could always repurpose your current Tupperdor if it is truly defective. I also have a Tupperdor thread if you want to give it a quick read...
http://www.botl.org/threads/expert-opinions-needed-tupperdor.82506/

 

[JG358]

If your ambient humidity is 56, then I'd think it must be your sticks are holding to much moisture for the Bovedas to handle. Most the stuff I get from the local B&M is over humidified. Id assume the Boveda packs would get bigger when taking in moisture but I've never used them so I dont know. How do your sticks feel? Are they kinda spongy feeling?

I'd still think some dry kitty litter would bring the RH down and stabalize things for you. Wouldnt hurt to toss some Spanish Cedar in there too.

 

[HollyVVOOD]

If your ambient humidity is 56, then I'd think it must be your sticks are holding to much moisture for the Bovedas to handle. Most the stuff I get from the local B&M is over humidified. Id assume the Boveda packs would get bigger when taking in moisture but I've never used them so I dont know. How do your sticks feel? Are they kinda spongy feeling?

I'd still think some dry kitty litter would bring the RH down and stabalize things for you. Wouldnt hurt to toss some Spanish Cedar in there too.

To be honest they're definitely softer than the sticks in my desktop. Not too much though like a sponge.

I also think your hygrometer is off. Boveda calibration kit is the way to go IMO to be 100% sure.

My Ziplock brand Tupperdors from Wally World hold RH like a champ. If you are worried about your current Tupperdor, I say go spend the $12 and swap it out for piece of mind for all of those nice cigars. You could always repurpose your current Tupperdor if it is truly defective. I also have a Tupperdor thread if you want to give it a quick read...
http://www.botl.org/threads/expert-opinions-needed-tupperdor.82506/

Haha I actually read your thread yesterday when I went on the hunt for my next Tupperware. I'm definitely thinking about getting a Ziplock one with drawers if I can't figure this issue with mine. I don't need all the space now, but I'm sure it won't be long before I do...

For now, I'm going to get the calibration kit and if they're holding true, I will try the kitty litter to grab some of the moisture out and see what happens.

 

[marshall9779]

On a side note if the sticks are wet from B&M or what have you it does take time for the Bovedas to bring them down. When I switched my 30qt tupperdore from 69s to 65s, it took almost a month for it to come down and stabilize at 65.


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[Shadow]

No need for calibration kit. Put the hygrometer and Bovedas from the Tupperware into a gallon ziploc together. If it reads anything other than 69%, there's your problem.

I expect either the hygrometer is off or your sticks are over-humidified. If your room RH is below 69%, then a leaky Tupperware would result in lower RH, not higher RH.

 

[JG358]

No need for calibration kit. Put the hygrometer and Bovedas from the Tupperware into a gallon ziploc together. If it reads anything other than 69%, there's your problem.

I expect either the hygrometer is off or your sticks are over-humidified. If your room RH is below 69%, then a leaky Tupperware would result in lower RH, not higher RH.

If the Boveda packs have been obsorbing extra moisture from over-humidified cigars, is it possible for the boveda packs to be over charged from taking on the extra moisture? .