Salt Test on the test bench:

Courtesy viper139, the HumiPack appears to be more reliable than the salt test.

Here's the story.

Both my analog hygrometers were salt-tested and calibrated, doing their job in their humidors. When I introduced my new 65% beads, it looked like the beads wouldn't get the humidity down to where it should be but it lingered at 69% in one and 71% in the other humidor. That's when viper (who supplied the beads) sent me a free HumiPack, a 69% humidity provider. Both hygrometers and the HumiPack in a jar for now 23 hours reveal a deviation of three and five points respectively. That's a lot for the supposedly precise salt test.

For the record, I did the salt test with damp salt (no excess water) in a double zip lock bag, each hygro separately, for six hours each.

Anyway, I thought some of you might want to know how it turned out and I wanted to thank viper139 for the service. It is appreciated.

Why don't you try the salt test again, but this time use the jar and give it 23 hours like you did the Humipack.

MilesMingusMonk said:

Why don't you try the salt test again, but this time use the jar and give it 23 hours like you did the Humipack.

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Thanks for that suggestion and I was already planning on doing that. I'll also do the test with a quantity of the beads. But first I need to let the hygros adjust to ambient humidity so I can calibrate them precisely.

I'll post to this thread as soon as I have new findings.

Hey Eins, I would really interested in that salt test redux too, since I also have a nagging feeling that the salt test is less reliable than is toted to be, or at least it takes a little more precision than just dampening the salt till it cakes up. Hopefully you will prove my thoughts wrong.


:thumbs:

forget the salt test, it should be the Climmax Beads test now.

Just like how PG was the standard back in the day. It should be Climmax now


They are soo accurate that my Hygro is constantly at 65% with the beads

Eins I am happy that the test worked out well. I have never trusted the salt test as there are far too many innacuracies injected into the test by we the testers. The amount of water in ratio to the amount of salt is more critical than most folks think.

As you know I astand behind my product and am happy you are more comfortable with it now as well. I figure if the Smithsonian trusts it we should too.

Oh by the way Seizure, that is the Heartfelt Beads test. LOL

Simplicity yes.... beads and humidi paks are easy, simple, and accurate. With that said I want to be sure that everyone understands that the salt test is 100% accurate also. Most common mistake done with the salt test is using too much water and/or not leaving it in a properly contained enviroment long enough.

Here's something thats been in testing for some time now and is about to hit the public. I know a couple of people that have been using these and say they work very well. New Humidification Product

The best part is that you can get some free samples.

Allofus,
That new product is © HumidiPak, so I'd venture to say it is the same with a different label on it: a little pack a month (or whatever time frame) to exchange in your humidor. It is easier (or simpler) than recharging a bunch of beads, yes. I'd like to see the price, though. And the "free samples" are really an opt-out agreement with promised refund of your paid money.

Still, thanks for the link and it is interesting to see who comes up with new ideas or who uses old ideas to make a new application.

Edited to add this question about the salt test: if its accuracy is so dependent on the right amount of water, what then IS the right amount of water? How many drops per how many grams (or oz.) of salt?

Eins said:

Allofus,
That new product is © HumidiPak, so I'd venture to say it is the same with a different label on it: a little pack a month (or whatever time frame) to exchange in your humidor. It is easier (or simpler) than recharging a bunch of beads, yes. I'd like to see the price, though. And the "free samples" are really an opt-out agreement with promised refund of your paid money.

Still, thanks for the link and it is interesting to see who comes up with new ideas or who uses old ideas to make a new application.

Edited to add this question about the salt test: if its accuracy is so dependent on the right amount of water, what then IS the right amount of water? How many drops per how many grams (or oz.) of salt?

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The boveda packs are the same item as the Humidipak I sent you. A great idea just much more expensive in the long run. The beads have an indefinate life span and the packs are not rechargeable and will just be thrown away. No matter what they sell them for in the long run they will cost more.

Eins, the only way to answer your question about how much water to use is by asking a question...... how much salt are you using? Using more or less will alter how much water you use. I have always used an eye dropper and added water until the salt was damp but not disolved. A thick paste if you will. You want the salt to remain in its solid form.

For the record I'm not advocating that people don't screw the salt test up. I think we've all agreed on this. I'm simply stating that the science of using the dampened salt will produce 75% humidity within a controled enviroment....period. If done properly one media is no more reliable than the other. Now if simplicity is what one is after than there is no comparison that the humidi pak would be my choice especially if it was free as yours was. Since I'm a cheap bastard I'll continue to use my salt and water. LOL

As for expense of the new boveda paks I don't know. I didn't check into pricing but unlike the beads the boveda packs will require absolutely no adding or subtracting of water. I would think some people will pay for that convienence if they are indeed more expensive. Did someone get a price quote?

FWIW, since expense was brought up I've been using beads in a large cabinet humidor for several years now and IMO they work very well. I paid about $10 for something like 4lbs of this media. Its become known around some of the cigar boards as KLH or Kitty Litter Humidification. If anyone is interested in this let me know via PM. It does involve a process to "set" the media at the desired level of humidification you want but its not hard. I'm going to be out of town all next week so if you do request this info please be patient. I'll get it to you as soon as I can.

Part two: The Beads Test

65% beads in the jar resulted in the hygrometer showing exactly (drummmmrollllllllllll) sixty-five percent.

Stay tuned for part three.

edited for a grammar fix

Howdy folks! I don't know why you have to throw away a humidipak when it is no longer able to hold the humidity at the level you want. It says right on the package that it is 2-way. What that means is that the salts (which are most likely some sort of sodium salt or the like- look it up in the Merck Index) are able to absorb and release water from the air. In a system that is not perfectly closed the water will eventually be released from the salt solution due to frequent checking of your cigars. However, if you take the Humidipak and put it in a tupperware box with water present in the box but in lets say a small dish, then the water vapor will leave the dish and the salts will absorb it. The water in the dish wants to create 100% saturation of the air but the salts don't want that to happen. So when your Humidipak stops working, try taking the pack out and putting it in a sealed container along with an open dish of distilled water. I bet the Humidipak will be "recharged." I guess it couldn't hurt to try.

-CarpeDNA

CarpeDNA said:

Howdy folks! I don't know why you have to throw away a humidipak when it is no longer able to hold the humidity at the level you want. It says right on the package that it is 2-way. What that means is that the salts (which are most likely some sort of sodium salt or the like- look it up in the Merck Index) are able to absorb and release water from the air. In a system that is not perfectly closed the water will eventually be released from the salt solution due to frequent checking of your cigars. However, if you take the Humidipak and put it in a tupperware box with water present in the box but in lets say a small dish, then the water vapor will leave the dish and the salts will absorb it. The water in the dish wants to create 100% saturation of the air but the salts don't want that to happen. So when your Humidipak stops working, try taking the pack out and putting it in a sealed container along with an open dish of distilled water. I bet the Humidipak will be "recharged." I guess it couldn't hurt to try.

-CarpeDNA

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I've read several posts elsewhere about people successfully doing just that, so it's definitely worth a try.

BTW, welcome aboard!