Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

I do not have a separate hygrometer. I thought that the electric humidifier was a hygrometer as well as a humidifier. So going forward I guess I will get a digital hygrometer and go from there.

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Think of the control on the electric humidifier as a "suggestion"; some are more accurate than others, but I would never rely on that alone.

I'm a fan of the HygroSet hygrometers but the Xikar Hygrometers are also very good.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

great I will order a digital Hygrometer and hopefully that will take care of my problem. Thanks so much for your suggestions. It is hard starting out. I have been smoking cigs on and off for years but only recently have been getting into storing my own.

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Just my little piece of advice.

I got 65%RH beads from Heartfelt many years ago. Keep a fourth of the beads translucent and the RH sticks at 65%. I have a digital Western Caliber RH meter but since getting the beads, I really don't need it. It's just a weekly validation everything still works. My advice, get some good, reliable beads and the meter it really not needed. Less humid is getter than more.

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Thanks Jamie, much appreciated. I will order some beads and give it a try.

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are there any humidifier beads out there that are better than the other??????????????????

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It's a one of those "religious" issues -- everyone has their opinions and facts. I am biased in favor of HCM Beads, but Heartfelt beads are also very good.

As far as I know these are the only two good bead products on the market.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

If you want to consider silica kitty litter.... this works well too :-)

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Opinions vary.
:2

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

+1
I use Heartfelt because they were the first beads I'd ever heard of and they work for me. Others prefer HCM. Really, you can't go wrong with either.

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Just as long as it's one of those two, and some of the others ones only let water out, or only suck water back in. These do both.

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KL is made to absorb not release moisture. :2

That's being said, I'm a Shilala (HCM) bead fan. :tu

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thanks all for the input.

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Hey Gliderryder, have you gotten a copy of our newsletter yet? If not send me a PM with your address and I'll get you on the mailing list.

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OK I bought a digital hygrometer that also displays the temp. So my electric oasis humidifier is reading around 72%, my analog hygrometer is reading 69% and my new digital hygrometer is reading 57%. I am so baffled here. I haven't bought any beads yet but that is my next step. Any help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OH BTW the temp on the digital hygrometer is right on the money.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

1. Have you calibrated the digital hygrometer?
2. Buy the beads
3. Ignore the analog hygrometer

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

I have been using silica KL for a about 4 months now. My cooler has not moved from 68%. No maintenance. Made to asorb only or not is immaterial if it is holding the RH where you want it. :2

That being said, it does take up a bunch more space than the the HF or the like. I have my humidor with the KL as well (put the KL in a aquarium filter sock) and but going to be removing that and using boveda packs to get my space back.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Is it really necessary to have yet another beads vs KL debate here? There are dozens of threads elsewhere in the forum on it already.

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how long will a box of cigars last outside of a humidor w/o any humidification/ziplock etc?

Friend will be coming back from down South with a couple boxes and curious.

Not worried if they have to sit for a few weeks - more to when will they will not be back to full health.

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There's no real set/absolute answer here because there are many variables at play; how moist the cigars are at the beginning, are they in cello or not, does the box seal well, the material of the box, is the box wrapped in shrink wrap, what temperature and humidity the ambient conditions are, etc.

Cigars get shipped coast to coast in the back of a UPS truck by vendors here, that's 7-10 days in transit and often without the benefits of humidification or additional sealed bagging, and they are usually fine.

They could be out of the humidor for days and take months to recover, or vice versa, it's really hard to say.

All I can suggest is take a look at them when you get them. If the seem overly dry or too moist, then leave them in your humidor until they seem ok, then leave them there a bit longer. If they don't seem too dry or too moist when you get them, you can smoke one and see.

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Hey Flynnster did you get the address I sent you? Just curious.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

PM might be more effective, just in case he doesn't check the thread.

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Hello folks!

I am having a hard time trying to find online places to buy "A" sized cigars. I am wanting to do prep work now for my bday in Aug so I can have a VERY solid weeks worth of cigars to smoke and I would love to have a bunch of A's. I have found a few cigars here and there but almost all are out of stock.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

If you tell us what kind of cigars you are looking for some guys on here could probably help you track down almost anything. If the cigar is in fact called "A" then I am an idiot and I've never heard of them.

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If I understand you correctly, "A" sized cigars are also called Gran Coronas / Grand Coronas / Giant Coronas. Famous Smoke, Cheap Humidors and CI all have a number of cigars in this size. I like the Arturo Fuente Hemingway Masterpeice.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

First, let me apologize for the spam of questions. These had been asked by me on another site and I did not get enough feedback to feel I understood the answers if any were given at all. With that said, let the learning begin!

QUESTION #1

• With the high growth rate of tobacco how quick are the farmers able to turn around and use the fields without destroying the soil content by over farming? Or do they inject so much nutrients and micro manage soil content that they always are able to balance a proper soil composition.

QUESTION #2

• Why should I join the CRA, what is it that they do and how are the different ways I can help?

QUESTION #3

• What is the secondary band on Padrons with the serial number for? Is this just an ad gimmick?

QUESTION #4

• When you shade grow tobacco it thins out and I understand part of this reason is for some wrappers, what are some other reasons to grow shade grown tobacco?

QUESTION #5

• What are the reasons on the retrohale that my nose may get a burning sensation? Some cigars will do it while others will not. Sometimes the start of a Cigar will do it but the end wont and opposite of that.

On a final and unrelated note, I want to tell people/apologize if it appears I am not very active. I do lurk here almost every day and try to soak up as much as possible. I am still going very strong with Cigars and my palate is developing very nicely. I am so very happy that I got back into this.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

I'll leave the others for more knowledgeable folks, but the answer to #3 is it's an anti-counterfeiting measure.

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Tobacco is a very nutrient intensive plant. I forget how many tons of fertilizer per acre are needed, but it's very high, at least according to Pepin when I visited one of his farms in Nicaragua years ago. Jeorge Padron said the same thing when we were over at his farms. I recall some rotation being mentioned, but I don't recall the specific details. I can't speak for what other growers do, but I suppose it's somewhat similar.

CRA is a political lobbying agency with the intent of protecting smokers rights and freedoms. They lobby congressional representatives to get their vote in preventing anti-tobacco legislation. Only you can decide if their efforts are worth your donation. Their website can provide more information and specifics.

The serial number band on higher end Padrons was added as an anti-counterfeiting measure.

That's really about it although different plants have evolved differently to prefer/require different growing conditions. Amount of sunlight is one of these conditions.

Different tobacco has different characteristics. Not all will burn the same.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Thank you very much for your response. I will go ahead and check out the CRA website. I hope you have a good day!

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

So sorry about that. I did indeed! I'll get it out to you soon.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

gliderryder hasn't logged on since January.

Please use PMs, this thread is for beginner questions.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Would you keep a different humidity in your long term storage humidor than in your short term waiting to be smoked humidor?

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I don't. Low 60s for me works well for both.

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No I keep them both relatively the same.

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Was looking for a ring gauge discussion. I know there are all kinds of opinions out there. My math makes me think the wrapper would be proportional to the ring gauge since pi of the circumference is increased proportional to the amount of filler inside. However, I've found I'm trying some large ring gauges like the Nub and some lanceros. I think I'm sort of leaning toward the lanceros a bit more than the larger ring gauges. I'm not quite sure why, but I think I get fuller flavor or is it just the brand I happen to be smoking. I don't see as many lanceros available as I do the larger ring gauges. Also I'm still new and making opinions on only a few samples at a time.-(P

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Lanceros have less filler and binder than larger rg cigars, so the wrapper should play a most significant role in their flavor. Not necessarily in them being "fuller", that is likely more a product of the specific cigar than the size. A Joya de Nicaragua or LFD will likely be a fuller cigar in either a lancer or large rg format as compared to, oh say for an extreme example, a Macanudo of either format.

Unfortunately, the makers of cigars have downsized (no pun intended) their lines of smaller RG cigars, and upped the Jawbreakers. Sucks for those of us who know how good a smaller rg cigar can be.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

i think he means "fuller" and not "duller"..but i agree with the above..and yes it is a shame that 56+ rg cigars are taking over the market.

i usually stick to a 46rg and down with a corona or corona gorda being my preferred vitola but i do love a good lancero

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

I did, Jason, thanks for the assist. :tu

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I got some empty boxes from my local B&M store to put some of the many samples I've bought in. I put them into my coolidor and now it smells more like the stale smoke of the B&M than the spanish cedar and cigars of my regular humidor. Any ideas how to get rid of the stale smoke smell without throwing out the nice boxes I got?

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While i havent tried this with cigar boxes, you can get odor out of wood drawers by filling them with crumpled newspaper and charcoal for about a week.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Yeah, throw those pieces of **** in the trash. You just did almost the equivalent of putting a half smoked cigar back in your humidor. Nothing is going to make that smell go away with them in there.

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Use Tupperware or plastic trays to separate your samplers.:2

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

If I get a box of cigars and they are vacuum packed could I leave them in there to age or does there need to be air flow?

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

There has been a whole lot of debate on that. Restricted airflow long term aging vs normal aging. How long you plan to age also plays a factor. A year or three might not make a noticeable difference, yet a decade or two might. It's very subjective.

If nothing else, you probably should open the vacuum bag just to inspect the cigars then reseal them if desired.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

After I receive some orders of smokes in the mail, should I put them in a tupperware with a Boveda pack for a few days? Or what is the best process for them to make it into my humidor? I only have the one humidor.

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

If you dont have space a tupperware is fine. Otherwise they can go directly in your humidor. :2

question on moisture content of leaves
 

I guess this is the place to ask my first question instead of where I put it before. So here it is: Does the wrapper, binder, and filler leaves have to be of the same moisture content when rolling? And what would be a optimal moisture content. Not wet but maybe just barely moist or something like that?


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Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Does the wrapper, binder, and filler leaves have to be of the same moisture content when rolling? And what would be a optimal moisture content. Not wet but maybe just barely moist or something like that?

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

As I understand it the RH of the tobacco does not have to be exact b/w each leaf but when rolling starts they do need to be more wet than usual to keep the pliable and ready to be rolling without destroying the inventory.

Here is a great read on all of that that will give some explanation to your question:

http://www.tobacconistuniversity.org...ge_rolling.php

Re: Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)
 

Hi all, new here, and have a box of cigars I am trying to identify. I received them as a gift in 2000. They are Montecristo Le Cigar des Arts 2000 Millennium collectors edition. It contains 12 sealed tubes and a cutter in a beautiful black lacquered box. They have been stored in a controlled environment and NEVER OPENED.

Can anyone tell me anything about these? I cannot find anything recent online.