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Chris, we're cool brother - sorry if my earlier post came across as kind of douchebaggy, that wasn't my aim. I should have phrased it better and less cynically.

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When putting boxes away for aging, do you need to put in a humidification device or do the ziplock baggies breath enough?

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You actually don't want them to breathe too much. Less air flow = slower and better aging. They should be fine.

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Wow that was quick! ! ! Thanks NCRadioMan, so I just let them acclimate then they're good to zip-up and forget about them?

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The humidipacks that sometimes come with cigar orders(the ones with 'reverse osmosis' packaging that are not reusable and are disposable)...Do they do anything once they dry up and get stiff, or should you just toss them out at that point?

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Yep. That's what I do. :tu

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Toss 'em.

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Au contraire, oh wise and old one!:r

If they are the Boveda or Fuente packets they can be rehydrated and reused. Get a medium sized tupperware or other plastic container place the pack in the bottom with a small sponge that has been moistened with distilled water. Seal the container and leave it for a few days. Presto chango! The packs become rehydrated! :2

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:tpd:

(Bob, I've been saying that about recharging the fuente/boveda packs for years too)

Chris, don't let them dry up to a hard or "saltine cracker" like state. You want to try and rejuvinate them while they are still moist and somewhat pliable. If you wait until they are hard and dried up, you will probably not be able to bring them back fully.

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Even crispy ones can be rehydrated. Just pulled one out of the tupperware today. It had been sitting at the bottom of a cooler for about six months. :2

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I've had problems with the crispy ones Bob. Not that they don't come back, but they take _forever_ to do so and never seem to fully come back, but almost. Hence why I always advise to not let them get to that point before recharging.

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I stand by my post.

We'll agree to disagree, Brother.

The Bovedas may be rechargeable but the post I replied to made no mention of that.

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Well, they claim to be not reusable on the packaging. They are boveda packets. I have one that comes in RP shipments to vendors too.

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But yet they also claim to be 2-way.

Think about it, if it's 2-way, it's rechargeable.

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I reuse the packs when I give cigars to people who don't have a humidor....recharge it and throw it in a ziploc with the cigars.....better then nothing.

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That was exactly my thinking. I guess they are trying to get you to toss them out and buy more...

Yea I do that with the water pillows I bought from CI. They don't keep humidity very stable but they ar better than nothing.

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That depends on how you use them. I have used a water pillow in my coolers for years and they are steady as a rock.

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Really? Dang. When I used them as my primary humidification, my rh fluctuated ten points easily with temp fluctuations. Now that I have a larger cooler with more boxes in it and I'm using mostly HCM beads it's steady as a rock almost always. Never fluctuates more than one point. I'm a lot happier with the new setup.

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That's my thoughts too.

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Box storage questions.
I just bought a box that comes factory sealed in shrink wrap. What are general opinions about storing the box with or without the shrink wrap?

From my reading/googling, it seems that if you want to age the cigars, it is better to remove the shrink wrap and keep the box closed (ie without something small propping the lid).

It also seems that if you plan on smoking the sticks in the nearer future, it isn't as big of a deal to leave the shrink wrap on until you decide to smoke the first one.

The theory, I think, is that the shrink wrap holds the humidity for a fair amount of time, but isn't really a good conductor, like a box, for the long term.

Any thoughts on this?

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Take off the wrap and leave the box sit. Its always a good idea to inspect them before you put them away for aging or even if you are smoking them soon, just in case. But as far as opening or closing the box, there will still be humidity exchange so leave them closed :tu

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Exactly the feedback I was looking for. Thanks! :chr

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So I tried this last night and was amazed of how much of a difference it does make. Than I tried the lighter to it and it was "pretty colors"!!! For the advice that is on this thread, even if I'm not the one asking, I am learning everyday!

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If you intend on smoking them in the near future, it doesn't matter.

If you intend on smoking them years (5-20+) from now, it's better to keep as much oxygen out as possible to help retard the aging process. This will typically provide more concentrated and subtle flavors.

I hope this helps

~Mark

Newbie ?
 

I open a sealed box today and found a few sticks with the wrapper peeling. What is this a sign of?

Re: Newbie ?
 

Hard to say. They could have been damaged in shipping; they may have been overhumidified at some point and the wrappers expanded; they could have been underhumified and has the wrappers crack...or many other possiblities.

How long have you had them, do you know anything about how they were stored before you got them, and how have you stored them since acquiring them?

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I bought them online and have no idea how they were stored/handled prior to receiving them. Next time I will open them up for inspection.
Thanks for your input!:2

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How long did you have them before opening them, Joe?

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Thanks Mark - seems the least amount of change in environment the better.

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After storing a box with the lid shut I feel that the cigars taste better with the lid cracked. It might be a placebo effect but it makes sense(to me) to let the air exchange at a quicker rate. (I dont have intentions of aging my cigars more than a year or two)

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True for short term aging where more oxygen exchange will create a sort of rapid aging affect but for long term aging, the less oxygen exchange there is, the slower the aging process and the better aging affect.

I hope this helps

~Mark

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OK guys, I am looking to puchase a box of Opus X Perfexcion X, since online seems to be outrageous most of the time, what is a fair price to pay for a box of them. (32 in a box)
I am thinking around 550-600? Or is that even too much to be paying?
I will absolutely not over pay, if I can get them at reasonable pricing, well that is great but I am not going to get hosed just to have them.

Thanks guys!:D

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There is a MSRP for these:

5. Perfecxion X (6 ¼" x 48) ......................... MSRP = $13.00 x 32 per box = $416.00 (released 1998)

MSRP does not include state sales tax, nor state tobacco tax, the latter of which can be quite significant.

This was copied from gartrader, which is the new vitolas.net. It's a great site for Fuente cigars.

So take into account your state's tax and you can price accordingly.

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Thanks Wayner, I appreciate that!!

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Problems I have been having as of late thanks for your help... My mouth seems to get dry within a few puffs of cigars. Halfway through the cigars I get a bitter taste in my mouth and have to spit saliva often. By the time I am finishing the cigar the taste in my mouth is unbearable. Bitter and numb.

My humidor has been dropping down to under 60 quite often, weekly, so I am wetting my beads and it brings it back up to 75. Although some cigars still seem to have a cracking sound when i softly squeeze them, are they dried out? What should I do with those cigars?

Does anyone have a link on how to exhale through your nose, I have no clue.

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Check this out: http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=30447&highlight=snork

I'm not sure about the rest of your problems...do you have a drink when you smoke?

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Thanks for the vid, very helpful, I have a drink about half the time when I smoke.

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A little bit of crackle when you squeeze a cigar is, IMO, a good thing as it indicates that the cigar isn't too wet. A lot of crackle and cracking wrappers usually indicates that they are too dry. If such is the case, no need to worry, once you stabilize your humidor, they will come back to normal in time.

Assuming that you have tested your hygrometer for accuracy and it is reasonably accurate and that you have the proper amount/volume of humidification elements for the size of your humidor, your humidor needs to be checked for leaks. Once you have found and repaired them, or replaced the humidor if no other solution is possible, your humidity should be more constant and you'll get a better idea of how your cigars are smoking.

Link:
How to salt test your hygrometer for accuracy

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I almost always retrohale, I can't imagine smoking and not doing it....

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Try drinking water with your cigars instead of tea, or some other beverage. I find that water keeps my mouth from drying out so much.75 IMO is way too humid. I keep mine around 64% and love it.

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Does everyone keep their house at 70 degrees and under?

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The house....no not really but I keep the vinotemp in the coolest and most shaded part of the house (basement). Usually anything over 70* for a prolonged period of time might show a presence of eggs hatching. I am sure the worry is less if you freeze them prior to kills them though.
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In the winter I keep my house heated to 70 degrees during the day and let it drop to 66 degrees at night. In the summer I keep the house at the same temps, but use the A/C to do so.

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Which end do I light on this?

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Not the end you put in your mouth :D

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Punch it in the middle and light both ends.

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That's what I was thinking. :tf

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Is that sloth from the goonies?

















































;s

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Did you just say something?