Humidity Problem
 

I'm having trouble getting a new humidor up to the proper humidity. My digital hygrometer is reading in the high 50s/low 60s rH. Here's the sequence of events leading up to the current situation.

1) Received 75 ct used humidor from my brother. He didn't report problems but then again he was none to vigilant about humidity. Probably used an unknown humidifier and analog hygrometer.
2) Humidor contained 30 cheap cigars that had been outside humidity for over a year. Threw them out.
3) Put a bowl with distilled water inside the humidor for 10 days.
4) Added distilled water to make 75% of the beads in a Heartfelt cylinder good for 2000 cc of humidification; capacity of this small humidor ~700 cc.
5) Removed dish and inserted 5 DP Blue Churchills; after 24 hours got 63 rH
6) This rH continued 3 days; smoked 2 of the Blues.
7) Bought 10 E P Carillo cigars from CigarBid. This was the last time the humidity was good.
8) Humidity low. Inserted one glass of distilled water; still low; inserted another, low; inserted a third today, low.
9) After getting first low reading I added more water to the beads. It looked as if the cylinder needed it as more than 20% were opaque. At this point I thought the problem was with beads.
10) Tested cylinder with hygrometer in a plastic bead. Humidity correct at 66 rH (hygrometer calibrated at 66 after #7)

Shouldn't have been problems at all; even if the 10 E P Carillo cigars were very dry (is this a problem with CigarBid)? The combined surface area of two glasses should have been enough to bring the rH up. Though I read that a humidor can struggle to get the proper humidity and that in the long run it usually does, this is about two weeks of problems.

Leak? If so, why did the humidor have the proper rH with just the 5 Pepin sticks and then go down after putting the 10 E P Carillo sticks in?

Any light you can bring to these events would be sooooo helpful! Mike

Re: Humidity Problem
 

I think a picture of your humidor would be helpful here...

Most people around here keep their cigars at 65% RH, and I would not be too concerned about your cigars if the humidity does not dip much below the high 50's.

I don't have experience with the Heartfelt beads, but other people here do.

It does sounds like you have a sealing issue. If your humidor has glass then you should run a bead of sealant around the edge of the glass. Your beads may have been just working overtime to keep the humidity up in there, and then run out of juice around the time you got the EP Carillo sticks.

Re: Humidity Problem
 

There is a sticky on seasoning your humidor. Please retread. I see no evidence that your humidor was seasoned properly. In step 3 you said you left the water in for 10 days. But that may not be enough, the humidor needs to be able to maintain a constant humidity before adding beads or cigars. If there is a leak this will be masked by the addition of cigars and beads.

Re: Humidity Problem
 

Another thing to do would be to check your hydrometer, see if it is reading true.

Re: Humidity Problem
 

:tpd: Bob is wise in the ways of the raindrop. The sticky is beautifully done but amazingly easy to screw up, at least for me. Even if you know that you are doing it right, print it out and have it nearby.

Re: Humidity Problem
 

I would say leak. The beads needing to be recharged after such a short amount of time is what's making me think that way. They're basically expelling all their moisture trying to keep the humidity up, but the bad seal is just letting it all out. Have you tried the dollar bill test on the humi? When you release the lid from a few inches does it slam shut or close with more of a whoosh of air?

Re: Humidity Problem
 

A humi will suck up a lot of moisture seasoning. If this one has been out of care for as long as implied then who knows how much.

Also a bowl of distilled water does not provide enough surface area. I would put the beads / stogies in a temporary tupperdor and reseason using a clean sponge in a dish of distilled water.

Do another 10 days.

Glass has also been brought up. Look into that. the ones I have had apart only had a drop of silicone in each corner.....

Also what kind of hygrometer do you have?

Re: Humidity Problem
 

After the overnight of 3 glasses of distilled water, rH at 62. I'd like to keep the cigars and beads and water in the humidor and more gradually get the seasoning right; but after reading the sticky on seasoning a humidor feel that I need to remove everything and re-season it. As is I've got 15 cigars, beads and the three glasses of water in the humidor; too many variables to correctly assess the humidity. Starting out with just the sponge seems very much like the way to go.

One question: some say to saturate the sponge leaving all the water it can hold in it while others say to saturate then wring it out. Does it matter how quickly the sponge brings the humidity up? Is going slowly by wringing it out best?

Thank you very much for your replies. Seasoning a humidor is more complex that one would think.

Re: Humidity Problem
 

Best thing is to take the cigars and beads out -- otherwise you will saturate them.

I saturate my sponge to start and then resaturate the sponge as needed until my humidor will hold a steady RH. The point of the seasoning process is to add moisture to the wood in your humidor -- almost to the point of saturation.

The added moisture has two main benefits:

- it causes the wood to swell a bit causing the joints to tighten up and seal better
- it provides a secondary source of moisture for your cigars

Re: Humidity Problem
 

I'm a week into seasoning this humidor with only a ceramic dish, sponge soaked in distilled water and a hygrometer inside the humidor. I'm concerned about the rH readings I'm getting. It climbed gradually to a high of 73 but has been gradually falling off for about the last four days, and now reads 68.

I've only been opening the lid once a day to rehydrate sponge.

Is this of any concern?

Re: Humidity Problem
 

Why are you opening it daily? :bh

Leave it alone! After two weeks open it and take out the sponge. Then take a RH reading. Close the humidor and in 24hrs see if the same RH has been maintained, if so then it is stable and ready to use. You may need to lower the RH a bit to get to your preference. Just leave it open for an hour and take another reading.

Re: Humidity Problem
 

Is the sponge dry every time you open it up to rehydrate it? If it's drying a sponge out daily, there must be a leak.

Re: Humidity Problem
 

Sorry! I thought I was supposed to be rehydrating the sponge with distilled water everyday; in fact, when I remove it it maybe has only 30-40% of the water left in it that it had the day before when, rehydrated, I put it back into the humidor. bobarian, your smiley is priceless!

Plan: rehydrate sponge until it is sopping wet, put it into the humidor and don't open it for two weeks.

Question: At the end of two weeks, whether the rH is correct at that point or needs to be adjusted, am I aiming at 65% rH, the same as my beads?

Re: Humidity Problem
 

If I am not mistaken, your humidity using the sponge technique will yield a RH much higher than 65 to begin with after the two weeks of seasoning. This is ok though, since seasoning is really just used to moisturize the wood inside humidor. It will come down and settle out once beads are put in.

Re: Humidity Problem
 

Your goal is stability. Once seasoned your humidor should maintain its Rh for at least 24hrs. Take a reading, then in 24hrs check again and if you are within 2-5% you are good to go. Make sure no more than 2/3rds of your beads are clear and they will absorb any excess moisture. This may take up to a week as they work slowly, but you can put your cigars in once your Rh is stable.

Sponge does not have to be "sopping wet" It will continue to release moisture until the cedar is saturated.

Re: Humidity Problem
 

So a sponge wet with distilled water and my hygrometer were the only contents in my humidor for two weeks. Opened the humidor today and removed the sponge. Reading was 67 rH.

My question is: should I have put the beads in the humidor for the 24 hour test? I didn't and don't think so as they would have distorted the reading that I will take tomorrow? I want to be sure the wood has the right moisture, the wood only, for this final step?

Re: Humidity Problem
 

You are right -- don't put the beads in for the test. 67% seems low for two weeks of seasoning. You could try saturating your sponge and seasoning the humidor further -- maybe another week or you could check for leaks at any joints/seams.

Re: Humidity Problem
 

Thanks for your reply. 24 hours later the reading is low, also: 60%. I inserted the distilled water saturated sponge again and am going to let it alone for another week or two.

Re: Humidity Problem
 

At this point, I'd just assume there is a leak and seal every joint and seam with a bead of silicone. :2

Re: Humidity Problem
 

I think silicone is a good idea, but my first idea in pursuing leaks would be to test the rim for a faulty seal. I hear this is done by sliding a dollar bill into every space along the rim, and if it can be inserted at a certain place(s), get some sort of blue tape and make a patch for that area only, moving to the next place for the next test? I'm not too familiar with this. Do I have it right?

But it would not seem that sealing every joint with silicone should be cost effective and would not take much time? Why not do both fixes right now, especially if I want the humidor right by 2015:confused:

Re: Humidity Problem
 

I believe the procedure is that if you're going to use painters tape to snug the seal, it is generally done on the whole perimeter; I would imagine with a single, long piece so as to not leave seams in the seal. That and silicone on the joints shouldn't cost more than a few bucks and take, maybe, a half an hour.

Re: Humidity Problem
 

Does the silicone need to be food grade?
Does it matter that the masking tape be blue? Why is blue better?

Thanks!

Re: Humidity Problem
 

Aquarium or food grade sealant is recommended -- it dries quickly and the odor will dissipate and not get into your cigars.

Re: Humidity Problem
 

painters masking tape (blue tape) has less adhesive and is designed to take off all the adhesive when removed. Regular brown masking tape residue can result in a vinegar-like smell such as I had with one I purchased.

Re: Humidity Problem
 

I appreciate your input! I'll get the blue, which prompts another question. I've read that it should be applied as a single layer, without overlap, on all 4 sides. Yes? Mike

Re: Humidity Problem
 

I have two humidors. All of my posts have been about the smaller unit. It failed to season after two weeks with a wet sponge. I then applied food grade silicone to all interior joints and inserted a wet sponge, but at the end of two weeks the sponge had become entirely dry and the rH was 58. In successful seasoning, at the close of two weeks, though less wet than when inserted, the sponge still has some moisture, and the rH is in the high 60s.

My latest intervention was to apply blue masking tape, and I have once more inserted a wet sponge; we'll see what happens at the end of two weeks. The lid now closes with a "whoosh."

I did perform the flashlight test but wanted to clarify the procedure, which I understand to be to put a flashlight turned on inside the humidor in a dark room and look for light at the seal. I saw none.

I am happy to report that my second larger humidor seasoned correctly, that I have transferred my cigars to it, and with beads it is maintaining 64 rH. Beads are magic.

Had I understood the correct outcome of seasoning and the procedures to achieve this at the start, it wouldn't have taken the two months of trial and error, and then coming to all of you screaming "help,!" which I very gratefully received, to season correctly. But I guess mistakes are for the learning:cf2

Thank you to all who have shared their knowledge!

Re: Humidity Problem
 

Good news, Mike! Now it's time to have a cigar :ss

Re: Humidity Problem
 

Nice on getting it sealed and seasoned up, it is worth it to check out the links on Michael's sig line about how to care for your beads, that is how to adjust the RH of them, you don't want to just pour water on some of them, I have gone with the suggested method of using the fridge if they are too high for my likes or a damp sponge if they are too low RH. When I started I just sprayed them with water but it would seem too much water causing the thermal reaction and cracking a lot of them to crap.

Re: Humidity Problem
 

Yes, time to light up to be sure. Last week I got

20 Don Pepin Original, Toro

On the way:

Partagas Lusitania (10)

Boxes:

La Gloria Cubana Figurado
Tatuaje Brown Label Regios
Avo XO Churchill

Re: Humidity Problem
 

Are all beads created equal? I got mine from Heartfelt. I've gotten good results with them. I used them exclusively when I smoked cigars exclusively (I also smoke the pipe). Sometimes I could go for months at a stretch with good readings. I get the bead cylinders, and the only complaint I have is that though clear and with holes, I have to take the beads out of the cylinder to rehydrate. I really can't see them good enough to apply water from the outside of the cylinder.

My method is to put them in a bowl very carefully as they share properties with Mexican jumping beads. I then use a medicine dropper to apply distilled water, carefully and slowly. Usually 3 medicine dropper-fulls get ~75% clear, that is hydrated.

But I read that you apparently do it more gradually with a sponge. I could research this but as I'm not sure if Heartfelt beads are different than those you advocate, I am equally unsure that methods you use will work for me.

I don't see that there is anything wrong doing what I'm doing however; you just have to go slow.

Re: Humidity Problem
 

Don't know if it's the "proper way" to charge beads, but I just use a spritz bottle. for the vino, I open the door and mist some water on the inside of the door. for the cooler, I open the top and mist the underside of the lid. I've done the same for the inside of a glass-top humidor. then I close it up and let the beads/cigars spread throughout to absorb as needed. Usually doesn't take long, and since it's distilled water there is no residue left. been doing this for years with no noticable ill effects.

Re: Humidity Problem
 

:tpd: I do this for my coolers and Vinotemps.

I have a tube of HF beads in one of my small humidors, I just take off the cap and spray the inside, one or two spritzes is good, then I just shake the tube up a bit to spread out the moisture. :2

Re: Humidity Problem
 

This is one of those "religious" issues. Every one thinks that the product they use (or sell) is the best and no other products are good enough.

Heatfelt makes a good product. HCM beads are also a good product. I prefer the latter myself :)

For me personally, I draw the line at Kitty Litter. Some people use it and are happy with it, but I find it difficult to call it a good product for cigar humidification. Those people that use it and are happy with it are free to continue to use it -- my opinion is not worth the electrons required to display it...

I also lump all those gels, PG solution and foam-based products into the "not very good for cigar humidification category". Most of those a designed to release moisture rather than regulate RH.

Re: Humidity Problem
 

my sentiments exactly. I still cringe when I hear people talking about using the stuff. beads arent that expensive... come on man!

Re: Humidity Problem
 

Again, I have two humidors, the larger made by Bourbon St, solid and well-made. All I had to do to bring it online was seasoning. The second smaller humidor has been much harder to make ready, plugging all inner seams with food grade silicone and then, so far, two hours of applying blue masking tape. When I first taped I simply applied it to all of the inner rim. As it still wouldn't hold humidity, I've been testing the joining of the outer rim with a business card, spot-fixing where needed, a layer at a time and then testing again not only the spot but the rest of the seal to ensure that I'd not caused another problem by the just applied spot fix. But the front still needs attention. In some places I have as much as six layers of tape.

I've probably tested it for two weeks with the wet sponge about four times.

The answer should have been to just chuck it at the start, being cheaply made and small. But this far in, I might as well go the distance; plus, I've learned a ton in the process:).

Re: Humidity Problem
 

Retracing my steps with the Bourbon St humidor. It measures 18 X 11 X 7 inches or 1400 cubic inches, and I have two Heartfelt bead cylinders in it, each good to regulate rH for up to 2000 cubic inches; I am generous with the beads to maintain stability. After an initial successful seasoning with the wet sponge inserted, the 24 hour test showed a decrease in the rH by 5 points, but although this was the maximum decrease permissible, it was still within range, so I put the cigars and the beads inside, and for about 3 weeks the humidity was stabile at 63 rH. Also, the hygrometer had been calibrated before any of the above was done.

But after these 3 weeks the rH went down to 61, and even though I spritzed both cylinders, it remains there. All this leads me to think that the initial seasoning was incomplete. It could be that the beads need more water added, but if I check them and find they are good, it must be the seasoning. It is a well-made humidor, my only detraction that instead of using solid cedar, it only has a lining 1/4" thick. Though I don't think that any joint is improperly made, leaking air, this could also be the cause of the problem.

To do:

1. do the business card test for proper closure of the lid. If this is a problem, have at it with blue tape
2. check the beads for proper hydration

If I don't find a problem there, re-season. If there is still a problem after re-seasoning, having already fixed the lid closure with blue tape, silicon the joints.

I just added a third medium-large used Diamond Crown humidor; at this point none of them are good, but heh, it's a learning process.

Comments by seasoned humidor guys most welcome:).
'

Re: Humidity Problem
 

Rather than a business card, try a dollar bill. Its much thinner and should help to isolate the leak.

Re: Humidity Problem
 

What he said! (Bob is wise!)

If there is any glass you need to check the glass-to-wood joints.

If there is no glass, try putting a bright flashlight inside and the put the humi in a dark room and see if you can see any light.

Re: Humidity Problem
 

I just checked the lid seal with a business card, just before finding bobarian's recommend, and even with its added thickness found suspect places maybe amounting to 8 or 9" in total. You're recommending a dollar as that extra thinness provides a more stringent test, yes?

It's funny, but I could have spent $100.00 on 5 big tupperware bowls and have gone all the way on Tupperdores, but keeping my cigars in plastic long-term doesn't seem like the best solution. It's not aesthetically appealing, either. Eventually all three humis will be right and all my cigars will be in them, but in the meantime my tupperdore has been a godsend. Eventually it will only be used as a backup. Right now I only sporadically put beads in mine as it shoots the rH way up. Basically there're coasting on their own humidity!!

Re: Humidity Problem
 

A new humidor I bought has the opposite problem than what I've described above. Instead of not holding humidity, its seal is so tight that I have to push the lid down to close the lid. It stops with about 1/4" gap. Testing all around the rim with a dollar bill shows that the seal is tight everywhere.

I don't think this humi will have any problem holding humidity. But from what I know, along with doing this it also works best when it allows some air circulation in from outside. Is this a problem?

Also, would this humi benefit from some sort of waxing such that it would close properly with the proverbial "whoosh?"

If it needs some work that is likely to be successful, I'd like to keep it as I got a fabulous deal, a Savoy XL Macassar for $148.00.

Re: Humidity Problem
 

You do not want outside air circulating in your humidor other than the little that might get in when you open or close the humidor.