How full is too full?

[njstone]

Forgive me, I know this has been discussed here and there but it would be great to get some sort of consensus...

I've rearranged my largest tupperdor and bought a few perfect-sized empty boxes at my local B&M (the CAO boxes with the magnet closures...I like 'em), and at this point I can actually eliminate my smallest tupperdor and fit everything into the biggest one. This will mean I'll have only 2 bins--which looks much better to the wife and allows me to organize a bit more to my liking.

The only thing is, my biggest tupperdor is now maxed out. I'd say close to 90% of the total volume is now filled with cedar boxes full of sticks, bags of beads, etc.

I'm having a bit of trouble keeping my humidity regulated throughout the entire bin--it's usually close to 4% higher at one end than the other. I'm using a bunch of Humicare type beads (not Heartfelt). I know the seal isn't great, so I could put more weight on top, but honestly I'm wondering if it's even a good idea to keep my tupperdor so full.

I've read some posts where people say to keep them at only 75% capacity, others say that they max thier's out.

What do you guys think? Can I make this nearly-full container work or should I give in and put some boxes back in my now-empty bin?

Thanks!

 

[dpricenator]

If you have the same rh% beads throughout the box, you should be fine. Of course having a bit of room to put a small oust fan or something in there for circulation wouldn't be abad isea. And be sure they lid is opened and you allow fresh air in at least once a week.

 

[njstone]

If you have the same rh% beads throughout the box, you should be fine. Of course having a bit of room to put a small oust fan or something in there for circulation wouldn't be abad isea. And be sure they lid is opened and you allow fresh air in at least once a week.

I have the same rH% beads, and more than enough (which is supposed to be better, right?). Opening the lid weekly isn't a problem. As far as circulation...well, there isn't much room in there for circulation, which is what I'm concerned about.

What is this "oust fan" of which you speak? A small battery-operated fan?

 

[dpricenator]

Oust is an airfreshener, that you put in a samll batteroperated fan assembly. It run for 5 miutes and then turns off for 15. It runs just enought o move a small amount of air. They have been discontinued, but can be found on EBAY still. DO NOT USE OR BUY THE FRAGRANCE.

http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=m38&_nkw=oust+fan&_sacat=See-All-Categories

 

[njstone]

One more thing--my bags of beads tend to leave wet marks on whatever they're setting on, which seems undesirable to me. Is that normal?

 

[dpricenator]

It's normal if you beads are too wet. But I would think they should leave marks unless you have just sprayed them with water. I would be sure they are sitting in a plastic dish of some type.

 

[jmatkins]

My 2 coolidors are pretty packed follow Dprice's notes, but check to see is your lid is not colsing due to a box impeading it. If so I would get a 2nd coolidor going.......remember you will need the 2nd one soon enough.

 

[njstone]

My 2 coolidors are pretty packed follow Dprice's notes, but check to see is your lid is not colsing due to a box impeading it. If so I would get a 2nd coolidor going.......remember you will need the 2nd one soon enough.

This one actually IS my 2nd, and bigger one. I"m trying to consolidate #3 into #2, at least mostly. I think I've decided to remove all my small smokes and keep that tupperdor upstairs for winter, since that's all I'll be smoking for a few months due to the cold.

Right now nothing is impeding the cover, though there really isnt' a "seal" because it's just not a good-sealing bin. But I figure airflow is a good thing, right?

I tried rearranging stuff today, and will see if that helps. As of now, the rH% is still higher on one end of the bin.

---As far as the beads leaving wet marks, I'm using the Heartfelt mesh bags that he sells on his website. I figured those would work fine, as others I know just use pantyhose. But they still leave wet marks, just on the boxes that they touch. Maybe I can just put a small plastic bag or something between the bead-bag and the cigar boxes? I switched to bags instead of ziplock containers because it was easier to fit them into odd spaces, but this contact-wetness worries me...???????????

 

[dpricenator]

I use panty hose, but the wet mark might mean your beads are too wet and requires some drying time. I just set me beads in front of a fan for a few hours to dry them out. Are your beads clear or white? Clear beads are full of water, white beads are ready to absorb water. You should be about 50/50, with a bit of variance. at that level you won't see much if any wet marks. I put mine directly on the plastic in the bottom of my wine cooler so they are never acctually on a cigar box. I would set them on a plastic bag for now, but if those beads are all clear, they should be dried a bit.

 

[njstone]

I use panty hose, but the wet mark might mean your beads are too wet and requires some drying time. I just set me beads in front of a fan for a few hours to dry them out. Are your beads clear or white? Clear beads are full of water, white beads are ready to absorb water. You should be about 50/50, with a bit of variance. at that level you won't see much if any wet marks. I put mine directly on the plastic in the bottom of my wine cooler so they are never acctually on a cigar box. I would set them on a plastic bag for now, but if those beads are all clear, they should be dried a bit.

Okay thanks a lot. Mine must be too wet. I'll set them in front of a fan for the afternoon today.

So when you re-wet them, how do you do it? I just put them in a big bowl and dumped in some more distilled water, mixed them up, re-bagged and let them sit on paper towels...I'm guessing that left them to wet.

Thanks for all the help, by the way, you're da-prince!
(wow, that was lame)

 

[dpricenator]

I take a spray bottle with distilled water and lightly spray the beads throught the bag. Look at heartfelt's site, and it says how much should be claer and how much should be white, but saoking your beads, or pouring water over them will makee then crack or break apart. It won't affect how they work, but the pieces will start to come out of the bags.

 

[jmatkins]

He beat me back to my other point try that and look and see how you are doing.
But my thought would be if the box is not sealing good I would use a diffrent box. .02

Good luck!

 

[njstone]

Okay, thanks for the tip. I'm blowing the bags now

(that sounded...um...wrong)

 

[njstone]

He beat me back to my other point try that and look and see how you are doing.
But my thought would be if the box is not sealing good I would use a diffrent box. .02

Good luck!

The lid just doesn't touch the container all the way in the middle (probably because the sides are pushed out by the boxes. I'm going to put something heavier on it and see if that does the trick. I'd rather have a non airtight situation anyway, as long as I can get the humidity under control.

Thanks!

Nate

 

[dpricenator]

Obviously you know a humidor is not airtight, but will offer much les airflow that an open tupperware. I will doubt you can get your humidity under control with the box even slightly open. Sounds like consolidation is not what you should be doing.

 

[njstone]

Obviously you know a humidor is not airtight, but will offer much les airflow that an open tupperware. I will doubt you can get your humidity under control with the box even slightly open. Sounds like consolidation is not what you should be doing.

Well, it's not that it's "open," it's just not a tight seal on it's own. It's one of those huge clear plastic bins that close at either end, but should really have an extra 2 latches in the middle to keep it sealed, you know? But as long as I put something on top to make sure the lid is always touching the container, I think I'll be okay.

We'll see how things go once winter comes. When it gets really dry in the house, if the seal isn't good enough to keep the rH the I suppose I'll have to buy a cooler...I just don't think they make coolers this big.

 

[dpricenator]

150 qt= 37.5 gallon capacity= 3.8cubic ft $75

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=9222616

 

[jmatkins]

150 qt= 37.5 gallon capacity= 3.8cubic ft $75

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=9222616

And for some reason if that is not big enough.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp;jsessionid=FVCPYEU5FIA13LAQBBKSCNVMCAEFMIWE?id=0048321517650a&type=product&cmCat=froogle&cm_ven=data_feed&cm_cat=froogle&cm_pla=0470309&cm_ite=0048321517650a&_requestid=50637

Try this one!

 

[Electric Sheep]

You have two truly awful things going on here...

#1 - Your tupperdoor seal is too loose
You don't need a 100% airtight seal, but you do need something relatively stable--certainly more than a clip-on plastic storage bin offers. Do the dollar bill test--insert dollar bill between lid and bottom of box, close, pull...if it comes out easy, the seal is bad, if it doesn't budge, good seal. From your description, it's not.

#2 - Your beads are supersaturated
Beads are supposed to: (A) release humidity when needed, and (B) absorb excess humidity when needed. If you SOAK your beads in water and get them completely saturated, how do you suppose they will be able to absorb more moisture?


Until you solve those two problems, you are NEVER, EVER going to get your humidity situation controlled.

 

[dpricenator]

And for some reason if that is not big enough.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp;jsessionid=FVCPYEU5FIA13LAQBBKSCNVMCAEFMIWE?id=0048321517650a&type=product&cmCat=froogle&cm_ven=data_feed&cm_cat=froogle&cm_pla=0470309&cm_ite=0048321517650a&_requestid=50637

Try this one!

holy crap that,s big, but it's $300.