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Humidor Trouble

WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot

WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot

New Member
Joined
Jul 29, 2013
Messages
9
I hope someone can help me here. I've left three tobbaconists baffled thus far and have tried everything I could find.

I bought my humidor about two months ago, a Craftsmans Bench "Manhattan Gift Set." It included a 25 cigar humidor, sponge humidification device and an analog hygrometer. I seasoned it according to the directions and calibrated the hygrometer the way my tobbaconist recomended (wrap in a damp towel for 45 minutes then adjust to 100%). I added some distilled water to the spinge then I let it sit before buying some cigars.

Anyways it has been holding at about 85% ever since then. I tried a few suggestions including cracking it open for a while, taking the humidifer out and even leaving my box wide open. Still 85% Next I replaced the humidifaction device for the Xikar beads and PG solution and then the small round Xikar digital hygrometer (salt calibration this time. I figured my original hygrometer was junk, it felt really cheap and also considered the anologs being notoriously inacurate. Nope. Still reading at 85% So my last ditch before this post was picking up some dry cedar strips last week. I have it down to about 79-80%

Heres the thing, its dry in my room. So much so it kills my sinus' and throat. I keep the room temp and A/C between 60-70° and dry because of my guns. But when I take my hygrometer out, both still read about 80% Id like to believe they are just wrong but my sticks burn unevenly and are hard to draw on. They dont feel damp and arent moldy but they feel more moist than from the store and sure dont burn the same way.

I know there is already tons of information on humidity control but Im at a loss now.

Thanks, especially if you read this far without falling asleep.
 
Is your humidor full? If not, then how many does it have? A humidor operates most efficiently when full.
 
ilikefishes said:
Is your humidor full? If not, then how many does it have? A humidor operates most efficiently when full.
Click to expand...
Not yet. Ive been afraid to put too much in there until I figure this out. I asked my tobbaconist if adding more would affect the humidity and he said no. I know I could probably take one out a little while before I smoke it and it should be fine. The most I have been keeping in there is 8 or 10 at a time.
 
ilikefishes said:
Is your humidor full? If not, then how many does it have? A humidor operates most efficiently when full.
Click to expand...
 

Adding more cigars isn't going to drop the humidity.
 
You said you salt tested the hygro. Did you do it as per the instructions on this forum? How long did you do it for? What was the reading after the salt test?
 
If it truly is 85% inside, all I can suggest is taking everything out of the humidor, leave it open and let it dry out as much as possible, then re-season.
 
I salt tested it per Xikars instructions. Plastic ziploc bag, soda cap with salt and water but not enough the salt floats, 5 hours then press calibrate before removing it. Sorry, I cant remember the reading right after that. I know the thermometer is reading accuratley.

I did open it once and let it sit for a couple of days but never reseasoned it. No effect.

I would like to believe its an issue with the hygrometer but two seperate ones have given the same reading and then their are my cigars burning uneven and hard to draw on.
 
I'd pull the battery out for 15 seconds, put it back in and redo the test. Wait 24 hours this time before calibrating it.

Unless you live somewhere with 85% humidity, leaving it open should affect the humidity one way or the other.

If the reading doesn't change after you've calibrated the digital hygrometer a second time and had it in your humidor for 24 hours, remove your beads, dry them gently with a hair drier and place back into the humidor bone dry until it reaches a number you're comfortable with.
 
IF (and only if) your hygro is calibrated, I'd just open the humidor and leave it open for a day or so.  Let the beads dry out a bit right along with everything else.  Sounds like it's pretty wet in there.  This isn't exactly rocket surgery.....
 
Thanks all for the responses.

BlindedByScience... I just opened it up a little while ago and so far so good. My digital hygrometer has dropped down to 70% and falling (in room not humidor).

I had tried this once before but still had the sponge humidifier and analog hygrometer. There was no change the first time I tried it but seeing as my analog has been sitting on my bookshelf for about a week now and still says 80% that says something.

I was actually hesitant about just opening it up to dry out because when I first noticed this issue my google skills kept coming back with results saying NOT to do this. Anyways, I dont have any smokes in there right now so maybe keep it open for a day or so? Should I avoid seasoning it again or is that a must if it dries out?
 
Where do you live? I suggest getting some 65% beads.
 
BlindedByScience said:
Why would you season a humidor that's too wet inside...??
Click to expand...
I mean if it dries out completley after leaving it open.

Rod said:
Where do you live? I suggest getting some 65% beads.
Click to expand...
Collierville, TN. We have a cigar/hooka lounge here called The Tinder Box. Great staff and selection there. I explained my problem to the tobaconist and he was rather surprised. The beads I have Xikar are supposedly good for 65 or 70% but if there is a better product Im open to suggestions.
 
As mentioned above once you fill your box with cigars it should DROP your % pretty fast. Once your cigars and in the new box and it has equalized, then I would work from that point. Knowing where your box stands with cigars in it will give you a better direction to go. IMO
 
The guys here are MUCH more knowledgeable then I am on this subject. That is just what I have experience with my box, and my wineador. 
 
Boveda Packs have never let me down yet, 2 way control.
 
Good Luck.
 
extremeXconcepts said:
As mentioned above once you fill your box with cigars it should DROP your % pretty fast. Once your cigars and in the new box and it has equalized, then I would work from that point.
Click to expand...
GONG!

Stabilize the humidor environment BEFORE adding your sticks .
 
Roger. I had my box running at 70% for over a week, added sticks and BAM it dropped and it took FOREVER to get back up to 70% I guess the sticks I bought were a little dry..... But when I had 84% packs in a different box for a couple weeks, then changed packs to 72% it stayed in the 80s and would not move until I added sticks. It dropped to 70 - 73 and has been holding strong ever since. 
 
Im a newb to all this so that is just what worked for me. 
 
WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot - as i said im a NEWB and the other guys know way more on this subject, I only chimed in to share my experience. Use whatever knowledge you gather and go with what you think or what works best. Any questions please search or ask, these guys will give you the best answers you can find.
 
Eing ding ding! come on down Miles we have a winner!

I'd suggest you get beads or boveda packs (65%) and let them stabilise the RH in the Humi after letting it get to the lower end of the RH (60%). If you want to accelerate put some dry cedar divider (if you have any) in the humi.

That being said, trash the green foam as it diffuse humidity profusely and does not control anything (prob the reason why the RH got so high in the first place). Mkles pretty much said the rest

extremeXconcepts said:
Roger. I had my box running at 70% for over a week, added sticks and BAM it dropped and it took FOREVER to get back up to 70% I guess the sticks I bought were a little dry..... But when I had 84% packs in a different box for a couple weeks, then changed packs to 72% it stayed in the 80s and would not move until I added sticks. It dropped to 70 - 73 and has been holding strong ever since. 
 
Im a newb to all this so that is just what worked for me. 
 
WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot - as i said im a NEWB and the other guys know way more on this subject, I only chimed in to share my experience. Use whatever knowledge you gather and go with what you think or what works best. Any questions please search or ask, these guys will give you the best answers you can find.
Click to expand...
Jeff, the potetial problem with this avenue is if the sticka are a bit dry or more on the lower end of he RH spectrum. Ever tried to humidify a dry cigar? If done quickly (like dropping them in the humi) the wrappers will crack.
 
Yes I have tried re hydrating some old sticks once I did it slow over about a year. For that exact reason. Did not want them to crack. Basically what I was getting at was, I put sticks that were in a 70% cigar shop humidor (room) into my box that was holding strong in the 80s. Once I added the sticks it leveled out at 70 - 73 and has not gone back since. As noted I did remove the 84s and added 72s before doing this.
 
I would hate for you to ruin any of your smokes. They are indeed pointing you in the safest rt. on this topic.
 
WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot said:
I hope someone can help me here. I've left three tobbaconists baffled thus far and have tried everything I could find.

I bought my humidor about two months ago, a Craftsmans Bench "Manhattan Gift Set." It included a 25 cigar humidor, sponge humidification device and an analog hygrometer. I seasoned it according to the directions and calibrated the hygrometer the way my tobbaconist recomended (wrap in a damp towel for 45 minutes then adjust to 100%). I added some distilled water to the spinge then I let it sit before buying some cigars.

Anyways it has been holding at about 85% ever since then. I tried a few suggestions including cracking it open for a while, taking the humidifer out and even leaving my box wide open. Still 85% Next I replaced the humidifaction device for the Xikar beads and PG solution and then the small round Xikar digital hygrometer (salt calibration this time. I figured my original hygrometer was junk, it felt really cheap and also considered the anologs being notoriously inacurate. Nope. Still reading at 85% So my last ditch before this post was picking up some dry cedar strips last week. I have it down to about 79-80%

Heres the thing, its dry in my room. So much so it kills my sinus' and throat. I keep the room temp and A/C between 60-70° and dry because of my guns. But when I take my hygrometer out, both still read about 80% Id like to believe they are just wrong but my sticks burn unevenly and are hard to draw on. They dont feel damp and arent moldy but they feel more moist than from the store and sure dont burn the same way.

I know there is already tons of information on humidity control but Im at a loss now.

Thanks, especially if you read this far without falling asleep.
Click to expand...
I believe you should only use distilled water with beads.
 
For a small 25 count Humidor, using Boveda Humidification packs works beautifully.  As long as you have a good seal on your humidor, you can buy RH appropriate packets and replace them as necessary (When they begin to harden).They will also absorb over humidification.  It is a fairly painless way to achieve your humidification needs, and if you initially purchase 3 or 4 65% RH packs you can replace them when needed and order a couple for the next time.  You still have to participate, just no too much.
 
Good luck.
 
Xikar humidification gels and crystals are different than Heartfelt beads. Xikar recommends PG for their products.
 
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