Question about humidor and humidity
 

Morning guys,
I have a little bit of time here due to the third day of no going into work due to the storm. I wanted to take the time to explain a situation and ask for some advice. My girlfriend was the one who got me into cigars when she bought me a small 75 count humidor. Now I have the standard little sponge puck with PG and distilled water in addition to a Xikar humidity beads jar. Now I am planning on getting a digital hygrometer later today, but i wanted to ask a few questions. First, I just received and insane amount of cigars from Ranger_B. When I opened up the package, a few of the sticks had a very strong, very pleasant aroma. Now three days later in the humi, and they've lost a great deal of their aroma. Also, I bought a 10 pack of CAO brazilias and took 3 out of the cellophane. The sticks that are out of the cello do not have a strong smell, but I took one of the others out of its cello and it has a MUCH stronger smell. Is this an indication that the humidity is off? Also, the humi was an inexpensive one that my girlfriend got from who knows where. Is there a possibility that it doesn't have Spanish cedar in it? Anyway I could tell? Lastly, I just got a MASSIVE tax return and want to buy a new humidir. I was thinking about going the vino route, but will be training with the Army for the next 4 months and would have no time to set it up. Is there an interim humi that I could get to protect my sticks before I settle down and have a stable place and can set up a vino? Or should I just get that hygro and pay close attention to the humidity in my current humi? Thanks for the advice fellas! ;s for the long post! Want to make sure that I protect my cigars!

Re: Question about humidor and humidity
 

Andrew, just grab a cooler (ice chest) for the time being until you are back and ready to set up a full time humidor. Heck, a lot of people use just a cooler and do perfectly fine.

Inexpensive, easy and just about any size you need. :tu

Re: Question about humidor and humidity
 

:tu Cooler & 65RH Beads Work Great For Me!:)

Re: Question about humidor and humidity
 

If you are looking to splurge on a humidor, wait until you return.

What is your budget for the humi?
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Re: Question about humidor and humidity
 

IDK, 400 MAX. Again, really leaning toward the Vino option. Though I would like to spend enough to make it a great vino:tu Any ideas regarding the symptoms I'm describing?

The smell, in and of itself, is not an indication of RH.
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Re: Question about humidor and humidity
 

I Would Go With A Cooler, At Least Temporarily. Then You Have Plenty Of Storage & Time To Decide Which Vino You Want, Custom Drawers, Etc.:tu

Re: Question about humidor and humidity
 

Andrew the comments above are right on. The smells of the cigars where concentrated because they where sealed up in a bag while shipping. The smell really isnt an indication of your humidity that I am aware of. As far as the cedar on the humi check to see if there is a change in the wood along the edge when you open the humi up. On the cheaper humis there is normally a thin veneer on the outside then some cheap wood and then a veneer of cedar on the inside. If the edge is unfinished when the box is open you should see this. On better humidors you normally see about a1/4 in piece of cedar that forms the seal on the humi. Hard to explain but if you look at waxingmoons threads you will see the seal made by the cedar on his boxes. Getting a hygrometer is good but even the digital ones are not 100%. I would not jump right into a humi first. I would get a cooler up and running so you have time to find what you would like to have. You will see that a desktop is just an ornament for many here and the majority of storage is in either a cooler or a vino (in some of the ballers cases they have awesome cabinets). The desktop is for either smokes you are smoking or singles. Just my :2

Re: Question about humidor and humidity
 

Ok, I just got two Acu-rite hygrometers/thermometers and did the 24hr salt test on them. Both have been fluctuating between 74-75% Rh while inside the Tupperware so it seems that they are right on! Put one inside the humi so we'll see tomorrow what it reads...

Re: Question about humidor and humidity
 

This morning the hygro read 50%!!! OMG that's low. I put more PG in the sponge to see if that affects the humidity. We'll see when I get home...

Re: Question about humidor and humidity
 

Save yourself alot of grief and get some beads. I gave up the PG solution years ago.

Re: Question about humidor and humidity
 

:tu I Even Ruined Many Cigars With That Stuff! Kept On Adding More & More PG Solution To Get The RH Up & My Cigars Tasted Awful!:(

Re: Question about humidor and humidity
 

I have beads in there as well and they're as bloated as hell! It's a small container of Xikar RH beads...

Re: Question about humidor and humidity
 

Ugh 52%...I'm going to go get more beads tomorrow.

Re: Question about humidor and humidity
 

It will get right. Worth every penny.

Re: Question about humidor and humidity
 

Get some Heartfelt or Shilala's beads and never worry about humidity again. It's so much piece of mind knowing your stash is safe at all times.

Re: Question about humidor and humidity
 

Are you talking about the xicar crystal gel. When we are talking beads we mean Shilas or Heartfelt. There are others however the general feel here is that these are the best two products out there. Your mileage may vary. Best of luck man.

Re: Question about humidor and humidity
 

So will this be enough to maintain my small humidor for now? Cool that it's free shipping to military..

http://www.heartfeltindustries.com/p...?prod=HT_05_65

Re: Question about humidor and humidity
 

For sure. I have used same size in a 100ct without issues for 3 years.:2

Re: Question about humidor and humidity
 

For sure. If this doesnt get your humidity up then just find a cooler and use the small humi to dry box.

Re: Question about humidor and humidity
 

Frank (and others) thanks so much for the feedback. I ended up getting the medium sized 70% rh beads. I am going to avoid getting a cooler because I'll be building a Vino soon. I'm sure with the tube in there I'll have no problem keeping the humidity up.

Re: Question about humidor and humidity
 

How long can I expect it to take for the cigars to normalize once the humidity goes from 52% to 70%?

Re: Question about humidor and humidity
 

I am not sure I understand. Are they not normal now? If the cigars where stored out of optimum conditions it will all depend on time and type of cigar/tobacco on how long for them to come back.

Re: Question about humidor and humidity
 

It can take several weeks for the cigars to reach your desired humidity. It's OK -- cigars are pretty resiliant and they will be fine.

Re: Question about humidor and humidity
 

They are normal, I was referring to their humidity levels. TBH they don't even seem like they're that bad, and most are in cello and as far as I can tell seem fine.

Re: Question about humidor and humidity
 

I Like To Rest All My Sticks @ 65RH/ 65-70 Temp For At Least 2 Weeks In My Own Humi Before Smoking.:tu :2

Re: Question about humidor and humidity
 

OK just got the tube
http://i389.photobucket.com/albums/o...0/be34055e.jpg
I put it straight in the humidor. I don't need to add any distilled water to it correct? Just asking because the beads sound dry...

EDIT:nvm read directions again, added the water...

Re: Question about humidor and humidity
 

Only add enough water so about 2/3 turn clear dont soak it. I like to spritz it with a spray bottle.

Re: Question about humidor and humidity
 

yep that's what I did, though I used the syringe that I bought with it...

Re: Question about humidor and humidity
 

Funny thing when I add water is I always have to put the beads in a ziplock for 24 hrs so the RH won't spike. Doesn't matter how much water I add.

Re: Question about humidor and humidity
 

Hmmmm, I added the water so that the beads were about 80% full and left the tube in over night (about 18 hours) and the RH is only....58%. Is it possible that the wood is still absorbing moisture? Do I just need to give it more time? Ideas? Thanks to everyone sticking with me on this, just want to make sure I'm caring for my cigars...:tu

Re: Question about humidor and humidity
 

Yes. Be patient.

Re: Question about humidor and humidity
 

It could take a week or more, just give it time. Your cigars will be fine.

Re: Question about humidor and humidity
 

Cool, no prob thanks guys

Re: Question about humidor and humidity
 

up to 66%. Good to go thanks guys

Re: Question about humidor and humidity
 

Great news!