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Bodivas will last for several months. Like Bill said a tupperware container may be your best option. As far as freezing goes that is typically something for the really sick folk with very large collections that can't be checked 100% every day or week. (Checking each box/each stick for beetles) but some info from guys much smarter than I on it

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showth...eezing+science

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Thanks Bill & Jake my funds are very limited, but will take note on that, because I am sure down the road I will need something like this.

I did find a water pillow and will use that for these cheapies I just bought.

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Plastic bags will work fine for the short term. I've used Tupperware in the past as well. Cheap and works well.


Not sure on the freezing question, but your answer may be in here.
http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showth...light=freezing

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Thanks, I figure with the pillow and only for a week I should be ok.-(P

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Ziplock bags are fine for temporary storage. Just ask MoTheMan. :banger

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Stupid question maybe, but look up at Illinoishoosier's info.....what are those circles at the bottom? I have one....is this in regards to trades, and I have seen some people have two cigar bands at the bottom, I only have one....or is this something that will be opened to me later after I have been here longer?

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Circles are added as levels of "reputation" are reached. The circles or measure of rep means squat. People give rep for a variety of valid or inane reasons. The rep system is just a vehicle to send a personal/private note to another member. Some members, like me, have disabled the display of the rings.

The two bands you speak of can be set from you user control panel. One is for your favorite Cuba marca. The other is for actve/retired miltary folks.
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It is "reputation" given by other members. I have mine disabled.

Click on the "scales" icon to give it.

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Peter....D'oh I knew it was for the military, thanks as well Tom

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They're donuts for when I get hungry later. ;)

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:D:tu:dr

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Wrappers splitting...
Hello all, noob question-is "too dry" or "too humid" more likely to cause split wrappers? Or is it not that simple?
I just pulled an Oliva connecticut shade stick out of the humidor, and it was split near the foot And the wrapper was coming "unwrapped" up near the cap. I then pulled an Ashton Cabinet belicoso out and the wrapper was coming unwound up near the cap...that one brought a tear to my eye so I smoked it. My digital has been showing a steady 68-70 rh forever...humi is a Vigilant 1500 (yeah, sure) stick end-table style cabinet. Any thoughts appreciated.
Murray

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Sounds like you might be cutting too much of the cap. :2

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Unwrapping near the cap is unusual, the cap should keep the wrapper in place, that's the reason for the cap in the first place. Were the caps intact? You many need to recalibrate your hygrometer. What are you using for humidification? In a larger unit like that you may need several sources to keep the humidity even throughout. :2

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One other thing that can cause wrappers to split is a big difference in humidity between what the cigars are stored at in your humidor and the ambient humidity where you are smoking.

I'm not sure that this is your problem, but it is something to be aware of.

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Thank you. The cap was intact, I've tried to attach a photo and couldn't figure out how to resize it...I'll work on that tomorrow. The Ashton is now a happy memory. The humidor has a water tray, wick and fan, and I have a couple Bovedas scattered throughout. The hygrometer was recalibrated using the moist salt method about two weeks ago.

Murray

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How often should you refill your humidifier?

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Interesting. Splits can occur randomly although they can be an indication of high humidity. Sometimes with active humidification like yours the sticks closer to the source will be slightly higher rh. But as to the cause of the unwrapping at the cap I am stumped. If its just a stick or two maybe it was just a random occurrence, more than that I would look deeper for a cause.

This would depend on the type of humidifier. Active humidifiers like Oasis or Hydra's have a reservoir you fill when it runs dry. Gel or beads will turn color as they dry and require water. The other indicator would be when your rh drops below your desired level by 5% or more. :2

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These humidifiers:
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d6...3780527578.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d6...3374042095.jpg
Bottom pic the humidifier is in the top middle section above the case.

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Those look like foam filled humidifiers. Unless you are using propylene glycol all they do is add moisture, very difficult to regulate with those as they do not absorb excess humidity. I would switch to a couple of 1oz tubes of Heartfelt beads(heartfeltindustries.com) or a Puck from Cigarmony.com. The Puck is filled with beads. Both are trouble free and easy to use. :2

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Credos have no visual indicator Mike. You have to wait for the humidity to drop in your humidor to know that they need watering. Furthermore, they are just plain horrible humidifiers. One way only, no capability for absorbing excess moisture, no indicator of when they need watering, great potential for mold. They were great at one time, but mind you, so was a clay brick soaked in water, in fact, there really isn't much difference other than the brick being around for a century or two. We have the technology for better, so why not use it? Ditch the Credos and get beads (or gel, although gel doesn't absorb excess moisture/humidity very quickly).

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[quote=bobarian;1389281]Interesting. Splits can occur randomly although they can be an indication of high humidity. Sometimes with active humidification like yours the sticks closer to the source will be slightly higher rh. But as to the cause of the unwrapping at the cap I am stumped. If its just a stick or two maybe it was just a random occurrence, more than that I would look deeper for cause.

Thank you. I'm beginning to think "random", as I pulled another hundred or so sticks out ( a bunch of different stuff I've bought as singles or fivers, and keep in boxes I got at the B & M) and found no other sticks showing splits. Good exercise for me, though, taking them out and rolling them to "feel" how humid they are. I think I need to drop the rh down to 65 or so...
M

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My RH stays around 63-65%. I haven't calibrated my hygrometer in quite some times though. Reckon I need to do that soon...

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Thank you ...RH here in NW Arkansas today is a smooooth 84%. I wouldn't think that would be the issue, but as you said, something to be aware of.

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I cannot seem to get my 2 desktop humidors to drop below 73%RH. I've taken out the humidifiers and its seems 73% is the lowest I can get it to drop. I Live in the Northeast and it's very humid this time of year. I just purchased Heartfelt beads humidity tube 65% and I'm hoping that will solve my problems. Have I missed anything?

Thanks

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Have you aired out the humi? Take whatever sticks you have out and out them in a Tupperware or zip lock bag and leave the humi open for a few hours. Then close and check the hygro after a few hours. Repeat as needed.

Also make surethe hygro is calibrated and has fresh batteries.

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How long have you given the beads to level out the humidity?

How's the seal on these humidors?

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I don't think they came in yet bill also if the seal was poor it would prob have a hard time holding humidity. If it's not dropping below 73 then my guess is either it's over saturated or the hygro needs to be recalibrated (and have the batts checked).

Sounds like the seal is good. How are the sticks smoking?

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Bill, I have not received the beads yet.

The seals seem to be fine. I bought both humidors new over the past month and have analog and digital hygros for both (salt tested and got 75%RH) I will try airing the humi's out to see if that fixes my issue. Thanks again for the help, much appreciated.

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How many cigars you got in the humidor? Maybe the cigars are too humid and need to be dry-boxed a bit. That may bring the humidity down. :2 Do you have a hygro out of the humidor so you see what the surrounding humidity in the room is?

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I have a small 50ct and a slightly larger 75ct. Both are only 1/2 full now, but were 80% full the 1st week I bought them. I bought a bunch of samplers from a website, one that MANY members here suggest against buying from. Many of the cigars came with cracked wrappers and were dried out. The Temp/RH in my house is around 74F/70%

I seasoned the humidors with a light wipe down of interior with distilled water and left a small bowl inside over night. The smaller one seemed to be ok but over time the RH would increase. The larger one was at 80%RH and after removing the humidifier I've gotten it down to around 73%.

I'm going to try Drez suggestion today. The sticks are hit or miss. Some are tunneling others smoke great.

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Bob & Adam, thanks again for your know how's....Bob that heartfelt site didn't come up, but I haven't googled it yet either.......looks like I need to get some beads.

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Perfect Tom thanks :tu

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So I'd like to get on the NST list pretty soon. But I'm wondering what are best ways to ship sticks. I see the cool 'slotted' ziploc style bags, but I'm having trouble locating them for sale.

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There are group buys here usually. With more participation you'll see that forum shortly.

No post count or time duration, just participation.

There probably won't be another for a good bit, a few months I would imagine.

Vacuum sealing a zip-block bag (probably a storage or freezer bag as they are a big thicker) with them close together works. I've seen many people do this.

Use bubble wrap and what not.

The usual method of shipping is the small flat rate boxes at the USPS. Delivery confirmation #'s are also required from the NST, I believe, but almost everyone always gets them whenever they ship cigars. It's good practice and covers you on both ends.

There is a sticky in the new inmate area I believe about shipping. Can't link from phone, but a quick search should pull it up.
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I got ya :tu

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=3267

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Thanks buddy! :)
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Thanks guys, I had briefly read over that initially and forget where it was. I believe that answers most of questions.

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I got a stupid noob question, how do you quote several posts in one post? I see it all the time, but not sure how to do it. I can quote one person, but not 2 or more unless I open another session and copy and paste it into the original.....any of this make sense?

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Click The " Box At The Bottom Right Of Each Individual Post, Then Click Quote.:)

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You Got It, Mickey? :)

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Like Greg said:
It's the little button with the plus sign on it. It will change colors letting you know that it is selected, when you have all the ones you want selected, hit the quote button on the last post you want quoted.

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Damn that was easy. I have been doing tabs and copying and pasting everything, hahaha.


<--------NOOB

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:r

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Quick question, I know they are cheap and relatively easy to replace, but do boveda humidipaks continue to perform well if they are "recharged" by adding a few drops of distilled water to the disk at the top of my herf-a-dor and pulling in the extra humidity?

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I have a few packs that I've been recharging and reusing for many years now, with no change in performance.

The better way to recharge the pack though is to place it in a tupperware container with a sponge that has been moistened with distilled water. Ensure that the pack and the sponge are not contacting each other and just seal the container up for a week or two.

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Thanks! I'll do that.

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Nope, still not getting it. I hit the quote button on this particular post and I scroll to the bottom and see the other posts, but no quote button on the bottom right.....I know this is super easy, but I am missing something here. I can copy and paste the post, but then there is no link to it....:sh