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Issues with beads

V

vewyphishy

The Original Smoking Fish
Joined
Sep 10, 2003
Messages
2,739
I recently got a pound of 65%... I put about half into an open tupperware container for the cooler. That worked out as its supposed to. It's constantly 65% in there. However, its my 2 humidors I'm having problems with.

I took those aluminum tubos from AVO and drilled a bunch of holes (something like 100). I filled them each with beads. I put the distilled water in each one then screwed on the cap. I put 2 tubos in my larger humidor and 1 tubo in the smaller one. The problem is... it only gets to be around 60% or 61%. I took thought perhaps there wasn't enough surface area from the holes, so I took all the beads out and put them in small tupperware containers. I reapplied a little water and set them in the humidors. This morning, I check... and they're still 60%. What gives? Is there just not enough beads? Not enough water? What... ?
 
Not sure Phishy, but I do know that if you put too much water in the beads, they pop apart and will no longer function. Make sure all your beads are still whole beads and not crumbs. I screwed up half the ones in my humi by over-watering them.
 
Crud, might've put on a little too much the first time... but that was just barely.

I'll have to clean up the beads when I get home today. Still... what about the rest of the durn beads? Why arent they working?
 
If half the beads are busted, the other half may be inadequate for the task :(

That is what happened to mine. Luckily, thanks to my bro LD, I had extras
 
Did you do the math phishy?

I think it's something like 35 ML's for a whole friggin pound of these (at least that is what I think I put in my pound in the coolidor)


So make sure you didnt over water them. Second. What size humidor's are they? Have you seasoned them yet? sounds like they could also be takin the edge off your humidity suckin up the water into the wood.


So make sure you have enough beads in there, make sure there isnt too much water. Make sure your humi is properly seasoned.


I hope that helps bro,

Phil
 
Phil, the humidors have been well-seasoned. Prior to putting the beads in, I was having an issue with TOO much humidity (if you remember me telling you about it). It may just be that I haven't put enough beads in there.

In terms of the water, I think the mistake was trying to put the necessary amount of water in AFTER the beads were put in the tubos. That meant only the top few beads got hit with ALL the water (altho only a little bit). The rest of the beads probably didn't even get activated. What I've got in there is probably a bunch of dry beads. What do you all think?
 
PuroBrat said:
...... I do know that if you put too much water in the beads, they pop apart and will no longer function.
Click to expand...
Thats interesting....... didn't know that. I've had a bit of dust also from my beads but wouldn't have ever associated it with over watering. Can learn something new everyday. :) Is this an observation or has there been some kind of test to prove this?

One thing I do know about the beads is that they can become acclimated to another humidity level if left for long periods of time at other than the humidity level they were set for. If my memory serves me correct (don't bet the farm) you can "recharge" the humidity memory by placing the beads in an enviroment equal to the humidity you want it to remember for a week or two.

I would e-mail Vern...... he'll take care of you and give yu all the answers.
 
It could be that you don't have enough surface area with the tubes... I'd try using an open type container and see if your results improve. Also, it could possibly be that you need to add more water to start with. I've found that when I first wet my beads that I do need to use more than the recommended amount of water to get them to stabilize but if they're in an open top container there still shouldn't be water visible in there as that would be too much.

The other issue could be the seals on your humidors. When you had problems with high RH previously... was this during the summer months when your area is humid? Now that it's winter the RH is much lower and it's possible that your RH swings are being caused by a faulty seal and the RH in the humi is reflective of the RH at your home..... just a thought.

I'd take Kenny's advice and email Vern as he is the Bead Master! LOL!

Aloha,

Wade
 
Wade, just some FYI. I didn't really start smoking cigars until the end of summer last year. :) The RH swings were actually just a few weeks ago... in the dead of winter. It was mainly due to all the rain we were having. What can I say? Texas weather is MOODY.

I have moved all the beads out of the tubos and into open containers. So far, no changes (ie: no improvements). The humidors aren't big. One is a 50-75 count, the other is 125. Hmm... much to work with. I just hope that my cigars don't dry out while I figure this out. ???
 
How are you reading the humidity? Do you have to open the lid to read it? Leave it for 24/48 hours without opening it.

60% is nothing to worry about....especially if you're opening it from time to time to read your hygrometer.
 
I can verify the bead popping. I was using a 1/3 pound in a humi that now uses 1/2 pound quite happily. When it was the 1/3 pound it seemed like I was adding water all the time to keep the humidity correct. I had a whole in my top tray that was there for a previous humidification device so I didn't ever look at them. I would just open the lid and squirt in the water through the whole in the tray. When I changed out the beads I dumped the old ones out. I had been using them for not quite a year I would guess. The beads I was taking out were stained a light yellow in color and had crusted togeather on the top layer. On the bottm water was standing and it was a little deep in fact. I dumped them all out into another container and a large percentage were broken. Some where hollow on the inside and others were not. Several would break in my fingers with just very slight pressure. Running my fingers through the beads would cover my fingers in chips and pieces.

Yep, they can break and need to be taken care of. I now use a 1/2 pound of 65's in each of my 300 ct humi's. It seems to work very well.
 
i heard suspending them in panty hose is the way to go as far as surface area. I have little sacks made of pantyhose in my tupperdors and that works great.
 
Allofus123 said:
Is this an observation or has there been some kind of test to prove this?
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No test that I have seen to prove it.

I actually saw it happen on my own beads, over watered 'em by mistake and saw them pop apart. Lucky Dawg confirmed my suspicion when his popped for the same reason.

I would love to hear from Vern on this issue and get the low down. But for now, I can only recommend being careful when adding H2O.
 
I kinda doubt that popping means they don't work anymore. First off, when I received my package of beads I'd say 1/4 of my beads were broken or crushed. I'm really hoping Vern isn't selling something that comes 1/4 not working. Secondly, Verns instructions say that if you over water the beads to just dry them out with a hair dryer, not to throw them away.

May have to send Vern an email today...
 
vewyphishy said:
I just hope that my cigars don't dry out while I figure this out. ???
Click to expand...
Kenny's right. Don't worry about 60%. I actually prefer closer to 60% then 65%.
 
I try to keep the cigars i plan i smoking soon around 60. so I wouldn't worry about them drying out. IMHO
 
I know they snap, crackle pop! like rice crispies when you add water, wouldn't be surprised if you add enough they will violently disintegrate.
 
ivan37 said:
I'm really hoping Vern isn't selling something that comes 1/4 not working. Secondly, Verns instructions say that if you over water the beads to just dry them out with a hair dryer, not to throw them away.

May have to send Vern an email today...
Click to expand...
This is definitely becoming a concern. I ordered some 70's a few weeks ago, and I can not get pass 63 RH in either of my humi's. I thought I was doing something wrong. Maybe I didn't have enough beads, the season, too many sticks, :D or even my hygrometer quiting on me.

When need Vern, We need Vern



M3
 
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