PG solution

[Cardoso]

Hello,

First of all I'd like to say that I'm a rookie in keeping cigars.

My first attempt was to build a small humidor with tupperware, just to see if my PG solution works. I used a 50/50 mix of destilled water with PG. Put the solution and a digital hygrometer in the tupperware and closed the lid.

On the next day I had an humidity of about 83%RH (I'm counting on an error of about 2 to 3 %RH). opening the lid a little bit worked to lower the humidity, but then I closed it and the humidity went up to 83%RH.

My Doubt now is, if I put the PG solution in a bigger box will the humidity be lower?
Or which of the liquid must increase or decrease dosage to get a lower humidity?

And last of all, since I'm currently building a wood humidor, will the wood humidor have a lower humidity with the same solution? :\

Thank you in advance for reading this far and for any help you can give me,

Cardoso

 

[Newfie]

I can't speak for all PG solutions, but to the best of my knowledge, they already come mixed 50/50.

Let's say you put in one ounce of PG solution (which is probably aleady 50-50), then added 1 ounce of distilled water. You have now effectively made a 25/75% solution of PG to distilled water. That's why your humidity jumped.

 

[N2Advnture]

...On the next day I had an humidity of about 83%RH...

This is typical for PG. The chemical bonds to water molecules and has a "release point" of 70% RH. When PG is first used, you get HUGE spikes in RH. It will settle over time but you will run into 2 problems.

1.) As you add distilled water, the regulatory properties will eventually be washed away. (PG is more effective at releasing water vapor, not absorbing it).

2.) If you "recharge" your humidifier with more 50/50 solution, you will continue to get RH spikes.

It's definitely not the most effective way to precisely regulate your RH.

Hope this helps.
~Mark

 

[Marcos]

The few times I bought PG it was already mixed 50/50 like was said previously.

 

[N2Advnture]

...And last of all, since I'm currently building a wood humidor, will the wood humidor have a lower humidity with the same solution?

You have to "season" the wood by placing a bowl of distilled water into the closed humidor and let the wood naturally soak up the water until it's saturated. (Do not wipe it down as you may warp the wood).

After about 2 weeks (when the RH settles), you can then use a humidifying device and to start slowly adding sticks. Cigars can/will lower your rh as they soak up moisture just like the wood will.

Hope this helps
~Mark

 

[Infinity]

Get "The Puck" from cigarmony.com Linky
and your life will be less complicated. Working with a PG solution
is a pain in the butt! IMHO.

Brian

 

[Cardoso]

First of all, thank you for your swift replies.

I bought propylene glycol myself and added 50% water. My hygrometer had a reading of 25% before going in the box, and an hour after being in the box the RH reading was 73%HR (on the next morning it was 83%). Is the reaction normally this fast? Or is it just one of the "spikes" N2Advnture talked about?

I've realized that most people that use PG solution use it in a sponge of some sort... I've just placed a little bowl inside. Could this have anything to do with it?

Thank you once more for your help,

Cardoso

 

[BlindedByScience]

Cardoso - greetings. Surprised no one's mentioned that you really should salt test your hygrometer before you get too far into this. They are great instruments....once you know they aren't lying to you.

Most of the guys here use humidity control beads. Far less hassle, far better results:

http://www.heartfeltindustries.com/Home.htm

Mark (N2Adventure) can sell you a "puck" which has this material in a nice package - nice for desktops. For my cooler(s), I just bought 1/2 pound of beads and have them in an open bowl.

Regards - B.B.S.

 

[jgohlke]

If you are going to use a 50/50 PG solution, get a sponge. The best ones are the green spongy things they stick artificial plants into..the stuff is called "oasis". You can get it at any craft store. Put it in a plastic container, cut some big holes in the top or just leave the top off. Soak it good with 50/50.

Only the water will evaporate from the sponge, don't keep adding the 50/50 solution, just add distilled water.

Lots of people start this way because it's easy and inexpensive. For the reasons stated above and also because it's just plain messy, most of us have switched to beads or the puck or similar.

Humidity issues tend to fall into 2 camps...those with too much and those with too little. Some folks are even both, but at different times of the year.

PG works better for the folks that need to add humidity...for those of us in the south, we already have enough, we need something that's better at absorption.

Good luck.