Simple way to passively keep your beads hydrated

[Kid Montana]

After I got back from R&R the RH in my humidors was pretty low, about 50%. For the next week or so I was re-hydrating the 70% Heartfelt beads every day or so as they were turning white but the RH was climbing VERY slowly, about 1% per day but I didn't want to resort to wiping down the inside of my humi to get the RH back up quicker. Three days ago I had an epipheny and scrounged a few of those cedar spacers you get in 25 ct boxes and sprayed them down with some water, towelled them off a bit and placed the moistened blocks inside my humidor.

Three days later both my humidores are back up to the 68-70% range and I couldn't be happier with this technique. Instead of aggressively wetting the beads causing a LOT of cracking and crumbling or using the water tray and paper napkin technique which takes up a lot of room in a small humidor, wetting the cedar blocks creates a low-footprint but highly effective way to quickly increase the RH of a dry humidor as well as keep the Heartfelt beads humidified. Its win-win.

Edited to take the excess 'e's from "humidor."

 

[jepe]

That is a good tip,but eventually the wood will rot I believe.

Get some floral foam,the green spongy foam used at florists and put it in a bowl.
Pour distilled water on it ,make some holes in it and put inside the humi.
That will raise the RH.

 

[Kid Montana]

That is a good tip,but eventually the wood will rot I believe.

Get some floral foam,the green spongy foam used at florists and put it in a bowl.
Pour distilled water on it ,make some holes in it and put inside the humi.
That will raise the RH.

The issue with the green spongy stuff is its not a small footprint solution, it crumbles, is messy, and accumulates mildew. Those cedar blocks are the same size as a cigar and while I imagine they will rot eventually, you won't need to wet them that often and they certainly won't rot significantly faster than the rest of your humidor.

 

[tomthirtysix]

Re-raising the humidity too quickly can cause your cigars to pop. the other problem is, you said you have a small humidor. Where are you putting these cedar blocks? Because if it's on top of the wood in the humidor, the humidor will soak in that one spot. Ir if it's on top of other cigars, you're drenching those smokes.

 

[BlindedByScience]

I used to put a shot glass of DI in the bottom of the humidor and wait a few days. Never had an issue.

 

[grateful1]

After I got back from R&R the RH in my humidors was pretty low, about 50%. For the next week or so I was re-hydrating the 70% Heartfelt beads every day or so as they were turning white but the RH was climbing VERY slowly, about 1% per day but I didn't want to resort to wiping down the inside of my humi to get the RH back up quicker. Three days ago I had an epipheny and scrounged a few of those cedar spacers you get in 25 ct boxes and sprayed them down with some water, towelled them off a bit and placed the moistened blocks inside my humidor.

Three days later both my humidores are back up to the 68-70% range and I couldn't be happier with this technique. Instead of aggressively wetting the beads causing a LOT of cracking and crumbling or using the water tray and paper napkin technique which takes up a lot of room in a small humidor, wetting the cedar blocks creates a low-footprint but highly effective way to quickly increase the RH of a dry humidor as well as keep the Heartfelt beads humidified. Its win-win.

Edited to take the excess 'e's from "humidor."

It was the humi that lost seasoning.

From what you just stated...you did wipe down some cedar.

You would have been just as well to wipe down the liners of the humi.

 

[Rural Guy]

I used to put a shot glass of DI in the bottom of the humidor and wait a few days. Never had an issue.

x2. Don't need much just a bit. Helps when the A/C or Furnace is going steady for several days. Put in half a glass and take it out when the RH gets up or just leave it in if it needs it till the glass is dry and top it up.

 

[Mr Peat]

I used to put a shot glass of DI in the bottom of the humidor and wait a few days. Never had an issue.

I took one of those plastic beer cups you have at a picnic or kegger if you are young and cut most of it off. I use what is left of the cup in my desktop humidor and have never had an issue with the RH%. I've been doing this for 8 years and no problems with the RH% or beetles.

 

[Chemyst]

I use the cap from a 2L soda bottle. Small footprint, and I don't
need distilled, since the impurities in the water do not evaporate
in my humi.

It depends on the time of year, too. In the coldest, driest weather
I use one bottle cap in the top and one in the bottom of my 150ct.
Usually one cap is good, except in the humid summer when it rarely
needs additional water/humidity, then only 1/2 cap full.

Been using this method for 4+ years with zero problems.

Chemyst

 

[Kid Montana]

It was the humi that lost seasoning.

From what you just stated...you did wipe down some cedar.

You would have been just as well to wipe down the liners of the humi.

Oh well. At least I don't have to dig into my humidor and pull out my bead cylinders everytime to re-charge 'em.