Help!

[scarhead]

I went into my humidor (a frigadoor) and found that water had somehow gotten into a box. Of all the boxes this one contained Habanos. Water dripped on two of the cigars and on the other two they are just very damp. Not sure how this happened. I have approximately 10 boxes of cigars in there and thank G-d only four of the cigars were affected.

Does anyone have any suggestion on what to do with the cigars? Leave them in the humidor and let them dry out? Put them in a ziploc bag and put the bag in the freezer? I can't think of anything else, so your suggestions are really welcomed.

Thanks.

 

[M.Josue]

Far beyond my realm of knowledge, but i would say the ones that were wet are done for, the ones that are super damp could probably be salvaged if left in the humidor, granted the water problem is fixed first. I wouldn't freeze them as that may cause water damage on the inside of the smoke. Again, i'm not the most knowledgeable in regards to stogie storage, but i have spent some time with some seasoned smokers...

 

[Jfire]

Take a empty cigar box laying around, place all the wet and damp ones in it for several days. Place a calibrated digital hygrometer in the dry box. They should slowly dry out over several days. If you have beads in the dry box it will work even better. Once the readings are back in the mid 60s place them back in the vinodore. Check to make sure the water logged ones are not incredibly spongy by feel as well. Problem solved!
Jfire

 

[M.Josue]

what type of beads do you suggest Jfire?

 

[RonC]

Take a empty cigar box laying around, place all the wet and damp ones in it for several days. Place a calibrated digital hygrometer in the dry box. They should slowly dry out over several days. If you have beads in the dry box it will work even better. Once the readings are back in the mid 60s place them back in the vinodore. Check to make sure the water logged ones are not incredibly spongy by feel as well. Problem solved!
Jfire

perfect advice

 

[Jfire]

what type of beads do you suggest Jfire?

Heart felt beads http://www.heartfeltindustries.com/proddetail.asp?prod=HB_05_65
or Shililah beads (HCM) http://www.hcmbeads.com/

 

[scarhead]

Thanks fellas. What Joliet suggested is exactly what I did. We'll see what happens. Like I said, at least it was only four (albeit still a significant hit considering they were Cuban), but it could have been a lot worse. My whole collection could have been ruined. The worst part is I have no idea how this happened. I'd like to know so I can avoid it in the future, but there is no explanation.

This just pushes me in the direction of getting a large humidor. Ron, you know we've been talking recently on PMs. Expect an order relatively soon. Hey, wait a minute...I wonder if Ron had something to do with this? Just seems odd that after striking up conversation with him recently and him asking me where I'm from in one of the PMs (supposedly for a shipping quote) this happens. hmmmm. :hysterica just joking Ron. Thanks for the advice guys. I'll let you know what happens.

 

[M.Josue]

That's funny!! Great theory scarhead! Anything is possible in my book... anything! Jfire, Thanks for the links on the beads... they look like they could be quite the life saver in the future!

 

[RonC]

Thanks fellas. What Joliet suggested is exactly what I did. We'll see what happens. Like I said, at least it was only four (albeit still a significant hit considering they were Cuban), but it could have been a lot worse. My whole collection could have been ruined. The worst part is I have no idea how this happened. I'd like to know so I can avoid it in the future, but there is no explanation.

This just pushes me in the direction of getting a large humidor. Ron, you know we've been talking recently on PMs. Expect an order relatively soon. Hey, wait a minute...I wonder if Ron had something to do with this? Just seems odd that after striking up conversation with him recently and him asking me where I'm from in one of the PMs (supposedly for a shipping quote) this happens. hmmmm. :hysterica just joking Ron. Thanks for the advice guys. I'll let you know what happens.

damn, caught red handed

 

[OB-Left]

Thanks fellas. What Joliet suggested is exactly what I did. We'll see what happens. Like I said, at least it was only four (albeit still a significant hit considering they were Cuban), but it could have been a lot worse. My whole collection could have been ruined. The worst part is I have no idea how this happened. I'd like to know so I can avoid it in the future, but there is no explanation.

Check out the link in the signature for a drain tube suggestion.

 

[NCost]

As I mentioned in my pm, I love my Avallo and highly recommend them.

 

[Alwayslit]

Take a empty cigar box laying around, place all the wet and damp ones in it for several days. Place a calibrated digital hygrometer in the dry box. They should slowly dry out over several days. If you have beads in the dry box it will work even better. Once the readings are back in the mid 60s place them back in the vinodore. Check to make sure the water logged ones are not incredibly spongy by feel as well. Problem solved!
Jfire

x2.....also make sure the box is wood not a dress box and lay some strips of cedar with them.

 

[ciggy]

Take a empty cigar box laying around, place all the wet and damp ones in it for several days. Place a calibrated digital hygrometer in the dry box. They should slowly dry out over several days. If you have beads in the dry box it will work even better. Once the readings are back in the mid 60s place them back in the vinodore. Check to make sure the water logged ones are not incredibly spongy by feel as well. Problem solved!
Jfire

Also...make sre the cigars aren't touching one another when you do this and rotate daily. Space them out evenly. If you don't have the beads I would also let the box breath while there drying out. Keep the lid open a crack or so.

 

[scarhead]

I think I saved my cigars. Like I said, only four were affected and of those only two were pretty severe. I separated them into a smaller box and put the box at the bottom of the humidor. Although they are still sort of spongy they didn't unravel and are coming back to normal.

Thank you to all who offered suggestions. I think I figured out what happened. I have a small humidifier in the humidor that serves as my active humidifier. The nozzle was pointed towards the boxes so the fine mist that was coming out went into one of the boxes. I now have that nozzle aimed at the wall of the humidor so there is no direct contact with the boxes.

This active unit along with a pound of beads keeps the RH at around 65%.

Thanks again for the help!

 

[funkejj]

How are they doing after a few days of drying out?

 

[scarhead]

How are they doing after a few days of drying out?

They appeared to have returned to proper condition. I haven't smoked one, but I will post a review after I do.