Anyone using 60% beads?

[CigarBarr]

I have been using the 65% beads for sometime now in the ISOM cooler. I have to say that the cigars (especially this summer) still seem a bit soft eventhough the 2 dig. gauges show 65%.
I just ordered 1/2 pd of the 60% beads today.
Does anyone have experience using the 65% beads for a good chunk of time and then switching to 60% beads?

thanks in advance :thumbs:

 

[emodx]

I have been using the 65% beads for sometime now in the ISOM cooler. I have to say that the cigars (especially this summer) still seem a bit soft eventhough the 2 dig. gauges show 65%.
I just ordered 1/2 pd of the 60% beads today.
Does anyone have experience using the 65% beads for a good chunk of time and then switching to 60% beads?

thanks in advance :thumbs:

Time is the factor. It takes a long time for a wet cigar to dry out even at %65.
-E

 

[viper139]

Most of the folks who have bought the 60% beads use them in a dry box. They store them in there for a whle prior to smoking. I have had a few who store their cigars at 60% as well. As Emodx stated it takes a while for moisture to desorb out of the cigars to make a 5% drop.

 

[Ginseng]

Why does the cigar's being soft concern you?

I'd ask you how do they smoke? How do they burn? How do they taste?

I keep my Cubans between 65-67% and they smoke wonderfully. Some will soften up a bit in the inch ahead of the coal but they feel resilient without being damp. I've not cracked a wrapped nor have I had many non-structural burn problems at these conditions.

Wilkey

 

[CigarBarr]

well all of the boxes have been in the cooler between 1-12 months so I am almost positive that the cigars are between 65-68%
I am getting a bit of a bitter taste which could be because the ISOM cigars are between 1-3 years of age and now that I am in my 4th year of smoking, I am beginning to understand the subtleties of cigars?? Also it seems lately that I am getting uneven burns......you know, now that I think of it the temperature in the past month has risen to the high 70's in the cooler.
It has been hot and humid lately in Cleveland

 

[Ginseng]

Several month should be enough to equilibrate cigars in a cooler I'd think.

Some young cigars can have a harsh edge to them (i.e. SCdLH) but a year or two should mellow that edge out. A bitter taste doesn't sound right though. Are you having burn issues with cigars from your boxes inside the cooler or from loose sticks in trays/boxes?

Are the burns simply uneven or are you getting canoeing or severe tunneling? Can you feel soft channels where the tunnels are?

I guess I'm trying to gather a bit more information to help diagnose the issue. The fact is, many people store their cigars at 62-67% with no issues so something else might be at play.

I would not count out non-cigar factors. I've found that when I take pseudoephedrine (decongestant), I can breath better, but it wipes out my ability to taste a cigar. Very strange.

Wilkey

 

[lucasbuck]

I keep my on-deck humis at 60% I tried 70% then 65% and finally arrived at 60% as my preferred smoking RH. It's a trial and error process.