Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)

[CigarNut]

Originally Posted by Carlos.Talavera

How do i get my humidor to the right humidity?

Originally Posted by Zane

With a well seasoned humidor and a humidification device it should stabilize around 65 to 70. If you post your current situation I am sure we can help.

As Zane said we need a little more information:

-- What kind of humidor?
-- How big is your humidor?
-- Is it seasoned already?
-- And most important, how OCD are you about this whole thing?

First, the "right" humidity is a matter of personal choice. Some people like sticks wet (>= 70% RH), some like them dry (<= 65% RH).

If you are going to be OCD over this then there are lots of things to do. You can search the threads here -- there is a lot of good information.

If you are not OCD, then season your humidor, get some 65% RH beads (Heartfelt or HCM), get a hygrometer and put it all together and sit back and have a cigar

The one thing I cannot stress enough (regardless of whether or not you are OCD): take the time to properly season your humidor. Do not rush this -- give it at least a week. Preferably two weeks.

(BTW, I don't mean anything negative when I say "OCD"; some people obsess about their cigar storage (OCD) and some don't (not OCD). Don't make a big fuss over cigar storage unless you want to and enjoy making a big fuss over it. Cigars are very resilient.).

[Bondo 287]

Originally Posted by Carlos.Talavera

How do i get my humidor to the right humidity?

Hello Carlos. Hey your question is somewhat generic. The guys need some information here. Let me explain.

You need to properly season your humidor, or it will steal humidity from your cigars.
Tell us what kind of humidor you have.

You use the humidification device to maintain the humidity. It will be beads, packets, or a plastic puck ( or bar ) with a sponge in it.
Tell us what kind of humidification device you have.

You use the hygrometer to read and monitor the humidity inside your humidor. It may be a mechanical one, ( analog ) or a digital one.
Likely it will have to be calibrated or at least verified accurate.
Tell us what kind of hygrometer do you have.

Whatever you are doing over there, my friend, make sure you are using distilled water, not tap water.

Sorry if you know this stuff already, but we need the input. I see it's almost midnight over there. So let us know.
All this is relatively easy. It's like a terrarium, once you're set up, you then can enjoy your hobby and occasionally maintain it.

[Carlos.Talavera]

Hello again guys,

ok well lets start with the humidor i bought it from jrcigars.com it is from the quality importers company, the manual that came with it says it is made from spanish cedar that is kiln dried.

ok about the seasoning part the instructions told me NOT to wipe the inside with distilled water it told me to put a shot glass with distilled water in the humidor and let it sit there with the hygrometer in it. at the end of 2 to 3 days it was supposed to be seasoned and reading 75% humidity (this never happened) so i thought maybe the hygrometer might have been faulty so i purchased a digital one followed all the calibration instructions for that but i couldn't get that to read above 60% humidity. in the mean time the cigars i had already ordered had already arrived and had been sitting around so i wanted to get them in there so i ordered two drymistat sticks that were supposed to get the humidor to 70% all the time but that isn't working either so i have those in there and the two plastic pucks with the foam inside that it came with i have those filled with the pre mixed solution. oh and the humidor is a 100 count humidor. so with all that being said i don't know what else to do and the little bit of cigars that i do have are just getting dryer so what do i do guys.

[CigarNut]

First, take your cigars out of the humidor and place them in a tupperware container or ziploc bags and they will be fine.

Go back and season your humidor until it holds humidity. Otherwise, the humidor is just going to dry out your cigars.

Use a sponge to season your humidor as there is more surface area than a shot glass full of water. You can pick up a new sponge for under a $1; soak it with distilled water, place it on a small plate and stick it in your humidor.

If your hygrometer does not calibrate then return it and get another one. How are you trying to calibrate it? (Salt or Boveda pack?)

The pucks and dri-mistat tubes do not regulate humidity. They just release moisture until the humidor (and your cigars) are saturated. However, they are better than nothing.

Good luck and don't fret -- this will all come out OK!

[Carlos.Talavera]

thank you i will try that. and i used the salt should i buy one of those packs???

[bobarian]

A salt slurry will work just fine. Be sure to leave it in the bag with the hygrometer for at least 24 hours. Another trick I've used is to start out at 100% Rh by wrapping the hygrometer in a completely moistened paper towel until it reads 100%(usually about 1/2 hour). Then remove the paper towel and place in the bag with the salt slurry.

[Cookee]

Was curious if there was an issue using Zippo; sorry if this was answered already but when I searched did not turn up. I did read up on lighter posting but nothing mention about Zippo. I only ask because for Christmas received a really nice engraved Zippo for present and know they got it for me for cigar smoking. Comments, concerns I should know about?

[14holestogie]

Originally Posted by Cookee

Was curious if there was an issue using Zippo; sorry if this was answered already but when I searched did not turn up. I did read up on lighter posting but nothing mention about Zippo. I only ask because for Christmas received a really nice engraved Zippo for present and know they got it for me for cigar smoking. Comments, concerns I should know about?

Lighter fluid may impart some unwanted flavor on the cigar. Butane is your friend.

[Zane]

Originally Posted by Cookee

Was curious if there was an issue using Zippo; sorry if this was answered already but when I searched did not turn up. I did read up on lighter posting but nothing mention about Zippo. I only ask because for Christmas received a really nice engraved Zippo for present and know they got it for me for cigar smoking. Comments, concerns I should know about?

You can get a butane insert for it. Not sure how well they work.

[icehog3]

Originally Posted by Zane

You can get a butane insert for it. Not sure how well they work.

I have a couple, they work well.

[Cookee]

Originally Posted by icehog3

I have a couple, they work well.

May I ask where you got yours from, if you remember sir?

[14holestogie]

Originally Posted by Cookee

May I ask where you got yours from, if you remember sir?

Amazon and EEbay have them online. Look for "z insert".

[bonjing]

If you check amazon it's called z-plus or something like that

[icehog3]

replicant argent (Pete) has them on his site.

http://www.stogietorch.com/Z-Torch.html

[Zane]

I was surprised to see them at my local B&M today.

[Eros]

I recharged my beads and the humidity jumped to 73-74. Is that too high to keep my cigars at?

[Zane]

Originally Posted by Eros

I recharged my beads and the humidity jumped to 73-74. Is that too high to keep my cigars at?

Really its a personal choice based on how well they smoke for you. If it gets to high you risk mold. If you want to lower it just toss in some extra cedar.

[Eros]

I don't have cedar :/

[14holestogie]

Originally Posted by Eros

I don't have cedar :/

If you've got a hair dryer, try drying the beads a bit. Or take them out of the humi and let them airdry for a day or two. Your smokes should survive.

[chippewastud79]

Originally Posted by Eros

I don't have cedar :/

Just open the humidor for a while. Its winter, its dry, it will dry out relatively quickly.