Temp control - how important is it?

[Steve OB]

I am new to the forum. I( have read many threads about what temperature and RH should be (70/70%). I was wondering, how does one control the temperature in cooler humidors and most desktop wood box humis? I am converting a Magic Chef wine cooler into a humidor. It will hold about 22 boxes of my favorite smokes (Oliva Serie V Churchhills) I know that compressor driven cooling systems tend to suck the humidity out of the box, so I don't intend to use the cooling system. I will unplug it. I intend to use beads to control RH. I learned that the mean annual RH where I live (San Diego) is 69%. The unit will be inside. In the summer the temp inside varies between 65 and 75 (no A/C). That means the temp inside the unit will be 65-75. Occasionally, it gets up to 80, but it doesn't last long. The winters average between 60-65 indoors. If I maintain a 70% RH inside the unit, will my 3 cigars be OK?

[icehog3]

Temps above 70* for long periods of time can lead to beetles hatching. A few days straight at 80* is not good. See my reply in your other thread for more info.

[pnoon]

Welcome to CA, Steve.
Your temps and cigars will be fine. I live in San Diego (Mira Mesa) and at times I do turn on the central a/c. But in OB, temperature will not be an issue.
As for RH, personally, I think 70% is way too wet. I much prefer low to mid-60s.

[Steve OB]

OK, I'm thinking that 70% is probably too high for RH. Good info. Thanks. I don't think the ambient temps here will require chilling. I just don't want to smoke bugs! But wait, does that mean we all smoke bug eggs?

[kydsid]

Originally Posted by Steve OB

But wait, does that mean we all smoke bug eggs?

Yes and no. Tobacco beetles are pervasive in all tobacco growing regions. Eradication is not possible but cultural control techniques pre and post harvest can help control their numbers.

Key thing to remember is you are smoking a natural product, that may include other natural things. Plus if you eat peanut butter you likely eat more bug and bug parts than you'll ever smoke and both are harmless. But that's a story for some other time.

[markem]

Originally Posted by kydsid

Key thing to remember is you are smoking a natural product, that may include other natural things. Plus if you eat peanut butter you likely eat more bug and bug parts than you'll ever smoke and both are harmless. But that's a story for some other time.

Not to mention "meat products" of all sorts.

My humidors get up to 78* a lot in the summer. That's the set point for the air conditioner. I do freeze and would recommend it, since it is one more relatively painless step in not having to worry about temp.

Some here really like 70% RH. Some like it in the high 50s. Personally, I like about 61-63% and shoot for that. The main trick is to find what works for you. This means, an RH you can maintain where your sticks are smoking well. It's as much art as science, so may take a while. Just remember that changes to RH should be made slowly and infrequently so that the changes do not adversely affect the sticks It can take months for the RH inside the stick to stabilize.

Been there, screwed that up.

[T.G]

Originally Posted by Steve OB

I just don't want to smoke bugs! But wait, does that mean we all smoke bug eggs?

That's a distinct possibility.

*pinky up*

[Wharf Rat]

You might want to look up the sticky thread on freezing to kill beetle eggs. Many of us use this technique. Welcome!

[Steve OB]

Wharf: you have got to be kidding!!! This getting to be a very complcated sport.

[Chainsaw13]

Originally Posted by Steve OB

Wharf: you have got to be kidding!!! This getting to be a very complcated sport.

Nope, not kidding. Many of us freeze our cigars as insurance against beetles.

[Steve OB]

Buying, modifying, measuring, calibrating, monitoring, fteezing, thawing, replacing, maintaining....is thereany time left for smoking?

[Chainsaw13]

Originally Posted by Steve OB

Buying, modifying, measuring, calibrating, monitoring, fteezing, thawing, replacing, maintaining....is thereany time left for smoking?

It's really not that much work once you get your humidor setup. And then don't stress over it. It'll fluctuate temp/humidity. That's normal. As many here have found, cigars are resilient. Freezing only takes a few days. You can always skip it, but it is good piece of mind. So smoke away!

[the nub]

Originally Posted by Steve OB

will my 3 cigars be OK?

Originally Posted by Steve OB

Buying, modifying, measuring, calibrating, monitoring, fteezing, thawing, replacing, maintaining....is thereany time left for smoking?

I think you're over complicating things.

[Ashcan Bill]

Originally Posted by Steve OB

Buying, modifying, measuring, calibrating, monitoring, fteezing, thawing, replacing, maintaining....is thereany time left for smoking?

Wow. I only do the first one. No wonder I spend so darn much time smoking cigars.

[Steve OB]

Ashcan. You ate da man.

[T.G]

Originally Posted by Steve OB

Ashcan. You ate da man.

[CdnStogie]

Being newer to cigars, I only have a small collection going for about 4 months now. I haven't gone through the freezing my cigars method and have had my temps typically hovering between 72-75* daily with no ill effects *knock on wood*. I just bought a house however and now that I have a basement, I have a much cooler area than I had in my non-a/c apartment so I have my temps corrected.

Though if/when I have a bigger collection (only have about 40 sticks) I will be more concerned with beetles and temp control... From my understanding, most reputable manufacturers/suppliers freeze the cigars prior to putting them in storefronts etc as a safety net - I forget where I read that....

[Porch Dweller]

Due to the climate here I use a wineador. Because of this I don't freeze.

[nutcracker]

So interestingly I had been worried about temp because I have some cigars in a wine cellar. I recently came across a comment from Edward Sahakian (the manager of the Davidoff store in London, England) on James Suckling's website. He suggests 13 degrees Celsius 65% humidity as perfect for aging cigars.

I am now officially confused, based on my understanding of RH, however this is a highly respected cigar retailer who probably has a lifetime of experience with sort of thing.

Cooler and drier than conventional wisdom.

[Porch Dweller]

Originally Posted by nutcracker

So interestingly I had been worried about temp because I have some cigars in a wine cellar. I recently came across a comment from Edward Sahakian (the manager of the Davidoff store in London, England) on James Suckling's website. He suggests 13 degrees Celsius 65% humidity as perfect for aging cigars.

I am now officially confused, based on my understanding of RH, however this is a highly respected cigar retailer who probably has a lifetime of experience with sort of thing.

Cooler and drier than conventional wisdom.

I used to keep mine at 70% just because I'd read that that was the optimum for NCs. It wasn't until I came here to CA that I saw that many, many folks prefer their's lower. So I did some experimenting and realized that 63-65% is my preference; they just seem to burn and taste better.

As for temperature, I keep my wineador at 65* (18C). I could go lower but sometimes I'm taking a cigar out and heading straight outside to where it could be 98* (37C) and 85+% humidity and that big sudden change seems to affect the burn. I usually take about five to 10 out at a time and put them in a humidor to let them adjust to the temperature changes, and just pull sticks out of the humi to smoke. But sometimes there's something in the wineador I want to smoke NOW, so I don't keep it as low as it can go.