I am a rookie so go easy. I have a tupperdor with Xikar 70% beads and a Xikar hygrometer and I can not get he RH to stabilize below 74%. I have calibrated the hygrometer with the salt test.
Any suggestions?
Any suggestions?
Tupperdor Problems
- Thread starter Bamboolongbow
- Start date
Yes, get a Boveda pack.
First things first, the salt test is not accurate enough to calibrate your hygro with. I know they recommend it, but get yourself a 75.5% Boveda calibration kit.
Next, and not being a jerk, but you do understand how the Xikar calibrates right? You put it in a 75% environment and then press the button at which point it will read 75%. Just covering all bases here.
All that being said, it is possible that you created closer to a 70% environment than a 75% environment with the salt test. Get yourself a Boveda calibration kit.
Now, as to your chosen humidification...I have no real experience with the Xikar "beads", but for a tupperdor, you would be much better off with a Boveda pack of your preferred RH%.
First things first, the salt test is not accurate enough to calibrate your hygro with. I know they recommend it, but get yourself a 75.5% Boveda calibration kit.
Next, and not being a jerk, but you do understand how the Xikar calibrates right? You put it in a 75% environment and then press the button at which point it will read 75%. Just covering all bases here.
All that being said, it is possible that you created closer to a 70% environment than a 75% environment with the salt test. Get yourself a Boveda calibration kit.
Now, as to your chosen humidification...I have no real experience with the Xikar "beads", but for a tupperdor, you would be much better off with a Boveda pack of your preferred RH%.
second calibrating with boveda pack. You have to remeber that plastic does not breath so tendancy is for the RH to be a bit higher. if you have some cedar try putting that in to drop the RH. Also remeber that the Xikar "beads" are not an exact science. if you truly want the RH at a specific point you need a boveda pack or heartfelt or shilia beads.
I believe what he's talking about is the clear puck w/ gel inside. I dont like these because they dont regulate humidity (only release it). As stated before, go w/ boveda calibration kit and boveda pack or heartfelt/shilala beads.
the Xikar pucks, slabs, etc, do not stabilize they only maintain it if it's below your 70% solution. Therefore, if you start higher then there is nothing the Xikar can do. You need HF Beads or HCM beads for this as they absorb and desorb as needed.
Hey, buddy!
This guy knows his sh*t^^
If all else fails, use a kerosene soaked banana hammock....
This is exactly the info I needed.
I did placed additonal cedar inside and the RH plummeted then returned to 74% a day later.
I see the Xikar puck as the root cause. Time to go shopping.
Thanks BOTL
I am smoking a Liga #9 Robusto for my birthday smoke today.
I did placed additonal cedar inside and the RH plummeted then returned to 74% a day later.
I see the Xikar puck as the root cause. Time to go shopping.
Thanks BOTL
I am smoking a Liga #9 Robusto for my birthday smoke today.
I know it might sound crazy, but If you're looking for an economical two way humidification source Kitty Litter Crystals is the way to go IMHO.
Heartfelt beads are great, but they are still just silica crystals. All silica crystals regulate humidity just the same. Just place some DRY kitty litter in some sort of filter bag and place in you tupperdor, give it a couple of hours to stabilize and spray about 40 - 50% of the litter with DISTILLED water if you want to RH higher. If RH is too high with the initial amount of KL you put in, just add a little more until the RH settles where you want it. Once it's set where you want the RH, just make sure to burp your tupperdor every couple of days.
Believe me, if you try KL you'll never need anything else.
Oh yeah, Happy birthday botl!!!
Heartfelt beads are great, but they are still just silica crystals. All silica crystals regulate humidity just the same. Just place some DRY kitty litter in some sort of filter bag and place in you tupperdor, give it a couple of hours to stabilize and spray about 40 - 50% of the litter with DISTILLED water if you want to RH higher. If RH is too high with the initial amount of KL you put in, just add a little more until the RH settles where you want it. Once it's set where you want the RH, just make sure to burp your tupperdor every couple of days.
Believe me, if you try KL you'll never need anything else.
Oh yeah, Happy birthday botl!!!
I don't want this to turn into a whole long drawn out discussion as there are plenty of those already on the site and elsewhere, but the above statement is false. Heartfelt beads are not exactly the same as the kitty litter silica beads. They are treated so as to have a specific RH "set point", to steal wording from HCM beads.
Kitty Litter will work, I've used it myself. That being said, once again, the best solution for this particular application is, IMHO, the Boveda pack. Once the collection grows to the point we are talking about a cooler-dor or cabinet humi, yeah, I would start looking at beads.
I stand corrected and bow to your wisdom sir. I'm still learning too and it's always good to get advice/opinions from those more educated on the subject matter.
Guys thank you all again for the solid advice.
I received some Boveda packs from RonC and all my humidity issues have been resolved. It is a bummer that the Xikar puck was so terrible.
I received some Boveda packs from RonC and all my humidity issues have been resolved. It is a bummer that the Xikar puck was so terrible.
Cigary43
Just Another Ashhole
I love Tupperadors and have about 10 of them in the 2.4 gallon size. By placing cedar sheets on the bottom portion it will help regulate RH quite nicely. I also put singles into a spanish cedar box inside the tupperador and it does the same thing only takes a day or two longer for the box and RH to adjust but once it does...you can set your watch by it.
Yep mine has an Ashton box and well as a block of cedar and still the humidity was between 74% and 77% RH. It wasn't until I ditched the Xikar puck and replaced it with a Boveda pack that my RH stabilized and returned to an expectable level.
The Xikar humidity puck is a big FAIL in my book.
The Xikar humidity puck is a big FAIL in my book.
Thanks guys. I piggy backed on this thread. My tubberdor is also using the xikar puck and I can't get the RH below 80%. I'm going to put some cedar in it and get the Boveda pack too.
One quick question guys, does one have to re-calibrate a digital hygrometer after not using it for a extended period of time? Battery was exhausted and hygrometer was outside of humidor.
Thanks brothers! I love this forum!!
One quick question guys, does one have to re-calibrate a digital hygrometer after not using it for a extended period of time? Battery was exhausted and hygrometer was outside of humidor.
Thanks brothers! I love this forum!!
Thanks Jwrussell! Will do.