Consistent 70% Humidity is Impossible

[dmcclurg]

I happen to like my cigars at 70%, but it is truly impossible to achieve. As the picture shows, I have plenty of beads and a solid humidor with a great seal. I just bought a new hygrometer and it is calibrated and reliable and adjustable.

I have used the Heartfelt Bead case unsuccessfully. I have also used 72% Boveda humidipaks (four of them) with consistent 65% results. This is not my first humidor, and I have used MANY humidification techniques.

The only thing I can think of is that I don't have enough cigars to stabilize the humidity. The more the better!

It just doesn't seem possible. Any thoughts?

 

[Moro]

Take a cigar out of the humidor. Smoke it. Is it well humidified? Then leave it like so (personally I believe 68% is quite good). The problem here is that there will always be a fluctuation, wether ye want it or not. But as long as the cigars are well humidified to the pallate and yer smoking (it doesn't get too hot), then they're ok. Now, to answer yer question: yes, more cigars will possibly improve the RH level ye aim for. Also if the humidor was well seasoned (which I dare say it was).

 

[njstone]

I agree with Moro. I have had far more problems with rH when my bins are either too empty or too full. I find that at 80% of the volume filled up (with cigars, cedar boxes, etc.) that the Heartfelt beads keep the rH rock-steady.

 

[oneaday]

If you don't have enough cigars in the box (to much air space) temp changes will cause the RH to fluxuate. Placing more properly humidified cigars inside will help to stabilize the RH.

 

[daniyal]

Not much left to be said that hasn't been said here, I have a full box that's currently holding rock steady at 70% with heartfelt beads and another that's also holding 70% but has a handful of cigars in it. The second box is relatively new and I seasoned it for almost a week till the RH got up to around 85%, threw a few cigars in there and its steadied down to 70%. I would prefer it to be around 65% but since its operating on foam and I'm too lazy to switch the foam for beads at the moment I'm just going to let it settle down over some time.

 

[Cigary43]

If you don't have enough cigars in the box (to much air space) temp changes will cause the RH to fluxuate. Placing more properly humidified cigars inside will help to stabilize the RH.

Ditto this as I have 70% beads as well. Mine will flucutate between 67-70% but smoke great as I tend to drybox for a day or two before I smoke it. If you are in this range you're fine.

 

[tubaman]

I happen to like my cigars at 70%, but it is truly impossible to achieve. As the picture shows, I have plenty of beads and a solid humidor with a great seal. I just bought a new hygrometer and it is calibrated and reliable and adjustable.

I have used the Heartfelt Bead case unsuccessfully. I have also used 72% Boveda humidipaks (four of them) with consistent 65% results. This is not my first humidor, and I have used MANY humidification techniques.

The only thing I can think of is that I don't have enough cigars to stabilize the humidity. The more the better!

It just doesn't seem possible. Any thoughts?

A few questions.

1. Are you sure your hygrometer is accurate? I would put the hygro in a ziplock type bag with a Boveda pack. If it reads what the boveda says it should, then you are ok there. If not, get a new hygrometer.

2. Did you properly season your humidor? You say this isn't your first humidor, but if it isn't properly seasoned, it won't hold humidity right. If you haven't seasoned the humi, take all of the cigars out and put them in a bag or tupperware type container with a Boveda pack. Then put a shot glass in the humi with distilled water and let it sit for awhile. This will allow the wood to soak up the humidity from the shot glass. DO NOT wipe the sides of the humi down. There is no need and in this case, slower is much better. Once you have done this and your hygrometer is reading a consistant rh you can add cigars. This may fluctuate for awhile, but should straighten out once the cigars are at the same rh.

3. Did you check the seal on your humi? It should "whoosh" when you close the lid. You can also put a small flashlight inside the humi and check for any light leakage when you close the lid. If light can get out, so can humidity!

4. Did you properly mist the beads? Just a thought.

I hope this helps! Don't sweat it though if the rh swings a little bit. A point here or there isn't going to be a problem for your cigars.

 

[dmcclurg]

Thanks for the replies! I do wipe my humidor to season, but it is a light wipe that I spread out over a few days. I'll try the shot glass. I used Boveda to calibrate the hygrometer.

I think storing more cigars is the answer!

Humidity is down to a steady 65%

 

[dmcclurg]

I'm taking a humidor and ciagrs that have sat at 65% for at least a year and attempting to raise the humidity to 70%. It's been an unsuccessful process, but it has to be done; the cigars taste bitter and burnt.

 

[dpricenator]

It's crazy the differences in peoples pallets. I would be freaking out if my RH was getting much more than 65%.

 

[Tegu]

Bitter and burnt? Odd, are they crispy to the touch, or squishy? Over humidified smoked do taste a bit bitter to me, but I have never had a cigar that was at >60% be so dry it tasted wierd.

 

[Soundwave13]

...the cigars taste bitter and burnt.

Are they 'dog-rockets'?
Is there anything growing on them?
Do they have tiny pin-holes in em?
Did you use distilled water?
How young/old are they?
What are they?

65-68% is actually ideal..

Sorry for the interegation. Just tryin to 'cover the bases'...

 

[Mitch]

Remember you've got a whole lot of natural items there, each will hold and release humidity. More cigars or cedar may help, but you can also take up the space by placing a zip lock bag full of air in there. don't take up all the space, just much of it. Seasoning a humidor gets it pointed in the right direction, but it can take months for it to stop fluctuating. Try not to open it often and keep it away from sun light and air conditioner vents as this will play havic with the temperature and humidity level. Stick it in your closet for a while and see if it balances out. Remember that humidity is relative to temperature, so a change of a few degrees can change the humidity by several % until it can balance again.

 

[Mitch]

It's crazy the differences in peoples pallets. I would be freaking out if my RH was getting much more than 65%.

I'm with you, I much perfer the flavor, burn etc. at 65 than 70 and don't mind the 60-65 range at all. I think part of this also has to do with how humid your smokeing area is. I'm in South Florida so it's often 65% to 85% where I'm smoking. I've noticed if I smoke in a dry area like up North when it's cold, the dry air plus dry cigar makes for all kinds of burn and wrapper problems. There I'm a bigger fan of 70%.

 

[SecretSanta]

My favorite thing is smoking a stick of butter wrapped in a waffle. Just like my pal Homer!

 

[Moro]

I'm with you, I much perfer the flavor, burn etc. at 65 than 70 and don't mind the 60-65 range at all. I think part of this also has to do with how humid your smokeing area is. I'm in South Florida so it's often 65% to 85% where I'm smoking. I've noticed if I smoke in a dry area like up North when it's cold, the dry air plus dry cigar makes for all kinds of burn and wrapper problems. There I'm a bigger fan of 70%.

I agreecompletely on that last part. It depends on the outside RH the one I preffer in me cigars.

 

[dmcclurg]

The cigars are definitely dry to the touch. I have always felt that dry cigars produce a fast, poor burn and not much taste, but I think it really boils down to personal preference. The temperature in my house fluctuates a lot out here in the desert. Guess I have to build a humi with temp control.

 

[Craig Mac]

Guess I have to build a humi with temp control.

Or just get a Vinotemp

 

[dpricenator]

Or just get a Vinotemp

yep get a 28 bottle wine fridge and a pound of beads. Target will have them on sale after the holidays for less that $150.

 

[Soundwave13]

I've been looking for the vinotemp28 - can't find it. Target is out.