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Perfectly fine to build the exterior out of mahogany. Usually humidor a are made from a variety of woods, and then lined with Spanish cedar.

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You can build the whole thing out of mahogany if you want. Spanish cedar is not a cedar, it's actually in the mahogany family. At one time, humidors used to be built entirely out of mahogany, spanish cedar came to prevalence due to it's lower cost and greater availability.

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Deja vu all over again?

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Many thanks

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Many thanks

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If I seasoned my humidor with Boveda packs can I later on switch to a humidifier? Vice versa for that matter. My first humidor I seasoned by wiping it down, etc and using a humidifier. Can I switch that one to Boveda packs?

Thanks

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Purchased a second humidor (25-30 count) and I seasoned it for two weeks with 84% packs. I have about 15 sticks in there with 72% packs (I now have three) and the humidity level won't raise past 66%. I have a digital (rectangular xicar 833XI that can not be calibrated). These supposedly come pre calibrated and there isn't even a calibration button to push.

Anyway, first time using the Boveda packs and I'm wondering what peoples' thoughts are that the 72% packs have not raised the level past 66%.

Thanks

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Couple thoughts:

* I've never had an issue with Boveda packs but that doesn't mean you don't have mis-calibrated packs

* Your humidor may be leaking humidity because of a bad seal. I'm hoping smarter guys than me can offer suggestions on how to test.

* Salt test your hygrometer - you may find that its reading is off and you'll need to account for that when looking at the display. If you're unfamiliar with the salt test method, use the search function here. Pretty sure there's a how-to thread. Boveda also sells a hygrometer test kit that allows you seal your device in a bag for a couple days to check the veracity of the reading.
Posted via Mobile Device

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Absolutely the first thing you should do. Also, make sure you have a digital hygrometer. The analog ones are just for show and are grossly inaccurate.

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I have a digital. There is not a calibration button on my new digital. I have done the salt test before but have always pushed the calibration button on my other digital. Make sense?

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I have a digital with several remotes (Oregon Scientific). What I do is salt test them but then remember how far off they are. One is almost spot on and one is 1-1.5 % high on each testing. I number them to keep them straight. Btw, I salt test for 48 hours usually as that allows the whole environment better time to stabilize. I use a small tupperware like container.

Your hygrometer does NOT have to be perfect, it just has to be stable. If 72% is equal to 66% (after you check with a salt test, that is), then you know to subtract 6% to get the true reading. After a while, you will know that "when the gauge reads X" is where I like my sticks.

For example, the hygrometer unit that came with my Aristocrat is set to 60% right now. The hygrometer that is nearby reads 58%. The once at the bottom of the MX reads 59%. The one at the bottom is the one that is off, so I think that it is actually 2-3% higher at the top than bottom, based on calibrated results over many years. I don't sweat that they all read different because I know my humidor.

After time, you will also trust your humidor more than your gauges, provided you don't have any leaks.

Best of luck!

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Salt test should have it reading 75% correct?

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Correct :tu

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So after the salt test if my hygrometer reads 70% I simply add 5% to the reading after it is placed in my humidor?

Appreciate all the insight!

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Yup

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Did a salt test for both of my hygrometers. My old one is registering 68% with 69% Boveda packs in one humidor and my new one reads 66% with 72% packs. My new hygrometer read 7% below my old one. 66 + 7 = 73 so I'm close.

So, I think I'm good to go. Thanks for your help!

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:tu Did you sign up for the NST (newbie sampler trade) in the new members area? It's a wonderful thing!

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No but I will go check it out. Thx

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Let me start off by saying I do not have beetles in either of my humidors but I still have a concern. I keep reading that my humidor should be at 70 degrees to prevent the bugs. However, we keep our AC set at around 74 or 75 to prevent insane energy costs. Am I taking a huge risk here? I have had my old humidor for ten years and have had no problems. If it matters as far as answers I live in the Midwest. Thanks!

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Is there a cooler spot in your place that you can keep the humidors? Opinions may vary on how great the risk, but the risk is certainly there.

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What's the biggest RG that I can punch with a Xikar 11mm punch???

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As big as they make, just punch more than once.

https://www.famous-smoke.com/cigarad.../10/CIover.jpg

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Thanks.

Usually I'll use my Xikar Xi cutters as I'm not one for sticks over 54-56RG generally. But I grabbed a Xikar 11mm punch the other day for if I ever get stuck with a honkin' "jawbreaker" of a stick.

On the flip side I also grabbed an 8mm Adorini bullet punch as well for the few smaller RG Cubans that I like.

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They also work well on torpedoes.

http://i.imgur.com/UEwP0dM.jpg

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:r

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I have a question that did not come up in forum search.

Has anyone ever used a submersion heater to get the water in the humidifier up in temperature?
My humidor is in the basement which generally averages 16 C, or about 61 F, and depending on furnace cycles can be 15 C.
I would like it to get to somewhere around 20 C or 68 F, and wondering if this is an option.

Thanks,

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Not sure why you would want to raise the temperature, man of the old cigar shots in countries like England store their cigars in damp cold basements, the same as they have for over 100 years and they are amazing cigars. I think you'd be just fine where you're at, I suppose if you thought the water was going to freeze inside the humidor that would be one thing, but doesn't seem that's the case. FWIW many people will freeze cigars when they get them to kill any beetle eggs, then store them away.

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Well, I suppose I just thought that the current temp is too low.
I'm not sure what the optimum is. When I go to a vendor with about a million $ of high end inventory the humidor is controlled at 72-72 and the cigars are great to smoke, many of them displaying bloom.

I have frozen cigars when I got them, however only those from a manufacturer that does not freeze before shipping. Again, the vendor is my guide for that information.

Perhaps I am just needlessly fretting for an exactness that is irrelevant?

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Yup I think you are worrying too much and vendors usually keep their sticks pretty wet, well that's extremely wet to me, I am in the 62-63 range, just personal preference and when I have smoked or tried to smoke them in the 70 range I felt like I was relighting often and had more wonky burns, again personal opinion and tastes. :tu

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My money is on mold at those temps and humidity.

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Nice catch Other Adam, I totally missed that :lr

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Love that 72/72 bloom. ;)

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Nyet, not mold. Actually I smoked a 4 year old Dirty Rat there on Friday and it had significant bloom. A great complement to the richness of the cigar due to the sweetness of the bloom. It tasted like pure, raw, cane sugar and had clear colour.

Next time I go there in a month or less, I will ask permission to take a pic of a tray of 20 Padron 1964 LE in full bloom on the shelf, probably 3 years old, and post it here.

Then you can decide for yourselves.

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Most times people mistake mold for Bloom or plume. Mold is fuzzy. Plume or bloom is crystalline.

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Wish I had a nickel for every time I've heard that.

Could have bought a couple boxes of Behikes by now.

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Absolutely. Very small delicate crystals without a colour different than the cigar.

However, the humidor is completely regulated with a cigar manufacturers version.

Unlike at home, I just have the cabinet humidor. As an example of what our ambient RH is the other day it was snowing when I woke up and the RH in basement was 31. At noon it stopped snowing and the evening ambient RH was 20 on a calibrated digital gauge.

So we all have different conditions to adapt to, it is a matter of what is good for the cigars. Just opening the door to take out a cigar drops the RH from 69 to 67 in a matter of 30 seconds on that gauge, and even further on the controller humidistat.

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what's a behike I've never tried one of those before :noon

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Cigar Bloom as promised.
http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/pictur...pictureid=9063

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You can send me the Behikes now.:noon

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:lv

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Sorry, Sir. That is mold.

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Fair enough, however could you tell me why all the material I have seen from cigar makers lists tobacco mold on cigars as a distinctive blue colour?

Also, mold is not hard and crystalline as these speckles are, I have smoked them and the crystals do not degenerate or disappear until either licked (at which point they taste like cane sugar) or smoked again, taste like cane).

Perhaps one man's mold is anothers' bloom.:D

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Sorry, that's mold.

Don't hold your breath kid.

Mold comes in various colors. White is fairly common actually. Mold forms unevenly and tends to be splotchy, exactly like the cigars you took a photo of.

You could be dealing with old mold, basically happened some time ago, then the humidity issue was corrected, and the colony stopped growing and dried up. Think of a standing dead tree.

Perhaps ignorance is bliss to the misinformed and inexperienced.

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The few times I have received moldy cigars from a vendor, the mold has been white.

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Seriously?!?!?!?
Can you point us to such material? If it is blue (or green), it is mold. No pics necessary for that. Cigar makers/retailers telling you that are trying to sell you their $hit.

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Perhaps

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I would suggest you stop licking those cigars though :lr

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This is from the very first link googling cigar mold. From JRcigars.

Edit: Adding link.

https://www.jrcigars.com/blending-ro...me/2015/06/22/

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Well, I guess there are differing opinions by people more knowledgeable than I am.
http://www.cigars4dummies.com/cigar-...on-cigars.html

Here are pictures describing the difference between white mold and white spots - Plume or bloom. Decide for yourselves.
Does it really matter in the long run? As long as it is white, small, crystalline, and hard, if they smoke and taste really good I'll smoke 'em.:D

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mk05, is that you?