Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)

[N2Advnture]

Have a question regarding humidors, cutters, lighters, etc...?

Ask it here and someone will be along to answer it shorty

~Mark


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What do you do when your humi gets that "not so fresh feeling"?
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Thanks for posting this, this is a great place to ask the beginner questions this site has so much knowledge it is kind of scary!


Jason

[N2Advnture]

Originally Posted by Molarman777

What do you do when your humi gets that "not so fresh feeling"?

ROFLMAO!

I thought it might be a good place consolidate commonly asked questions instead of finding old threads

[King James]

at what temperature should you start worrying about your cigars in your humi?

[N2Advnture]

Originally Posted by King James

at what temperature should you start worrying about your cigars in your humi?

Typically you need to be more concerned the closer you get to 70 degrees as the up temperatures tend to allow dormant tobacco beetle (Lasioderma serricorne, a.k.a. the tobacco or cigarette beetle) larvae to hatch.

Some have experience outbreaks at lower temperatures though and studies on the matter have varying opinions but to be safe, try to stay away from the 70 degrees and higher.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports the tobacco beetle's entire growth cycle will occur at temperatures above 65 degrees and assumed that RH is above 40%. Not good.

Early detection systems can help you spot a possible out break and quarantine (called "beetle traps by Serrico)

I hope this helps

~Mark

Interesting topic and a great question. Thanks for the info.

Originally Posted by Molarman777

What do you do when your humi gets that "not so fresh feeling"?
.


Thanks for posting this, this is a great place to ask the beginner questions this site has so much knowledge it is kind of scary!


Jason

I thought it might be a good place consolidate commonly asked questions instead of finding old threads

I have a basic newbie question about coolidors...

I recently ordered some 65% beads and 38+ sticks in various samplers that will far exceed my 20-ct desktop. I have a cooler that would work in a pinch, but want to know the best/cheapest way to set it up for somewhat long-term use.

Thanks for any help you crazies can provide!

[N2Advnture]

Originally Posted by Drat

I have a basic newbie question about coolidors...

I recently ordered some 65% beads and 38+ sticks in various samplers that will far exceed my 20-ct desktop. I have a cooler that would work in a pinch, but want to know the best/cheapest way to set it up for somewhat long-term use.

Thanks for any help you crazies can provide!

If you already have a cooler that will be large enough and enough RH Beads, then you're all set.

If going for long term storage, then getting some cedar boxes or sealing them in "seal a meal" bags with a cedar sheet would also improve their aging a bit. (5+ years)

I hope this helps

Originally Posted by N2Advnture

If you already have a cooler that will be large enough and enough RH Beads, then you're all set.

If going for long term storage, then getting some cedar boxes or sealing them in "seal a meal" bags with a cedar sheet would also improve their aging a bit. (5+ years)

I hope this helps

I guess my definition of "long term" is a little different. I was hoping to have a 200-ct sized humidor by summer.

Thanks for the quick response!

[bigliver]

I store my smokes in my garage. With the winter here, I'm running about 40 degrees at night and about 55 in the day. The cigars are being stored in a vinotemp. How cold is too cold, or is this something I need to worry about? Thanks for the help.

[N2Advnture]

Originally Posted by bigliver

I store my smokes in my garage. With the winter here, I'm running about 40 degrees at night and about 55 in the day. The cigars are being stored in a vinotemp. How cold is too cold, or is this something I need to worry about? Thanks for the help.

Many HK collectors store their cigars for "long term" aging in the mid 50's and having talked to those who have smoked some that were stored that way for over a decade, I may tend to agree with that, that's the way to go.

I think below that may be a issue though but that's just a guess.

I hope this helps

~Mark

[icehog3]

Originally Posted by bigliver

I store my smokes in my garage. With the winter here, I'm running about 40 degrees at night and about 55 in the day. The cigars are being stored in a vinotemp. How cold is too cold, or is this something I need to worry about? Thanks for the help.

Temperature of 40* should not be an issue.....Humidity is much more important, is it remaining stable with the temperature flucuations?

[bigliver]

Originally Posted by icehog3

Temperature of 40* should not be an issue.....Humidity is much more important, is it remaining stable with the temperature flucuations?

The temp is at 67 for the last day or so. Everything was just moved into the vinotemp so I am assuming everything is still stabalizing.

[joetownhound]

I have a HygroSet round adjustable digital hygrometer that I've tried to Calibrate using the salt test. I've followed the instruction of using a bottle top filled with salt that is damped and not soaked. After leaving it for 6 hours to started and then over night the highest I could get it to read is around 38 and 39%. I have turned the dial both ways and still the highest is 38 or 39. Can anyone tell me how to set it or do I have to buy another one. The one that I have it the one picture here http://www.cigarmony.com/index.asp?P...PROD&ProdID=81

[bobarian]

Joe, Your salt may not be we enough. You want a slurry, wet but not a solution of dissolved salt. Salt test a minimum of 24 hours. If you think the hygrometer may be bad, wrap it in a moistened paper towel for a few hours and it should read near 100%.

I have been givin a Donatus Solingen germany cutter. I am trying to find out how Do I sharpen this thing? Do I have to dismantle it? and if so how do I go about doing this? Any info on this would be great. who would have thunk there is so little info for such a great cutter.

I travel a LOT for my sons hockey. Spend many a weekend in New England. Can I leave the travel humi in the car on those cold cold nights or is it just safer to take them in to the hotel room?

[joetownhound]

Yet again another great ideal Mark. Many question that I had already have been asked here in such a short time. Again a great service to us noobs.

[dunng]

Originally Posted by ahc4353

I travel a LOT for my sons hockey. Spend many a weekend in New England. Can I leave the travel humi in the car on those cold cold nights or is it just safer to take them in to the hotel room?

Depends on the neighborhood...





[serious]I would take them in as they might freeze and then would need the appropriate time to defrost before smoking. I don't even leave any in the car for a few hours during the winter. [/serious]