Ever Bring Your Own Hygrometer into a B&M ?
- Thread starter JR Kipling
- Start date
" Pluck - (definition) - Resourceful courage and daring in the face of difficulties"
Wasn't talking about raising a big scene, confronting the shop owner & raising Hell, carrying protestor signs outside the establishment, calling in the local news team with their mobile van, going to battle over it, etc, etc etc.
BOTL bosteneo (above) knew that his local shop kept the humi too dry because he had his own hygrometer to check. But that was a hygrometer kept there, so had time to give a stable, accurate reading.
But, like others have pointed out, - its probably best to just assume the B&M humi is kept too high, smoke your own if there, and smoke the ones you buy there, later.
Wasn't talking about raising a big scene, confronting the shop owner & raising Hell, carrying protestor signs outside the establishment, calling in the local news team with their mobile van, going to battle over it, etc, etc etc.
BOTL bosteneo (above) knew that his local shop kept the humi too dry because he had his own hygrometer to check. But that was a hygrometer kept there, so had time to give a stable, accurate reading.
But, like others have pointed out, - its probably best to just assume the B&M humi is kept too high, smoke your own if there, and smoke the ones you buy there, later.
I really don't see the need to do this. You should be able to tell the quality of their humidor by the condition of the sticks when you feel them. As a customer, I would never consider doing this. As someone that worked in a cigar lounge, I would be offended if someone did that. Would you go to a restaurant and ask to check the temp of their grill before ordering your burger?
Cigary43
Just Another Ashhole
Had to think about this a bit. Im one of those who visit a lot of B&M's around this country and have dealt with a lot of humidors that I know are kept at a higher humidity for the reasons already given. Most hobbyists who go to B&M's don't really care and buy/smoke them there. There are those of us who like their cigars at a percentage and won't budge....but when I visit a B&M I ask the manager if it's ok to smoke mine that I bring as long as I buy a couple of theirs. I've yet to hear any Manager say no....I just want a place to smoke and that could mean a few hours there which I figure is like paying rent for the time I'm there. I usually will buy other things.....drinks, coffee, etc. I gotta think of the embarrassment factor if you are caught with your own Hygro while in the humidor checking for RH...kinda of like bringing in your own steak sauce to a restaurant....kinda like what EVP was saying. JMO
Mr. McSquirelly
Joe Bananas
As @bostoneo pointed out, he has his own locker for long-term storage. It makes sense to check the humidity in that case. Hygrometers need at least 24 hours to give an accurate reading because of general fluctuations of humidity and ambient temperature. So even puling out your pocket Xicar and standing there for 5 minutes won't really give you an accurate reading anyway. I guess you could leave the hygro in a discrete hiding spot somewhere within the humidor after work, and then come back in two days and see what it reads. B&Ms are always gonna be 68-72, simply because that is the traditional number, favoring the 70-72 side of that number. My guess is that they like the higher number because of the sever fluctuations from daily customer traffic during business hours (imagine opening and closing your own personal humidor 200-300 times a day).
I find that Dominicans smoke better at higher RH anyway, especially Fuentes and Montecristos. Nicaraguans not so much. So typically I buy Dominicans when visiting B&M.
But if you went into a B&M and stood in the walk-in holding your hygrometer in the air, the regulars and the owners will most likely think you are either a noob or a stunazzioni, because doing that will not give you an accurate reading of RH and it's insulting to the man who maintains the humidifier.
When I'm in Florida, I usually smoke at Vintino's off the 41. If I went in there and pulled out my hygrometer in the walk-in and the owner saw me do that, he'd probably be like, "Hey, what the fuck are you doing?"
It's really nothing more than an affront to ownership. And the serious regulars who smoke there all the time will probably think I'm a nutjob.
@ Mr Squirelly - thanks for the detailed reply & explanation. That makes complete sense.
Mr. McSquirelly
Joe Bananas
Well, if it you are very concerned about RH at various B&Ms in your area, or you've smoked a few wet ones, I would hide a hygrometer in the walk-in and come back in 2-3 days. If it reads +75, I wouldn't go back.
BTW - I do own a portable device that would give a quick, accurate reading of humidity. ( I do long range precision rifle shooting where ambient atmospheric conditions are critical.) I wouldn't bring that unit into a B&M.
I was curious about this for my own information, not to ruffle feathers.
I was curious about this for my own information, not to ruffle feathers.
@ Mr Squirely - thanks. I wouldnt feel comfortable hiding something on another fellow's property.
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Just ask the owner if you can leave it there for a couple days for calibration purposes, because you trust their humi conditions and expertise, etc. Now you're being up front about it, and it shows faith in the shop. Good chance they'll be happy to "help" you with your "hygrometer problems".
Well, looking over the thread I see the best approach is for me to just "go with the flow" & mellow out about it.
Smoke my own now and their's later after I dry box them. If they keep em way too dry, - don't go back.
Reminder to self: Its a cigar, not a thousand yard shot.
Smoke my own now and their's later after I dry box them. If they keep em way too dry, - don't go back.
Reminder to self: Its a cigar, not a thousand yard shot.
One more thing no one mentioned was if the cigar really isn't smokeable at all they might give you another one. I've had it happen a couple times where I couldn't even smoke past the first inch
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If you are curious, just buy a couple of cheapies and throw them in a ziplock with your hygrometer. Then you will have an idea of how long your need to acclimate them to your preferred Rh. The rule of thumb is 1 week for each degree of Rh change you desire. If it's 72 and you like your cigars at 65 then wait at least 7 weeks in your humidor.