Dry Boxing

[kann]

Question : I'm using a travel humidor(otter box) to dry box. I have one or two 62% boveda's in there. They have remained soft for months, so I know the seal is spot on.

Do you guys open your dry box every so often to let out the "extra" moisture? I ask because the plastic won't absorb it, the foam won't, and if the packets are soft, they prolly won't either. Where does the humidity go?

I had a stick in there for a week or so, lit it, and it still had a bit of "mush" feel at the foot. Thoughts?

Floyd T

If the case is holding a seal, you could probably outright remove the Boveda packs as long as you don't leave it open long. Perhaps dry one out and put it in there along with the "good" Boveda? In any case, I'd put a hygrometer in there and see where it is holding.

 

[Johnny-O!]

How do you describe the feel of the cigars when you think they are right to smoke? I ask this because cigars out of Cuba in the summer months they feel wet and heavy as the humidity is 85%+ and daily temps of 90F+. I feel those cigars take forever to come down to the right humidity. Then as winter rolls in, the humidity can be in the 60's and the cigars feel better in your hand. March seems to be the best month usually requiring very little dry boxing. In Florida we run our AC year round so the humidity in the house is 50-60%. So, I have to give different advice on dry boxing cigars depending on the time of year. Any thoughts? John

 

[dawgie34203]

I am hoping to politely revive this thread.

I’ve read through the whole 8 pages several times, and since the information is a little dated, I just wanted to make sure that I’m on the right track process wise, and product wise.

1) Buy a small (10-20 stick) humidor
2) Season it for a couple weeks(?) with a 65% Boveda
3) Switch out the Boveda for a 60% RH Shield
4) Let the humidity stabilize at 60%
4) Continue with the dry-boxing technique previously discussed

Can I move forward or is there a more current process/products that would work better?

Thanks!

 

[BlindedByScience]

You're pretty much spot on. I target 62% for the dry box, but a point or three, frankly, is nothing to panic about. While uncontrolled, I've thrown sticks in my desk drawer for three days with good success, too.

 

[dawgie34203]

You're pretty much spot on. I target 62% for the dry box, but a point or three, frankly, is nothing to panic about. While uncontrolled, I've thrown sticks in my desk drawer for three days with good success, too.

Thank you very much!

 

[xyz123]

You're pretty much spot on. I target 62% for the dry box, but a point or three, frankly, is nothing to panic about. While uncontrolled, I've thrown sticks in my desk drawer for three days with good success, too.

Do you ever unfold the cello and open it a little when you dB? Sometimes, especially cellos that are closed with a factory sticker, I'll find the cello doesn't seem to let much of anything happen after a few days. I know cellos are considered "breathable", but sometimes I gotta tear the sticker, unfold the cello, and give a puff into it to unseal it from the cigar.. and then leave it in the cello, but with the end opened.

That's usually more for the beefier, almost leathery, broadleaf sticks. I can leave them in a 62% box for days and be lucky to shed even a point or two of moisture.

 

[mjolnir01]

I still diligently dry box all Habanos S.A. and Aganorsa products. The setup remains my 18 count Cigar Caddy & 62% Bovedas.

Works like a champ. Overnight helps, 2-3 days is better, up to a week or ten days is fine.

 

[JCinPA]

Wow! What a great thread! After my first disastrous and embarrassing post here, I’ve spent several days just digging around and the wealth of knowledge here is astounding. I’ve been smoking cigars for decades but never dove into “the hobby” and I had never heard of dry boxing before now.

To be sure, the number of cigars I’ve had burn issues with has never been extreme, but it’s there. And I don’t know what I don’t know, since I have never done this, but the universal acclaim for this pretty much guarantees I’m going to really enjoy my cigars more.

I just ordered a 20-cigar desktop humidor, and some Boveda 62% packs for this special purpose dry boxing humidor. Since humidity in the Philly suburbs can go from desert-like in winter to fairly humid in summer, the suggestion to lock down this process makes complete sense. It will take some time to season the humidor and get this process going, but I’m very much looking forward to it.

Based on BBS’s excellent advice, I’m keeping my basement wineador at 67-70 (it’s in the 60-64F range year round). I’ll pull some sticks up to a desktop humidor @ 65% from time to time, and Keep a few in this new dry boxing humidor for the 2-3 I smoke per week.

Thank you so much for this thread—both the OP and all the subsequent posters!

 

[whopper]

I’ve never dry boxed a cigar in my life.

I do throw them on top of the refrigerator from time to time before I smoke them though.

I guess the refrigerator is a type of a box so I guess I do dry box after all.

 

[JCinPA]

I never have, either, but that was because I never heard of it. I’m expecting it to be life-changing, though, based on the experiences posted in this thread. Worst case is I wasted a little money on an inexpensive humidor and some Boveda packs I didn’t need. Couldn’t hurt, and I’ll probably THINK it’s a life-changing experience because I spent the money — whether it is or is not is immaterial, I can convince myself of damn near anything.