Re: Humidification Beads FAQs
 

So I have 3,612.9 usable space with my new Humi coming from waxing moon. These means I would need 7 oz of RH beads. If I step up to 8 oz i should be able to go longer with out recharge correct?

Correct

My other question is i will not be able to feel this new humi up right away and will have plenty of room in here. Will this effect the RH beads and my sticks that will go in her?

No

I have two bead boxes that will be be made for the humi and I and thinking of placeing them at different levels of the humi. Is this the right idea?

Within the same humidor? If so, doing that wool help evenly distribute the RH level throughout.

The other think I was thinking about picking up a remote hydrometer from radio shack that comes with 2 or 3 readers. Have any of you had the experience of these?

I don't know about the current model but previous models work great.


Your right on track.

I hope this helps.

Mark

Re: Humidification Beads FAQs
 

Does it matter where I put my beads? Top or bottom of the humidor?

Is humid air denser than non humid air? Does it sink to the bottom?

Thanks in advance

Re: Humidification Beads FAQs
 

Depends on the humi. If you just have a desk top then it really doesn't matter. I keep my beads in the bottom of the desk top cause humid air rises.

In my vino I keep a pound on the bottom, half a pound in the middle and half a pound up top. Even then i don't really notice a difference when I had them mostly at the bottom.

In a cab is where you will notice a difference in top/bottom levels. If you have a good seal then the difference should be very small maybe 1-2% from the cabs I've seen.

Also it depends how full you humi is. If you keep it well stocked the rh will hold more steady than if it was empty.

Finding out where to put the beads is part of the fun of the hobby. Play around with it and find a place where they fit and you like it. Overall I don't really think it will matter.

Re: Humidification Beads FAQs
 

Humid air is less dense and typically rises to the top but this is usually only a concern for very large humidors (like cabinet) which is resolved with fans and placement of RH Beads at various levels thought to help evenly distribute the RH.

I hope this helps.

Mark

Re: Humidification Beads FAQs
 

I just ordered some beads and mesh bags, once the beads are charged in the bag, can I just lay them into my humidor, or do I have to worry about the moisture damaging the cedar inside and put the bag in a small tupperware container?

Re: Humidification Beads FAQs
 

As long as you don't overcharge the beads and/or leave the mesh bag wet, your cedar will be fine.

Re: Humidification Beads FAQs
 

That's what I figured, just wanted to be sure, thanks Jesse!

Re: Humidification Beads FAQs
 

Should i get HCM beads or is there a better type?

Re: Humidification Beads FAQs
 

HCM or Hearfelt beads are equally reliable products.
Might as well ask Coke vs. Pepsi.

What you buy is a decision you will have to make yourself.

Re: Humidification Beads FAQs
 

I use Heartfelt Industries 65% beads but the HCM beads are equally as good. Check the calculator at HeartfeltIndustries.com for the amount of beads you need for your humidor. Amounts would be the same for either type. :tu

Re: Humidification Beads FAQs
 

Thanks guys....love the asylum

Re: Humidification Beads FAQs
 

Thanks for the advise!

Re: Humidification Beads FAQs
 

Hcm beads on sale this month too!

http://www.shilalasbeads.com/

Michael's a stand up guy!

Re: Humidification Beads FAQs
 

Mark, thanks for all the great info:banger

The humidity inside of my house is somewhere between 70 to 75 percent. Do your beads absorb moisture at the same rate that they release? I am asking because I have three pounds in a 3 cu ft cabinet, and it sometimes struggles to reduce the humidity.

Thanks

Re: Humidification Beads FAQs
 

Re: Humidification Beads FAQs
 

I agree, 3 pounds of beads in a 3cu humidor is overkill by 4-5x the recommended amount and if they are still struggling, sounds like you should have instead invested in either a new humidor or some silicone and weatherstripping.

Re: Humidification Beads FAQs
 

I agree that it sounds like a seal issue, the humidor is from daniel marshal, and has a good (but not perfect) seal. I also have a 102 quart cooler with weatherstriping and a latch that takes days to recover with two pounds of beads in it.

Dont get me wrong, the beads are the best product I have tried, but I am just wondering if they absorb water a little slower than they release.

Re: Humidification Beads FAQs
 

Just think about when you have to hydrate your beads, you spray water directly onto them. They absorb it very quickly if not instantly, they certainly absorb way faster than they release. I would think the problem with your cooler is probably that there is no airflow inside, it's hard for the beads to remove humidity from the air if the air surrounding it is not moving. I am by no means and expert and do not even own any beads. Try putting a fan inside the cooler.

Re: Humidification Beads FAQs
 

Not a bad idea, I rigged one up earlier today from a old computer fan and broken router cord. Should be interesting, I will put it in this weekend and see what happens.

Re: Humidification Beads FAQs
 

I ordered a heartfelt beads 65% tube, put distilled water in it but didn't overly saturate it. It's been sitting for about 3 days and I noticed that some bead or gel particles are coming out of it beneath it.

Is this common after the first time you saturate it?

I saturated it on friday, added some cigars that had sat in a walk in humidor and now it seems the beads are dried out?

When I tip it from end to end, you can hear them moving around but when i put a light up to ut, they look clear. Could they be dry already?

Im not impressed with this hertfelt beads tube. Harder than hell to tell if they are saturated.

Re: Humidification Beads FAQs
 

Clear means they are saturated. Opaque means they're dry.

Re: Humidification Beads FAQs
 

but they should not sound hard when they are saturated.........they turn into gel dont they?

I called the company on friday with questions. Never got a call back. I think I might stick with xikar tubes........

Re: Humidification Beads FAQs
 

No, they don't.

Re: Humidification Beads FAQs
 

good to know, thanks!

Re: Humidification Beads FAQs
 

I've noticed that there was some dust in the bag when I got my beads. My guess would be that the gel you found is from dust.

Re: Humidification Beads FAQs
 

I just got my Heartfelt beads the other day, and I feel like I sprayed to much DW on a the 2lbs. (separated in x2 1lbs. pantyhose) What is the safest way to dry a pound out and start over?

Re: Humidification Beads FAQs
 

If you have a hair dryer, that is the quickest method....just make sure the beads are in a bag so they don't blow all over the place. Short of that, leave them out of the humidor in a place of low humidity.

Re: Humidification Beads FAQs
 

It is common for the beads to fracture (and create dust) if when water is added quickly but it does not affect their performance.

Adding cigars can change your RH level dramatically. Adding dry cigars can quickly deplete any moisture in beads and adding wet cigars can spike the RH.

You may find that a change in season or adding and removing cigars can create small changes in RH levels that would need to be corrected by adding water to the beads or drying them out.

Not that it applies to your situation but having a rise in RH could create enough moisture inside the humidor that the beads would reach their capacity to absorb any more excess RH (RH above the set point of the beads - 60%, 65%, 70%, etc...).

To remedy this (as mentioned) simply use a hair dryer set on low to dry them out.

Also, opening and closing they humidor frequently can introduce drier (or more humid ambient RH) which would affect the RH level.

I would also recommend changing the batteries in your digital hygrometer(s) once a year and calibrating twice a year. Weak batteries can/do give false readings and they can "drift" throughout the year, meaning that the reading can be off.

Also, being a silica based bead and not a gel, they don't expand.

I hope this helps.

~Mark

Re: Humidification Beads FAQs
 

I just got my winador up and running. I stepped up from a 100 count desk top humi using bovada packs the puck and humi pillows shipped with the cigar orders. Now with that said RH had been an up hill battle all the time. After joining CA and reading threads like this I bought beads and other then T* in the wine cooler causing the RH to wonder off mainly low. (I unplugged the unit) T* and RH have been steady as a rock I wished I would have known of beads sooner. But I am now a beleiver and very greatful.

Re: Humidification Beads FAQs
 

Just purchased a half pound from heartfelt gonna put them in my new coolidor.

Re: Humidification Beads FAQs
 

Im really curious if I am having problems with my beads because I do not have enough... I have a 50 CT humi and seems as though the beads do not want to hold.... I am trying again, along with some sealing, which I feel may be my issue. I have about another day worth of waiting for my humi to season again.

I bought the large tube... 3/4" by 6" (i think those are the measurements)


first shot with them, they didn't do squat.

Re: Humidification Beads FAQs
 

Sounds more like a leak. Is it a solid top or glass? How long did you season before adding cigars and beads? Lastly did you calibrate your hygrometer?

Re: Humidification Beads FAQs
 

Is it a solid top or glass? Glass - I have since took aquarium sealant to the glass, hygrometer & around the seal w/ saran wrap on one side. I did not wipe down the cedar as I did when I first bought it and it has been a week now, sitting at 70% as of this morning. Is this typical if you do not wipe it down to take this long? In Canada and the RH is quite low to begin with, but we are coming out of winter now.

How long did you season before adding cigars and beads? I had it seasoning (without opening the lid or anything in that regard) for just shy of two weeks. I wiped it down twice on the first and second day, and then let a bowl of water sit in for the remainder.

Lastly did you calibrate your hygrometer?
The digital hygrometer that is built into the humidor is not adjustable which made me wonder initially so I went out and bought a Xikar hygrometer and had it calibrated (twice in 3 days) Top of the humi was reading about 67% and the bottom (it's only a 50 CT) was reading 59% My digi that is built in is off by about 2% +/-

Re: Humidification Beads FAQs
 

When you are done reseasoning, check the seal around the edges with a dollar bill around the edges. There should be some resistance when you pull on the bill. If you find a spot where it pulls out too easily, you can seal with small lengths of painters tape.

What type of beads are you using?

Re: Humidification Beads FAQs
 

65% Hearfelt

I am hoping I am going to bypass the painters tape method with the seal I made from the aquarium sealant.

To further your comment on the seal - after it dropped to the high 50's I then inspected the seal, as I closed the lid, i could see about a 1/8" gap along the one side of the lid. There was 'some' resistance but on the other side I could pull the humidor around.

With the aquarium sealant, I hope I resolved this issue. It looks as though it filled the space - we will see soon! :)

In terms of the seasoning - I am 1 week in and it is at 70% I am going to assume when I get home. Will I be rushing it to take the water out and see if it holds or should I let it sit for another day or two?

Re: Humidification Beads FAQs
 

I would let it sit for day or two -- or even longer. Until it holds a stable RH for at least 24 hours after removing the water/sponge/whatever you are using to season. All things related to cigars and cigar accessories require patience :)

Just my :2

Re: Humidification Beads FAQs
 

Sounds like you're getting it under control. :tu