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Thanks Tom, wish me luck. I thought I was being so careful.....ugh.

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After You Get A New Battery, Be Sure To Recalibrate Your Hygrometer, Mickey. GL, Brother!:tu

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One week shouldn't hurt them at all. Not familiar with the gel stuff, Get a battery, a boveda calibration kit, and there you go.

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Thanks Greg and Sean. I will say I am smoking a RP Cameroon and its smoking nicely....paper is a bit crackes, but I working around those issues.

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I have noticed that when using a silica gel based humidification system, that both the humidor and the individual (unlit) cigars have a weaker smell than those from a humidor using distilled water/floral foam. I have transferred strong-smelling cigars from a floral-foam based humidor into one using silica gel and within a few days notice a marked decrease in pungency of wrapper aroma. I have experienced this with both Kitty Litter and made-for-purpose silica beads. Upon replacing the foam/water system in a few of my humidors, I could easily tell that the scent from the interior of the humidor was much weaker. I have heard that silica gel does absorb odours. Has anyone else experienced a decrease in cigar/humidor aroma after making the switch to silica? If so, has it negatively impacted the flavour/ quality of your cigars?
By the way, I leave the cellophane on.

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Most of the bead products absorb ammonia -- which is prevalant in new cigars. The floral foam does not absorb ammonia. I think it's best to remove the ammonia myself as it "taints" the flavor of the cigar.

Some bead products (not HCM Beads) will absorb hydrocarbons that are given off by the cigars and this is why the beads become discolored over time. This also may be a component of what you are detecting.

Just my :2

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Quick question, I've been using Boveda humidor pillows. I usually change them out every three months, with two new ones. (I have a 50 stick desktop humidor) A little while ago, my RH gauge thing fell apart. It didn't compromise the integrity of the humidor, but I have no clue what the RH is in my humidor. My question is; I've been good with my routine of two new Boveda pillows every three months, how important is the gauge? TIA

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Not that important with a consistent humidity source. As long as they are smoking good I wouldn't worry about it. I have hcm beads and no hygro in my desktop.

If it was one of the analog hygrometers that came with the desktop, chances are it wasn't terribly accurate to begin with.

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Many people don't use hygrometers; those that do usually use a digital one. You can proceed as you have been doing and you will likely be fine. If you are really worried you can pick up a good digial hygrometer pretty cheaply -- just have to look around a little bit.

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Thank you guys!

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I am seeing on this thread some questions about whether or not to keep cigars that come without cellophane naked or to put them in single bags inside your humi. I have been wondering whether it matters or not. I have my humi right around 67% and have been leaving my sticks that came unwrapped just the way they are. Does keeping them in single baggies help? The sticks in question are my LP9's. They came unwrapped and I don't want to cause any harm at all. Any feedback is appreciated.

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Keep them as they come Ken and handle accordingly.

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:tu

Dave is wise!

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Thanks guys! That is what I thought but being pretty new at this stuff I wanted to be sure.

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HELP!!!

I currently have a Napoleon II humidor, and have about 50 cigars in it. I recently switched from the standard brick humidifier to the Humicare Crystals, and am using Cigar Juice. It has been staying constant at 70% and 70 degrees. Since the temprature outside changed, and I have started using the central heat in the house, the humidity has started to drop (67% - 68%) in the Humidor. I moved one of the two crystal jars from the bottom shelf to the top shelf, and now the humidity stays at 72%. The last three cigars I smoked started cracking, and unraveling halfway through the smoke. The cigars that acted this way are 2 CAO Brazilia Gol, and one Erin Go Brah. Any insight would be great, thanks.

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First a drop to 67-68% is nothing to worry about. It takes quite a while for a individual cigar to change its rH based on the difference in surrounding rH. Conversely 72% is not that big of a deal either. This is especially true dependent on you hygrometer's accuracy. Now if the hygrometer is off by 10% and you really have 82% AND it stayed that high for more than two weeks it might be time to take action.

As for the cracking and unraveling that could be simple damage or bad rolls or indicative of a humidity issue, but not necessarily what you are thinking. Cracking and unraveling is most common when the cigar is exposed to a drastic temp and humidity change. Such as taking a stick out of a 70/70 humidor and smoking outside in the winter at 40/20.

In your case because you have two humidification sources if you want to start now, remove one. Callibrate your hygrometer (search the forum, several how too's on this). Then see where you are at.

Then remember that after all is said and done a cracked or unravelling wrapper has little to no effect on the cigar as you smoke it and really is only annoying to those of us with OCD who need a perfect even burn. :tu

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Jason is absolutely correct!

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So, that makes a lot of sense, I was smoking all three on my porch in the winter (cold) air.

I have a decent digital hygrometer, and i calibrated it about a year and a half ago, do you think I need to calibrate it again?

and I am a bit OCD about my burn too :P

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If you are worried about it I would calibrate it again. The calibration changes as the batteries age. I generally replace my batteries about every six months (cheap insurance).

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Yes, and if you haven't replaced the battery since then, do that first, then recalibrate it.

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If its your only hygrometer,YES. But the fact that it has been stable like that for a year and a half you could throw out the hygrometer to keep you from OCD'ing about the rH. :r

In seriousness, once you get a well sealed humidor dialed in you don't need/shouldn't be messing with it unless it gets way outa hand.

As for your cracking, take the cigar outside and let it lower in temp for a couple minutes before lighting. That usually will help alleviate the problem.

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Thanks everyone, this was very insightful!!!

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Do you have to recalibrate everytime you put new batteries in?

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It might depend on the brand/model, but my Xikar definitely does.

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Have to? No

Should you? Yes.

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Ahh haa...:tu

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I purchased some cigars through CI. As is my usual practice, I dry box them for a bit because they come soaking wet by putting them in a sealed container on their own with a hygrometer, which I check after several hours just to make sure things are where I want it. Well, I forgot about them for a week and a half to two weeks, and when I opened the container they were at 57 rh or so. They are a little hard, and they do smoke a little on the dry side. My question is, could I have I permanently damaged them?

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They are fine. No worries. Cigars are much tougher than we sometimes give them credit for.

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Chutney is right -- just throw them in your humidor and they will rehydrate and be fine.

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no they are from a organic material and with a little tlc they will be ready to smoke again. and by tlc i mean introduce to humidity rest and smoke..

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Well, you know, when you first get into cigars you're constantly told "keep them at 70/70 or you'll ruin them. . ."
I'm sure we've all heard it.
But I'm finding that people on this site are right, and they do smoke better at 67 rh, some even at 65.

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And some even lower than that. After a while you will find a RH that works for you. I thought I should keep my CC in the 62% range, but I found that they taste better for me between 65-67%.

A little experimentation is all you need, its all personal preference.

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:tu 63-65 For All My Sticks, Both CC & NC.:tu

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I am 18 and I found CI and a lot of other online stores will not sell to people 18 years of age, even though that is legal smoking age. Why not? and dos anyone know of an online store with a wide selection that will sell to smeone like me who is 18?

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Cigarsatyourprice.com has a disclaimer that reads "*Persons need to be of legal age in their state to purchase cigars and cigar accessories from cigarsatyourprice.com
**Shipping outside of New York only."

I would think that includes you, eh?

I had this debate with someone before. Cigar shops often require you to be 21 but tobacco law is 18. So hypothetically if an 18 year old asks me to buy him a cigar because he can't........seems that's okay? I dunno what the law is but it doesn't make sense. No one has ever asked this, so it's purely hypothetical but it kinda makes you go hmmmm.

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I like the site, though I was hoping to find one where I could buy samplers like CI does

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try famous-smoke.com I order there and they are great. cigarmonster.com is also them. they have an 18yr old age requirement :tu

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Parts of New York and at least 3 states require you to be 19 to purchase tobacco. The at least 21 though is not because of any state law on purchase it is because of shipping. USPS/UPS/Fedex all have a 21 or over requirement for anything requiring adult signature and IIRC this is extended into shipping policies into age restricted materials making 21 the defacto adult age.


As for not selling it in a shop directly with a person who has valid proof of age, that is a whole nother issue.

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ok if thats the case than why do some sell to people 18 or otherwise legal smoking age?

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also I need some tips on keeping the temperature constant with my cigars. I have no control over the thermostat here at the appt. It constantly varies from bakery oven to ice chest. I dont figure it makes a big difference short term, but thats a different story long term. any advice?

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Ice chest probably won't matter, as I assume Ice chest is like 60-65? I couldn't imagine it being much lower. That's ideal for cigars really.

Bakery oven, not so much. Look into the thread on freezing your cigars.

Also you might want to look into Vinotemps and Edgestars for cigar storage if it gets THAT hot in your appt and you cannot control it.

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No idea. Just passing on what little info I knew that might contribute to the trend. I'll likely figure it out when I figure out women.

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no ice chest as in like 40. and I want something that wont set me back a whole lot

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Is there a question here? :sh

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yeah. how do I keep my cigars from being destroyed through thermal shock withoug breaking the bank?

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you talking about freezing your cigars from a island so they have a less of a chance of having beetles?

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no i mean long term storage. the temp in my appt varies constantly and widely. I cnat get a constant 70 degrees

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Not really but if you combine a few posts, basically he's looking to regulate temperature without buying a vino or edgestar or using the appt thermostat.

Apparently the swings in his appt are 40 - 90+ degrees at any given point in the year and he has no control over this :sh

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but wont 80 degrees plus destroy them?

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Not the temperature, you run the risk of beetles hatching and destroying them though.