What's wrong with my humidor??

[shilala]

Take the smokes out, dump a gallon of distilled water in it with the lid forced closed, and see how bad it leaks.

[Whee]

Get a small bowl. Fill it with distilled water. Microwave water to just get it warm. Put in humidor for a couple of days. NO PEEKING! Then stick your hygrometer, digital is the best, in and wait 24 hours. Take water out, wait a day then check reading. If satisfactory, put sticks in and enjoy.

I agree with Taltos too. Weather conditions can adversely affect humi conditions inside. I live in N Illinois and I am constantly charging beads in the winter, and I rarely touch them in the summer.

If the sticks smoke to your liking, then you might not have a problem at all. My humi's have dipped down in to the mid 50s and smokes still smoke great.

Originally Posted by shilala

Take the smokes out, dump a gallon of distilled water in it with the lid forced closed, and see how bad it leaks.

Holy farq I'd love to see someone do this!!

[CigarNut]

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

Forget about what the hydrometer says.

How are the cigars?

Too many people get stuck on the hydrometer, don't let the tail wage the dog. If the cigars are good, that is all that matters and leave it at that. Hydrometers not always accurate and your humidor will be at its best once it's filled.

Don't bother with the seasoning and over humidity. Your cigars could get moldy and your just asking for beetles should there be a spike in heat.

A humidor does not need to be super tight, it needs to keep your cigars in nice smoking condition, that's it.

A good hygrometer is a requirement to keep you and your cigars happy. Even if you have recently tested your hygrometer -- do the salt test again and make sure it really is working correctly. If it is an analog hygrometer get a digital one ASAP.

The point of the humidor is to protect your cigars. Otherwise, you might as well just leave them sitting out on a counter or desk somewhere.

Having said that, I think the point of the above post is that you don't need to over do it. I think the 80/20 rule applies here....

I personally, think that spending a little time up front making things right will save you hours and hours of time later on...

[J0eybb]

Originally Posted by joeybear

Holy farq I'd love to see someone do this!!

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=29667

[CigarNut]

Originally Posted by joeybear

Holy farq I'd love to see someone do this!!

Then check this out: http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=29667

Thanks for all the responses. The hydro- just kidding the hygrometer is digital and I not only calibrated it but right now it's sitting in the tupperdor and reading a perfect 70%.

I will try some of the tricks mentioned and maybe just let it be. I can't really tell if they sticks are dry or not because, well, I'm still a bit of an unseasoned noob.

I live in Southern California, but close enough to the shore that it's not Mojave-dry.

[qwerty1500]

Originally Posted by Noomis

I'd wait longer than 18 hrs. before checking the humidity levels. Sometimes it takes a few days (sometimes even a week) for the rh to stabilize while you're seasoning your humidor.

A week is bare minimum. I usually go even longer than that with a new humi. Seasoning is not something you can rush.

[longknocker]

Originally Posted by qwerty1500

A week is bare minimum. I usually go even longer than that with a new humi. Seasoning is not something you can rush.

Boveda Packs Seasoning Packets (82% RH) Recommend Seasoning For 10 Days. I Think I Would Try Seasoning 2 weeks and See What Happens.
GL!

Awesome advice from everyone, thanks. I just wiped it down again, rewet the paper towel and placed a shot glass with warm distilled water. I'm going to leave that in for a week or two and see if it improves.

[Razorhog]

Originally Posted by Chingo

Awesome advice from everyone, thanks. I just wiped it down again, rewet the paper towel and placed a shot glass with warm distilled water. I'm going to leave that in for a week or two and see if it improves.

I'm no expert on seasoning a humidor, but wouldn't a wet paper towel be prone to growing mold?

[longknocker]

Originally Posted by Razorhog

I'm no expert on seasoning a humidor, but wouldn't a wet paper towel be prone to growing mold?

This Is What I "ALWAYS" Use For All My Humidors. Works Great!
http://www.bovedadirect.com/products/index.cfm
See "Boveda 84% For Seasoning Humidor". If You Have A Small Humi, (2) 65% Packs Will Cost You $8 + Shipping And Last Around 3 Months AFTER You Have Your Humi Seasoned Properly. I Would Be Afraid Of Using A Wet Paper Towel, Myself.

[mosesbotbol]

Originally Posted by Chingo

Awesome advice from everyone, thanks.

Back to my original question, how were the cigars before you started screwing around the humidor? Virtually all collectors keeps their cabinets at 65% or even less, and you were are already at that humidity.

Sounds like a waste of time and money over a desktop humidor that is doing it's function already. When humidors are empty, they're never going to hold the humidity smoothly. When they are full, the cigars are what is holding the humidity.

It's better to have your cigars in the humidor than worrying about getting it humid to put the cigars back in.

Originally Posted by Razorhog

I'm no expert on seasoning a humidor, but wouldn't a wet paper towel be prone to growing mold?

Would it? I saw it suggested somewhere for seasoning. I guess better be safe than sorry.

[NCRadioMan]

I keep my cigars 59-63% and they are just fine. I think you are worrying too much. 70% is too high, imo.

[longknocker]

Originally Posted by NCRadioMan

I keep my cigars 59-63% and they are just fine. I think you are worrying too much. 70% is too high, imo.

Greg Is Correct! When I First Started The Cigar Hobby, I Read All The Literature That Recommends 70% RH For Your Humi. Then I Read This Forum And Found Out That 63-65% Yields Better Draws & Fewer Burn Issues.

[qwerty1500]

Originally Posted by Chingo

Would it? I saw it suggested somewhere for seasoning. I guess better be safe than sorry.

I always use a small bowl of distilled water. With a wet towel left in the humi, I'd lay it on a plastic baggie or something to avoid direct contact with the wood.

[qwerty1500]

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

Back to my original question, how were the cigars before you started screwing around the humidor? Virtually all collectors keeps their cabinets at 65% or even less, and you were are already at that humidity.

Sounds like a waste of time and money over a desktop humidor that is doing it's function already. When humidors are empty, they're never going to hold the humidity smoothly. When they are full, the cigars are what is holding the humidity.

It's better to have your cigars in the humidor than worrying about getting it humid to put the cigars back in.

No argument with any of that. Just have a feeling that it was never really seasoned in the first place. Put the cigars in a tuperdor until the humi is seasoned, then lay in a decent supply of cigars and try it again.

If you have a fireplace I suggest lighting it and putting the humidor in there. If it wants to stay dry, let it fry.

[colinb913]

Razorhog, nice catch.. It took my first humi a week and a half to fully season. Make sure your batteries in the hygro are new. 65 is a ok to me. Thats what I have mine sitting at. Also, it could be from the winter weather.. The air is dry.