How often do you need to check good tupperdores for RH?

[JCinPA]

So, I used to have a pretty good-sized coolidor, spanish cedar shelves, tons of beads, very stable. But it finally all cycled through my wineador and I emptied it. I've recently started using tupperdores primarily because they are smaller. My coolidor was stable as a rock, but I don't have the volume of cigars I used to have. And I like to buy new stuff, then let it sit for a year, then cycle it through my wineador and up to my humidors to smoke, and smaller tupperdores are perfect for this. Put a sticky note in it with the month/year I bought the gars much easier to keep track of.

So, how stable are they? Unlike the coolidor they could never be opened in a year. They all go to the basement at 67-68%. I'm standardizing on Sistema conainers, for the most part. I don't have enough hygrometers to put in each one, and I know it's not really necessary.

Question: Do I need to check on a Sistema at 67-68% within one year, or is it good to just let sit? If I should check, how often? Quarterly? Semi-annually? I suspect these are probably well enough sealed and small/full enough I can leave them for a year. I have either boveda packs or bead in each one, forgot to say that.

Thanks!

 

[CigarStone]

If you put a Boveda pack in, a cedar sheet between it and your sticks, AND your box is well sealed, you should be good for many months.

Without the Boveda packs, they will just stablize at the RH of the cigars which may not be what you want ..... and start to dry out very slowly.

ETA: many years ago, I used to play around with umpteen different things and staging systems similar to what you are describing. I eventually went to this and I don't do much of anything other than put a dish of water in a couple times a year as needed.

 

[MX]

I have always heard that you do need to open them up every so often to cycle air, never knew why, but that is what I have read on here in the past. This of course if you are not getting into them on a regular basis,

 

[TexasTraveler]

I would think in theory you would only need one hygrometer. If you took 10 tuppidors and loaded them at the same time with your sticks and put in the same boveda pack in each one, they should all last the same amount of time if they are sealed and not opened? So put a hygrometer in one and it should tell you pretty much what they all are at. If you don't load them all at once I would think putting the hygrometer in the first one you loaded would be a good indicator as to what the others will be doing as they rest. If you see a decrease within 3 months on the one with the hygrometer, most likely the others will be doing the same. Just my thoughts... I know it's not an exact science. because there are some other factors involved here, like the sticks could be at different levels when they are first loaded in, but it would be close.

 

[JCinPA]

Thank you for the replies! @CigarStone my old Coolidor was super stable, loved it. I used to stage out of the coolidor to my wineador, now I’m using the smaller tupperdores. I just love them.

I’m sure I’m overthinking this but I tend to do that a lot. I was guessing checking on them quarterly is probably fine, you guys have reassured me that is likely OK. About not needing a ton of hygrometers, I also agree, with the caveat you need to know the sticks are at the same humidity. When I get new cigars, I put them in a tupperdore, and check with the hygrometer, let it sit for 48 hours, then remove the hygrometer and label it with a sticky and the date. I bet they are fine in a good case like a Sistema for 3-4 months.

I don’t know if it’s necessary, but I’ve also heard the thing about opening them once in a while. I bet once every 3-4 months is fine, rotate them, close it up and don’t worry if the Boveda still feels pumped up. I keep a sensorpush in the wineador, I don’t rotate that because I have an old Oust fan in it.

Finally calibrated my hygros, got some new sticks in, and organized my basement, I’m pretty well set up now! Tupperdores make so much damn sense!

 

[BlindedByScience]

If very long term storage is the goal, vacuum seal the boxes with Bovida's, you're set for very long term storage.

For not so long term storage, get Govee hygros and you can watch the RH in real time, FFS......

 

[JCinPA]

That vacuum seal with boveda is a genius idea!

I don't need the Govees, though, I'm reassured the tupperdores don't need constant monitoring. I like the U.S. made Sensorpush for my wineador, and I sometimes move it around. But I would rather spend more money on that than buy Chinese, that's just my preference. Doesn't make sense, but makes me feel better, though.

 

[MX]

I love my Govee's

 

[JCinPA]

They’re fantastic to hear about them here. I just only feel the need for one I can move around as needed may get another. With tupperdores though I suspect they don’t need constant monitoring. This post just highlights my anal retentive nature.