Active vs Passive Seasoning?

RHNewfie · 03-10-2009, 06:58 AM

Interesting question. Say you have two identical 20ct humis. One you wipe with distilled water and then slightly heat your container of water before putting it in and closing the lid. The other you simply put the glass of distilled water in and close the cover. What do you think the seasoning time difference would be?

mosesbotbol · 03-10-2009, 07:23 AM

The active seasoning may be quicker, but it shouldn't be about quick. Some things should not be rushed. I am not a fan of wiping down the humidor with water. Let nature take it's course.

03-10-2009, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

I am a fan of wiping down the humidor with water.

Corrected.

icehog3 · 03-10-2009, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

The active seasoning may be quicker, but it shouldn't be about quick. Some things should not be rushed. I am not a fan of wiping down the humidor with water. Let nature take it's course.

I am not a fan of this either.

If I have had difficulty getting a humidor to season, I have boiled a few ounces of distilled water in a glass, then set it inside the humidor on a piece of plastic (to avoid direct wetting or scorching the wood). This has worked well for me several times without warping the wood.

03-10-2009, 09:27 AM

Usually I've gotten a new sponge, RO water, made it damp, wiped the inside, made it turn colors.....and then left the damp sponge on a plastic bag in the humi for 24 hours, take it out, replace with humidity maker *beads* and let it sit another 24 hours, add water / wet sponge as needed.

icehog3 · 03-10-2009, 09:39 AM

Too each his own, Dan....as I said, I am not a fan of wiping the wood down with water.

RHNewfie · 03-10-2009, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icehog3

Too each his own, Dan....as I said, I am not a fan of wiping the wood down with water.

Do you happen to recall any seasoning timings? I am sitting on a 20ct that has had water in it for about 7 days, currently sitting at 61% and seems to rise every 2 - 3 days.

icehog3 · 03-10-2009, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RHNewfie

Do you happen to recall any seasoning timings? I am sitting on a 20ct that has had water in it for about 7 days, currently sitting at 61% and seems to rise every 2 - 3 days.

Using the boilng water method and then 65% beads, I was able to get a small cabinet humi to hold 65% within a couple days, Jeff.

RHNewfie · 03-10-2009, 10:18 AM

Thanks Tom, I didn't boil the water, just have a cup in there with beads. I am starting to question the seal a bit... but what do you expect for a 20ct from a Cuban flea market for 10 pesos!

GWN · 03-10-2009, 11:55 AM

Dave suggested boiled water when I first set up my new cabinet. It worked very well.
If you suspect the seal, do the dollar-bill (or Canuck fiver) test.

WildBlueSooner · 03-10-2009, 12:11 PM

Why boil the water?

shilala · 03-10-2009, 12:24 PM

This whole cigar thing is about patience.
I go with whatever takes forever. It's good for me.

Catfish · 03-10-2009, 12:26 PM

I'm guessing evaporation. Boiling water forms a vapor and permeates the wood inside the humi. And boiling also gets rid of organisms residing in the water.

WildBlueSooner · 03-10-2009, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catfish

I'm guessing evaporation. Boiling water forms a vapor and permeates the wood inside the humi. And boiling also gets rid of organisms residing in the water.

Yeah but if the water is in a bowl inside the humi it is the vapors that absorb into the wood. And when water in the bowl evaporates it is pure (no organisms or minerals). At least that is what I thought!

Da Klugs · 03-10-2009, 12:48 PM

I'm a wiper on the cabs.. but they are solid cedar and Mahogany. Probably always preferred to let it be done through evaporation. Difference in time would be a big variable based upon the starting point. The drier the wood the longer the difference would be.

Putting waded up paper towels on a dish soaked in distilled is a way of getting more evaporative suface area ... decreasing the seasoning time. It's much faster than just a container of liquid.

cigarusmaximus · 03-10-2009, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WildBlueSooner

Yeah but if the water is in a bowl inside the humi it is the vapors that absorb into the wood. And when water in the bowl evaporates it is pure (no organisms or minerals). At least that is what I thought!

Bingo.
Evaporating water is essentially, distilled water.
I personally take a slightly damped lint free cloth and give the insides a sparse wipe. Toss in dampened beads and you're done.

1-3 days and you should have stable humidity.
Granted I'm a rookie and I've only done this with 2 smallish humi's, but it worked perfectly each time. I live in Calgary where it is -27 C right now, and the RH in my house is about 20% if I'm lucky.

Good luck!

WildBlueSooner · 03-10-2009, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cigarusmaximus

Bingo.
Evaporating water is essentially, distilled water.
I personally take a slightly damped lint free cloth and give the insides a sparse wipe. Toss in dampened beads and you're done.

1-3 days and you should have stable humidity.
Granted I'm a rookie and I've only done this with 2 smallish humi's, but it worked perfectly each time. I live in Calgary where it is -27 C right now, and the RH in my house is about 20% if I'm lucky.

Good luck!

Did this with my 400qt and it works beautifully! Just need more smokes now

Whee · 03-12-2009, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WildBlueSooner

Did this with my 400qt and it works beautifully! Just need more smokes now

First rule of the nut house is never, ever post in public about needing more smokes. Your mailbox may not be able to stand the onslaught.

For my first humi, the 300 ct footlocker, i used the boveda packs. Left them in for a week because I was worried. All future humis I have placed one or two bowls of DW in for 2-3 days, then beads for another day or two and then good to go.

Reseasoning my "chairside" humi now. The dry, winter air killed it.

03-10-2009, 05:11 PM

I've used the Boveda 84% seasoning packs for my three humidores... Worked great

ucla695 · 03-10-2009, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

The active seasoning may be quicker, but it shouldn't be about quick. Some things should not be rushed. I am not a fan of wiping down the humidor with water. Let nature take it's course.

Quote:

Originally Posted by icehog3

Too each his own, Dan....as I said, I am not a fan of wiping the wood down with water.

Me neither. I'm afraid it will lift the grain and warp it.

I've always used the passive method, but I might have to try boiling water next time.

03-10-2009, 06:58 AM	#1
RHNewfie Have My Own Room Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Jeff Location: Oooooh Canadaaaaa Posts: 2,007 Trading: (15)	Active vs Passive Seasoning? Interesting question. Say you have two identical 20ct humis. One you wipe with distilled water and then slightly heat your container of water before putting it in and closing the lid. The other you simply put the glass of distilled water in and close the cover. What do you think the seasoning time difference would be? __________________ σπένδομαι

03-10-2009, 07:23 AM	#2
mosesbotbol That's a Corgi Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Moses Location: Boston Posts: 6,171 Trading: (6)	Re: Active vs Passive Seasoning? The active seasoning may be quicker, but it shouldn't be about quick. Some things should not be rushed. I am not a fan of wiping down the humidor with water. Let nature take it's course. __________________ Port Wine & Claret \| British Cars \| Welsh Corgi's

03-10-2009, 09:27 AM	#5
Hardcz Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Active vs Passive Seasoning? Usually I've gotten a new sponge, RO water, made it damp, wiped the inside, made it turn colors.....and then left the damp sponge on a plastic bag in the humi for 24 hours, take it out, replace with humidity maker beads and let it sit another 24 hours, add water / wet sponge as needed.

03-10-2009, 09:39 AM	#6
icehog3 Admiral Douchebag Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Tom Location: Clermont, Kentucky Posts: 71,441 Trading: (60)	Re: Active vs Passive Seasoning? Too each his own, Dan....as I said, I am not a fan of wiping the wood down with water. __________________ Thanks Dave, Julian, James, Kelly, Peter, Gerry, Dave, Mo, Frank, Týr and Mr. Mark!

03-10-2009, 10:18 AM	#9
RHNewfie Have My Own Room Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Jeff Location: Oooooh Canadaaaaa Posts: 2,007 Trading: (15)	Re: Active vs Passive Seasoning? Thanks Tom, I didn't boil the water, just have a cup in there with beads. I am starting to question the seal a bit... but what do you expect for a 20ct from a Cuban flea market for 10 pesos! __________________ σπένδομαι

03-10-2009, 11:55 AM	#10
GWN Snow City Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Jeff Location: Barrie, Ontario Posts: 898 Trading: (10)	Re: Active vs Passive Seasoning? Dave suggested boiled water when I first set up my new cabinet. It worked very well. If you suspect the seal, do the dollar-bill (or Canuck fiver) test. __________________

03-10-2009, 12:11 PM	#11
WildBlueSooner I'm nuts for the place Join Date: Feb 2009 First Name: James Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 3,322 Trading: (19)	Re: Active vs Passive Seasoning? Why boil the water? __________________ "To dilute the will to win is to destroy the purpose of the game. There is no substitute for victory"-- Douglas MacArthur

03-10-2009, 12:24 PM	#12
shilala Dear Lord, Thank You. Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Scott Posts: 13,721 Trading: (252)	Re: Active vs Passive Seasoning? This whole cigar thing is about patience. I go with whatever takes forever. It's good for me. __________________

03-10-2009, 12:26 PM	#13
Catfish ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ MO FUGGA! Join Date: Jan 2009 First Name: David Location: Lakeland, Fl. Posts: 1,707 Trading: (24)	Re: Active vs Passive Seasoning? I'm guessing evaporation. Boiling water forms a vapor and permeates the wood inside the humi. And boiling also gets rid of organisms residing in the water. __________________ 1: It's ALWAYS Loaded. 2: Do Not Point It At Something Unless You Mean To Destroy It. 3: On Target, On Trigger. Off Target, Off Trigger. 4: Be Sure Of Your Target And What's Behind It.Join The NRA

03-10-2009, 12:48 PM	#15
Da Klugs Juan of 11 Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Dave Location: Right here Posts: 4,222 Trading: (8)	Re: Active vs Passive Seasoning? I'm a wiper on the cabs.. but they are solid cedar and Mahogany. Probably always preferred to let it be done through evaporation. Difference in time would be a big variable based upon the starting point. The drier the wood the longer the difference would be. Putting waded up paper towels on a dish soaked in distilled is a way of getting more evaporative suface area ... decreasing the seasoning time. It's much faster than just a container of liquid. __________________ Communities Not Commodities. Punctuation challenged, but trying. Proud winner of phase 1 of the Weight loss contest

03-10-2009, 05:11 PM	#19
Archie Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Active vs Passive Seasoning? I've used the Boveda 84% seasoning packs for my three humidores... Worked great