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ANEJORE
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2005
- Messages
- 2,419
I found most of this info on some other sites but have fine tuned it to where it works best for me. I have had the most success using these directions as I have revamped them. RH levels can be maintained at a very consistant level with very little maintainance. I hope you all find this helpful, useful and interesting.
Inroduction: Superabsorbent polymers, otherwise known as SAPs are materials that swell in water to form a clear gel made up of separate, individual particles. They are used in a vast array of applications from baby diapers to fiber optic cable, fire protection, etc. They have excellent potential as a cigar humidifying agent.
Where to buy: WaterSorb
What size crystals do I buy: Medium for travel humidifiers, Large for the CigarOasis cartridge
Cost: $12 for 2 pounds - will last you forever
How do I mix: Add 1/2 cup of distilled water to 1 - 1 1/2 tablespoons of dry polymer nuggets.
Then what: Let sit in an open tupperware container overnight to achieve maximum absorbtion. 1- 2 hrs to reach functional state.
What about adding Propylene Glycol: Optional but recommended. Will help retard mold.
How to store surplus wetted polymers: Sealed tupperware or comparable container. Check once every few weeks for any signs of discoloration. Discard and replace if necessary with a new batch. I have not had this problem so far. Wash your hands before handling polymers as to avoid contamination.
Best application: travel humidifiers, e.g. Humiditubes in lieu of sponges, silica gel, and florist foam. And as a replacement for the factory-supplied florist foam in your CigarOasis cartridge. You will never have to buy a replacement CigarOasis cartridge again. Best, polymers really do shine in the CigarOasis cartridge. Works great in small glass canning jars that have holes poked in the lids for use in coolers.
Fill the cartridge only half way with wetted polymers. Check every few weeks to see if they have shrunk in size appreciably. If so, re-wet with an ample supply of distilled H2O. Squirt bottle works best. Check for any discoloration.
Not to do: Wetter polymers should not come in contact with certain metals such as brass. They will discolor.
A further word on polymer use with Humiditubes: After the overnight hydration, discard the excess run-off. The fully hydrated polymers should fill the entire length of the Humiditube. Discard any overflow (and there will be). Avoid over-packing.
NOTE: Removing top of CigarOasis cartridge can be done easily if done carefully with a screwdriver or puttyknife. Use black electrical tape to hold cartridge back together. Do not glue back together. You'll want to periodically inspect the gel for discoloration. Although discoloration is rare if you use a 50/50 propylene glycol mix. Re-wetting should only be done with distilled water.
Propylene glycol can be bought by the gallon at your local feed store for around $20. Make your own 50/50 mix.
Inroduction: Superabsorbent polymers, otherwise known as SAPs are materials that swell in water to form a clear gel made up of separate, individual particles. They are used in a vast array of applications from baby diapers to fiber optic cable, fire protection, etc. They have excellent potential as a cigar humidifying agent.
Where to buy: WaterSorb
What size crystals do I buy: Medium for travel humidifiers, Large for the CigarOasis cartridge
Cost: $12 for 2 pounds - will last you forever
How do I mix: Add 1/2 cup of distilled water to 1 - 1 1/2 tablespoons of dry polymer nuggets.
Then what: Let sit in an open tupperware container overnight to achieve maximum absorbtion. 1- 2 hrs to reach functional state.
What about adding Propylene Glycol: Optional but recommended. Will help retard mold.
How to store surplus wetted polymers: Sealed tupperware or comparable container. Check once every few weeks for any signs of discoloration. Discard and replace if necessary with a new batch. I have not had this problem so far. Wash your hands before handling polymers as to avoid contamination.
Best application: travel humidifiers, e.g. Humiditubes in lieu of sponges, silica gel, and florist foam. And as a replacement for the factory-supplied florist foam in your CigarOasis cartridge. You will never have to buy a replacement CigarOasis cartridge again. Best, polymers really do shine in the CigarOasis cartridge. Works great in small glass canning jars that have holes poked in the lids for use in coolers.
Fill the cartridge only half way with wetted polymers. Check every few weeks to see if they have shrunk in size appreciably. If so, re-wet with an ample supply of distilled H2O. Squirt bottle works best. Check for any discoloration.
Not to do: Wetter polymers should not come in contact with certain metals such as brass. They will discolor.
A further word on polymer use with Humiditubes: After the overnight hydration, discard the excess run-off. The fully hydrated polymers should fill the entire length of the Humiditube. Discard any overflow (and there will be). Avoid over-packing.
NOTE: Removing top of CigarOasis cartridge can be done easily if done carefully with a screwdriver or puttyknife. Use black electrical tape to hold cartridge back together. Do not glue back together. You'll want to periodically inspect the gel for discoloration. Although discoloration is rare if you use a 50/50 propylene glycol mix. Re-wetting should only be done with distilled water.
Propylene glycol can be bought by the gallon at your local feed store for around $20. Make your own 50/50 mix.
