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Education needed

E

estoltz

New Member
Joined
May 1, 2008
Messages
22
Location
Gaithersburg, MD
This is going to be loaded with so many newbie questions its not even funny. So my previous smoking experience involved buying a cigar from a B&M when I wanted one or keeping it in the fridge for later. Now that I have a nice beginner stash I'm confused as to the proper maintenance of the stick during the aging process. So here goes. Feel free to quote a specific question. Many of these are preference and before you ask I have done my searching on this forum and also found some stuff outside of CP but would like some further information from you guys.

1. What is the preferred Relative Humidity for a Humidor?

My little three drawer desktop used to run around 55 or so but since I moved and got my basement man cave it is running regularly around 68.

2. The singles baggies. Do you leave them on when you put your sticks in the humi?

I would think that this would block the humidity and keep the stick dry.

3. How long before a smoke is good after coming from an online store?

I'm impatient when it comes to trying a new smoke.

4. distilled vs propylene glycol which do you recommend?

5. Can't you just keep your smokes in the fridge next to the beer?

6. Is it possible for a stick to be over humidified?

I'm sure there will be more as I get further into this wallet thinning hobby.
 
Don't ever keep cigars in the fridge. It's as dry as a desert in there. The other questions you've asked have been discussed innumerable times. The search function is your friend.

Doc.
 
Even though Doc is right and if you search you'll find a mountain of info and arguments on the answers to these questions and I do suggest you try to pick through that stuff... I'll try to toss in some of my thoughts for the heck of it.


1. What is the preferred Relative Humidity for a Humidor?

My little three drawer desktop used to run around 55 or so but since I moved and got my basement man cave it is running regularly around 68.
Click to expand...

68 is fine. There are those who debate that certain sticks need certain RH.. but I've found if you keep it between 65 and 70 you're golden. 65 being the optimum choice imo.

2. The singles baggies. Do you leave them on when you put your sticks in the humi?

I would think that this would block the humidity and keep the stick dry.
Click to expand...

Endless debate... but I always leave a cigar the same way I bought it. Cellophane breathes and will not block humidity, it also protects your other sticks if you happen to have a beetle outbreak and catch it early.

3. How long before a smoke is good after coming from an online store?

I'm impatient when it comes to trying a new smoke.
Click to expand...

I would stick it in the humi and forget about it for a few days to a week. Although there is also nothing wrong with smoking one as soon as it arrives but it might not smoke as good as it should.

4. distilled vs propylene glycol which do you recommend?
Click to expand...

Distilled water definitely. Some recommend that you use PG when you initiallly charge a humidifier, and again every 6 months or so. But even if you used distilled only, that's fine. NEVER use PG only.

5. Can't you just keep your smokes in the fridge next to the beer?
Click to expand...

Maybe if the fridge isn't plugged in and you have a few pounds of 65% beads in there ;)

6. Is it possible for a stick to be over humidified?
Click to expand...

Of course. If it's too wet you run the risk of it not burning properly, constantly having to relight... etc. Try to keep your sticks in an environment that's around ~65 degrees and ~65% humidity and you're good to go.
 
Although all of these can in fact be found using the search function, I'm bored, so what the hell.

estoltz said:
1. What is the preferred Relative Humidity for a Humidor?
Click to expand...

I keep my humi's at 65%-68% and 65-68 degrees

estoltz said:
2. The singles baggies. Do you leave them on when you put your sticks in the humi?
Click to expand...

I assume you mean the cellphane...I leave it on, it will not keep humidity out of your cigars.

estoltz said:
3. How long before a smoke is good after coming from an online store?
Click to expand...

How bad do you want to smoke it? I've pulled some out of the box and lit them up and let others sit over a year. Truth be told, depending on the environment they traveled in, probably a month or so.

estoltz said:
4. distilled vs propylene glycol which do you recommend?
Click to expand...

I use distilled to wet my beads, but use glycol in my hydra to negate mold.

estoltz said:
5. Can't you just keep your smokes in the fridge next to the beer?
Click to expand...

No, you can't

estoltz said:
6. Is it possible for a stick to be over humidified?
Click to expand...

Yes
 
“Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime". ;) :laugh:

Doc.
 
ya come to the right place kid! Search the forums and you will find a lot of info. Also, get involved with CP and you will learn a lot.
 
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