Humidor Seasoning Question & Opinions

[jefred]

I’d like to get a few opinions on this although some people may think that this topic has been talked about enough.  When I got my first humidor I seasoned it with PG solution because I didn’t have distilled water at the time but I only did so very lightly and did not soak the wood in any way. It seemed to work well and my humidor is staying at a very steady 69%RH. I was concerned if this would have any effect on the humidor if I ever switched from the Super Absorbent Polymer to the Silica Humidity Beads.
 
I just found something interesting. Almost everyone suggests using distilled water only when seasoning a humidor however Cuban Crafters sells “Activator and Maintenance Humidor Solution” which is a 50/50 PG solution of PG and distilled water.  I may be wrong but this is the first time I’ve ever seen a manufacturer of humidors suggesting the use of PG solution and they recommend it for all humidors. I thought this was interesting and was wondering if anyone had a negative effect while using this method? I think that key to using this properly would be to use it sparingly.
 
Any thoughts or suggestions on this would be appreciated including personal experiences you might have had. Thanks in advance.
 
Cheers!
Dennis in Anaheim
 
 

 

[duglynukem]

Dennis, I have a tough time reading this font. Doug

 

[Rod]

It's called marketing.

 

[Devil Doc]

Oops, wrong thread.
 
Doc

 

[broblues]

It's called marketing.

^^^^^^^
X2.......That's how they sell their product. There are more and more products coming out to maintain your RH.  I use Boveda packs and am very happy with how little I have to worry about my stash.  Study it a while.  You'll find what works for you. 

 

[jefred]

Dennis, I have a tough time reading this font. Doug

 Doug, thanks for telling me that. I had no idea. I will change the font if I can and I will not use the font again.
 
Dennis

I am re-posting this because it is hard to read. It is the same as the original post. Dennis
 
I’d like to get a few opinions on this although some people may think that this topic has been talked about enough.  When I got my first humidor I seasoned it with PG solution because I didn’t have distilled water at the time but I only did so very lightly and did not soak the wood in any way. It seemed to work well and my humidor is staying at a very steady 69%RH. I was concerned if this would have any effect on the humidor if I ever switched from the Super Absorbent Polymer to the Silica Humidity Beads.
 
I just found something interesting. Almost everyone suggests using distilled water only when seasoning a humidor however Cuban Crafters sells “Activator and Maintenance Humidor Solution” which is a 50/50 PG solution of PG and distilled water.  I may be wrong but this is the first time I’ve ever seen a manufacturer of humidors suggesting the use of PG solution and they recommend it for all humidors. I thought this was interesting and was wondering if anyone had a negative effect while using this method? I think that key to using this properly would be to use it sparingly.
 
Any thoughts or suggestions on this would be appreciated including personal experiences you might have had. Thanks in advance.
 
Cheers!
Dennis in Anaheim
 

 

[BlindedByScience]

I would never, ever, wipe the inside of a humidor with anything.  "Seasoning" means allowing the wood to naturally absorb humidity until the environment is at the desired level.  It takes some time to do it right.  But, if done right, you have a very stable environment.  Can't tell you how many posts I've seen over time about guys that can't get their humidor to stabilize.  "But, I seasoned it; I wiped it down with DI...".  
 
Exactly.....

 

[jefred]

I would never, ever, wipe the inside of a humidor with anything.  "Seasoning" means allowing the wood to naturally absorb humidity until the environment is at the desired level.  It takes some time to do it right.  But, if done right, you have a very stable environment.  Can't tell you how many posts I've seen over time about guys that can't get their humidor to stabilize.  "But, I seasoned it; I wiped it down with DI...".  
 
Exactly.....

BlindedByScience, thanks for your interesting comment. I will give it a go and see how it works.  I still have a few things to do before I have it set up. So are you saying to go ahead and put my humidity beads or gel in it and season it that way or should I use distilled water in a bowl until it's stabilized?  
 
I have another humidor already seasoned and in use but I won't say how I seasoned that. 

 

[BlindedByScience]

I'd get a small saucer and a NEW synthetic sponge.  Rinse the sponge out with some DI before you start.  Put the saucer in the humi, put the sponge on the saucer, and moisten the sponge with a little DI.  Close it up with your salt tested hygro, wait a day.  Check it once a day, no more, add a little DI as required.  
 
This may take a few days, but it works flawlessly.  I'd personally let it get up to > 68% and stay there for two or three days, should be good to go there for a 'set point' of about 65%.

 

[jefred]

I'd get a small saucer and a NEW synthetic sponge.  Rinse the sponge out with some DI before you start.  Put the saucer in the humi, put the sponge on the saucer, and moisten the sponge with a little DI.  Close it up with your salt tested hygro, wait a day.  Check it once a day, no more, add a little DI as required.  
 
This may take a few days, but it works flawlessly.  I'd personally let it get up to > 68% and stay there for two or three days, should be good to go there for a 'set point' of about 65%.

Thanks for your response
When you speak of “DI” I’m taking that to mean “Deionized Water”. Am I right in assuming this? Won’t distilled water do the same thing?  Deionized Water is not that easy to find in my area anyway.  I can purchase it through Graingers, an industrial supply but water is very heavy so 4 liters (approx. 1.5 gal) is $25.80 plus shipping and it weighs 10 pounds. Dennis 

 

[BlindedByScience]

DI, distilled water....I meant the same thing.  To many years in the semiconductor industry.  Distilled is fine for humidors, purified is NOT acceptable.

 

[jefred]

DI, distilled water....I meant the same thing.  To many years in the semiconductor industry.  Distilled is fine for humidors, purified is NOT acceptable.

Thanks for your reply,
 
That's where I used to work around DI also and had to always take resistivity readings. I worked for Rockwell and Boeing when they were into semiconductors and also Commodore computers in the early 1980's. I work in maintenance and facilities. Thanks again, Cheers!

 

[Rod]

Next you'll be telling us you're a ham radio guy too!
 
I have 2 Commodore 64's and 1 Plus 4.  I'm waiting for them to go up in value and make me rich.

 

[ilikefishes]

Where do you work in Maintenance & Facilities?  Just professional curiosity.

 

[BlindedByScience]

Next you'll be telling us you're a ham radio guy too!

 
...DE NY7D QRZ.....
 

Where do you work in Maintenance & Facilities?  Just professional curiosity.

 
I worked for seven or eight years in a company locally that grew crystals and made wafers for semiconductor industry.  I was a maintenance engineer which meant I inspected, rigged in, hooked up, started up, and wrote PM's for a lot of wet benches.  Now I'm back to my roots, an electron wrangler.  I do NOT miss the chemicals...!!!....

 

[jefred]

Next you'll be telling us you're a ham radio guy too!
 
I have 2 Commodore 64's and 1 Plus 4.  I'm waiting for them to go up in value and make me rich.

Rod, that funny you mention that because that is the only reason that I kept my old 64's. Once I heard that old tube radios were going up in value I knew it was just a matter of time before my Commode 64 went up in value. I hope I'm still alive when they do go up. And I was always interested in ham radio but it takes commitment and I really don't know anyone in it anymore. I know I could meet people and maybe someday I'll take my test and get into it. And wow, you have a Plus 4? Most people don't even know what a plus 4 is. They didn't make a whole lot of them so it may become the collectible one someday. Cheers!

 

[Rod]

Believe it or now, several of us are hams.  The test is far easier today then when many of us took it. 
 
Yep, and the Plus 4 is in like new condition.  Hardly used it.

 

[jefred]

Believe it or now, several of us are hams.  The test is far easier today then when many of us took it. 
 
Yep, and the Plus 4 is in like new condition.  Hardly used it.

You sound like a bunch of techies. Back when building computers or IBM compatibles was more popular I used to build all of my own computers. I don't do it anymore but back then if you wanted what was know as "multi-media" you had to build it yourself or have someone do it for you. Remember the autoexec.bat files and config.sys and never having enough IRQ's or interrupt request to run everything we had? It seems we were always running out of IRQ and having to wait for the new motherboards with more IRQs. Anyway, enough of that. Back to cigars. Is there a place to post pictures here?

 

[Devil Doc]

Click on your name at the top of the page. You'll get a drop down menu. Click on MY Gallery. I'm sure you'll be able to figure the rest out.
 
Doc

 

[Ol' Times Cigars]

I agree its all marketing, I believe if you read the Xikar 50/50 it tells you to use it with their units. I am perfectly happy with distilled water, but I do favor the beads over any other humidification. I love boveda, but they are a little bit more expensive then going to the grocery store and buying some distilled water. I used to use the gel Xikar units, but some of the gel decided to leak out into the humidor. I'm sure it was just my luck but I was given a few samples of the beads and started using those a few years ago. They have been perfect.
 
Everyone has their own routine/tricks, I have to admit I am a little bit lazier when it comes to prepping a humidor and have wiped them down with distilled water. However I do it in stages and don't soak the wood as I have seen humidors swell and separate. Sorry Blinded