How long in a bag?

[gunsandcigars88]

I have been keeping my cigars in a plastic bag with a piece if paper towl damp with distilled water ever since I started smoking about three months ago. Needless to say I don't have consistent smokes. I was asking for a humi for graduation, but somehow that idea never made it through my parents to anyone asking them for ideas. Imagine that. So I am still on the hunt for the one that I really like. Anyway, I was just wanting to know how long I can keep them in the bag before they really need to be smoked, since my closest cigar shop is 2 hours away. So I try to buy up for a while when I go.

 

[jfk742]

Well you have picked the right place to find the answers you're looking for. I would find a humidor, hygrometer, and humidification device for your smokes. Tupaware (sp.?) would atleast be better than a bag and you will probably have more consistent smoking with your sticks. There are also some topics that have already been started addressing proper cigar storage in other forums that are invaluable archives of information.
I would try this place for humidification I have had good luck with them as have many others here. Good luck.

John

 

[Dave]

What a strange question...

Search for "tupperdor", "coolidor", and "salt slurry" using the search function at the top. That should give you enough info to keep your cigars in a somewhat controlled environment at a relatively low cost until you can get a proper humidor with the appropriate humidification devices.

As for how long until they have to be smoked.... well, some signs to look for in that kind of environment:

The wrapper starts ripping apart.
Mold starts to appear on the cigar.


The timeframe using such a set up you had described depends on a lot more variables, but they are in no way smokeable because of the conditions present. The tobacco oils will either break down from too much humidity or dry out from too little humidity and result in a waste of time.

 

[Infinity]

If you had beads in the bag instead of paper towel, you would have a better idea of your RH. If you don't have a hygrometer, you are always going to have a hit and miss situation.
B&M's tend to store their sticks in a higher RH environment, so if you like your smokes more on the wet side, buy them and smoke them straight out of the store.

Cigar smoking is a hobby, collecting storing, aging are the by-products of the hobby. If you look after your cigars, they will look after you (smoke and taste better). My advice is to invest in some beads or "The Puck" ,a cheap hygrometer (you want to know what your RH and ambient temp is) and store the few smokes you keep in a tupperware. If you enjoy cigars and carry on smoking you will soon move to a coolidor. The best small humidor IMO, is the Otterbox. You can get this 15 count one from Cigarmony.com for $19.99 on sale. Include "The Puck" and you can't go wrong.

There is so much information on silica beads, RH, storage, coolidors etc on here., spend a little time searching.

God luck.

Brian

I have been keeping my cigars in a plastic bag with a piece if paper towl damp with distilled water ever since I started smoking about three months ago. Needless to say I don't have consistent smokes. I was asking for a humi for graduation, but somehow that idea never made it through my parents to anyone asking them for ideas. Imagine that. So I am still on the hunt for the one that I really like. Anyway, I was just wanting to know how long I can keep them in the bag before they really need to be smoked, since my closest cigar shop is 2 hours away. So I try to buy up for a while when I go.

 

[JHolmes763]

If you have the money to buy guns and cigars, you have the money to get a proper humidor. Ditch the bag, man.

 

[Ginseng]

Anyway, I was just wanting to know how long I can keep them in the bag before they really need to be smoked, since my closest cigar shop is 2 hours away. So I try to buy up for a while when I go.

Well, I think the answer is that there is no good answer. The storage conditions are about as far from optimal as one could imagine. Even moving up to a large jar with some humi-packs out of left over Fuente boxes would be a significant improvement.

If you have the money to buy guns and cigars, you have the money to get a proper humidor. Ditch the bag, man.

That's it, baby. Get yourself a "real" storage system. Hell, I think you get a free humi just for buying something Montecristo this month at JR Cigars. IIRC, the cheapest box that qualifies is just under $70. Go for it, man!

Oh yeah, beads, puck, digital hygro, all that jazz.

Wilkey

 

[Mark Twain]

Get yourself a small cooler for right now. Just one that can hold a six pack of beer. This will seal up your cigars nicely and you can order a small tube of 65% beads from viper or Mark at Cigarmony.com. This should keep your smokes fresh and should only cost you $20-30.

 

[BlindedByScience]

For the cost of a few good smokes, you can get a small cooler and a couple of tubes of humidity control beads from Heartfelt Industries. Fill the unused space in the cooler with bubble wrap for now. If you have loose cigars, pick up a cedar box or two next time you're at your local B&M and keep them in that. Use the "color" of the beads as a rough indication of the humidity in the cooler. I ran Heartfelt beads in my coolers, and they were rock solid @ 65%. It works so well it's almost a no-brainer.

And....use search. There are about 6.02 E23 threads on this already, with a ton of great information and suggestions....

Have fun - B.B.S.

 

[Ginseng]

For the cost of a few good smokes, you can get a small cooler and a couple of tubes of humidity control beads from Heartfelt Industries. Fill the unused space in the cooler with bubble wrap for now. If you have loose cigars, pick up a cedar box or two next time you're at your local B&M and keep them in that. Use the "color" of the beads as a rough indication of the humidity in the cooler. I ran Heartfelt beads in my coolers, and they were rock solid @ 65%. It works so well it's almost a no-brainer.

And....use search. There are about 6.02 E23 threads on this already, with a ton of great information and suggestions....

Have fun - B.B.S.

In fact, precisely one mole of threads on the matter.

Scientific notation in a cigar forum post? Tom, you just made my day. :thumbs:

Wilkey

 

[gunsandcigars88]

If you have the money to buy guns and cigars, you have the money to get a proper humidor. Ditch the bag, man.

Yea the trick to this part is that I just purchased an AR15 so that like took my resources for a while. I do plan to get the humi after I build my finances back up. I used the search on here and found several that I really like, but haven't narrowed it down to one yet.

I took a look at the otterbox that Infinity suggested, and I think that I am going to go with that for now. To hold me off till I can get a good humi.

 

[wanlail]

you can always try cbid and get one fairly cheap over there. I think i hooked my friend up w/ a 40 ct , humidification, and a cheapo hygro for under 20 bucks... I think the humidor itself was about 8 bucks shipped.

 

[CigarStone]

For a buck or two you can get a two pack of Glad food storage boxes which will each hold 20-25 cigars. For another buck or two you can buy a couple Humidipaks at your B&M.

For a small gun I will send you everything you need!

 

[Dave]

For a buck or two you can get a two pack of Glad food storage boxes which will each hold 20-25 cigars. For another buck or two you can buy a couple Humidipaks at your B&M.

For a small gun I will send you everything you need!

For the price of a quality handgun, you can get a nicely made humidor from Bob with all the bells and whistles.

 

[gunsandcigars88]

For a buck or two you can get a two pack of Glad food storage boxes which will each hold 20-25 cigars. For another buck or two you can buy a couple Humidipaks at your B&M.

For a small gun I will send you everything you need!

For the price of a quality handgun, you can get a nicely made humidor from Bob with all the bells and whistles.

With what I have into my handguns a humi would have to go to the store, purchase them for you, and then age them 1 year overnight. Oh, and I think that I forgot to mention it should bring it to you in the recliner, cut, light, and insert it into your mouth for you.

Ok, so maybe my handguns didn't cost that much, but I am a little partial to them. Without them I couldn't shoot my competitions. Without my competitions I wouldn't have much to look forward to.

Actually, if it wasn't for the competitions I probably wouldn't have ever smoked a cigar. A guy that I shoot with has an AF of some type with him every time he is at the gun range. After being around it for a while decided I would try one. That's one thing that I will never regret.

 

[MX]

What do you shoot. I was IDPA for a few years at Ft Bragg.

Tim

 

[gunsandcigars88]

What do you shoot. I was IDPA for a few years at Ft Bragg.

Tim

For the past year I have just been shooting a Kimber custom, but I have nurtured it to being a decent gun. It took a good 3000 rounds to get it broke in good, but it is really awesome now that it's had a good 6000 through it. By that round count it's obvious that I don't shoot near as much as I want, but how much the pocket book allows. I have also shot with a Wilson Combat CQB, and an Ed Brown Kobra (stainless). Needless to say those weren't mine, but one day maybe. After it was all said and done I can shoot worlds better with my Kimber since that is what I am used to.

Did you shoot any big matches while you were in IDPA? I shot the Badlands/Oklahoma state championship this year, and was supposed to shoot Texas and National's, but my new job sorta screwed that all up.

Edit:I forgot to mention the caliber of what I am shooting. Everything that I shoot competition with is a .45ACP, I tried a .40S&W but can't get away from the classic .45.

 

[smellysell]

You might shoot Dale a PM.