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Is This MOLD?

Ryan81

New Member
Joined
Jun 9, 2008
Messages
7
Recently, after I noticed my stash of cigars were getting dried out, I decided to take them all out and re-season my humidors. I thought that perhaps when I initially seasoned my humidors, I didn't have enough patience and started storing cigars in there a little too early. I decided that this time, I was going to take my time and force myself to have a little patience.

After 5 days of patient seasoning, I started noticing little green spots on the wood interior.... I freaked out initially thinking that I MUST have a mold problem, and feared that perhaps I OVER seasoned it and created an environment in my humidors that were TOO humid. After searching EXTENSIVELY online and in these forums about mold in humidors, I took a closer look to see if my green spots had the characteristics of mold described in almost every resource i found. I noticed that the green spots weren't fuzzy, and couldn't be wiped off, but instead appeared more like a stain penetrating the wood. I even tried scratching the spots with my fingernail, and was unable to remove any trace of them.

I took an even closer look at precisely where in the humidor the green spots were forming. I discovered that all of these spots have something in common - they had formed around the tiny little nails used to tack the box together when it was built. I can not find these little green spots anywhere else in the humidor except around these little tack holes. The little tack nails used to hold the humidor interior together appear to be copper in color. I am aware that when copper oxidizes, it turns green. Could the green spots (that I fear are mold spores) actually be a bleeding of sorts from the oxidization of these little copper tacks?

I am really worried that I drastically screwed up. Luckily my cigars were in zip-lock bags when these green spots developed, but I REALLY don't want to have to buy another couple of humidors.

Here are some pictures of my problem:

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The following is the seasoning technique I used that I'm afraid now was overkill.

1. On days 1, 2, and 3, I lightly wiped down the cedar interiors three times a day with distilled water and placed a shot glass of warm water inside.
2. On day 4, I lightly wiped surfaces down 2 times and continued to place a warm shot glass of distilled water inside.
3. On day 5, I lightly wiped down interior surfaces once, and again placed a warm shot glass of distilled water inside.
4. On day 6 (this morning) I noticed the green spots around the small nail holes, and stopped with my seasoning.
 
I'm not sure if that's mold, it really doesn't sound like it.. but 2 things...

1. You waaaaay over-did it with the seasoning. At most you'd only ever want to lightly wipe down the cedar ONCE, and many including myself argue that you shouldn't even do that.
2. The interior of all the humidors I've seen have been glued together, I've never seen nails used. I bet that's what it is.
 
I have to agree with Mike and Alan. Way too much wiping/wetting done, so I'm sure the nails have oxidized and turned the wood green.
 
Wow!

Thanks for the prompt replies. I feel like an idiot having seasoned the things as much as i did. I don't notice any warping of the wood, which is good.

While searching on these forums, I have found that many people agree with you flamchop that you needn't even wipe down the interior. I'm really going to kick myself if I spent all this time seasoning, just to (potentially) take more time destroying mold. I have read in some of the forums I skimmed through, that one method for removing mold (if this is what I have) is to lightly wipe down the interior of the humidor with Isopropyl Alcohol. Do you have an opinion on this?

Thanks again for your help and opinions.

-Ryan
 
Most guys think about this WA to much when they first start. I just do a quick wipedown once, then put the humidity beads in for a couple days. After that just put your sticks in, along with the correct amount of beads, and don't worry about it.
 
It was probably brass finishing nails that were used in the humidor's construction. It looks like oxidation and not mold.
 
I gave mine a once over with a damp paper towel, and was surprised at how yellow/orange the towel was. I was glad I did it, I guess I wouldn't want my smokes sitting on all of the dye
 
The reason for the color on the rag was the oils in the wood coming out. Thats the stuff that gives the wood its aroma and color. When all of that is gone, dried out wood will look like the bleached hunks you would see on the beaches. It also looses some of its strength. Pritty amazing.
 
...jumping in to agree with everyone else. This looks like the copper oxidized from all that water you put on it and bled into the wood. I would test it to make sure it doesn't rub off onto your cigars.
 
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