Humidor humidity level.

Do you sell by the pound?

I have a fridge I`m turning into a big humi, and a handful of smaller ones I want to use this stuff in if it's "so great".

I'd want to try out with 1 or 2 pounds to start to spread among my smaller humis and then go big if it works as described

[CigarNut]

At this time the largest size is 1/2 pound. The whole thing with these beads is exposed surface area, so the 1/2 pound bag seems to be an optimal size for the larger humidors.

Originally Posted by CigarNut

At this time the largest size is 1/2 pound. The whole thing with these beads is exposed surface area, so the 1/2 pound bag seems to be an optimal size for the larger humidors.

Based on your website I would need 400 bucks worth of beads for my fridge

I don't mind the amount (8 pounds), and have the perfect spot at the bottom to lay them out with huge surface area, but 400 bucks and buying only by the 1/2 pound

Maybe I should stick with the electric method

[joeobx]

I have Heartfelt but I know a lot of brothers on here use Michael's/ Shailala beads. You have to look at it this way, it's a one time expense, there stable and no mold. You could spend 90-150 dollars for an oasis or similar device and it quit in a year or so and have to start all over again. Also if you search the threads about cooler/ vino s I think you might be able to get by with fewer beads than you think, but you can never have to many.

Just my

PS. before you ask or someone else suggests it, stay away from kitty litter.

I got a great present from a fellow member. I love my HCM beads but I can't afford anymore at this time.
So Andy explained that he buys the silica gel crystals, unscented, for cat litter. He buys these little porous bags with a tie off at the top.
He lays out the crystals on a flat surface and spritzes them with distilled water. He shoves them tight into the 6" pouch, and throws it into the humidor.
Every time the humidity begins to sag, you repeat the process.
The humidity was low on my humidor and within a couple hours it was up to 67%. And it's stayed there for a week so far.

[bobarian]

Kitty litter is not the same as Heartfelt or HCM beads. They do not regulate Rh to a specific percentage. They may act similarly under certain circumstances but KL is not something most of us trust to protect our valued collections.

[T.G]

Originally Posted by bobarian

Kitty litter is not the same as Heartfelt or HCM beads. They do not regulate Rh to a specific percentage. They may act similarly under certain circumstances but KL is not something most of us trust to protect our valued collections.

Bob is wise.

Originally Posted by T.G

Bob is wise.

Adam,

I agree with you completely. But I have 3 humidors. Not many cigars in each but I have a system about quality.
The kitty litter is a poor man's method. And I'm a poor man.
I couldn't afford $60 for three bags of HCM beads.
I'm getting $76 per month in food stamps. So spending $20 was a huge deal and required a conference with my wife.
So don't take it wrong and think I'm belittling the product. I'd much rather have HCM beads than kitty litter. But this is an acceptable substitute until I have more money, that's all.

[T.G]

Originally Posted by Katmancross

Adam,

I agree with you completely. But I have 3 humidors. Not many cigars in each but I have a system about quality.
The kitty litter is a poor man's method. And I'm a poor man.
I couldn't afford $60 for three bags of HCM beads.
I'm getting $76 per month in food stamps. So spending $20 was a huge deal and required a conference with my wife.
So don't take it wrong and think I'm belittling the product. I'd much rather have HCM beads than kitty litter. But this is an acceptable substitute until I have more money, that's all.

I'm not sure how you could think anyone would take your prior statements as belittling the HCM product and I certainly didn't. If they work for you, great, the point Bob and I are stressing is that while KL might work to some extent under certain conditions, it's not the same as HCM or Heartfelt beads. In fact, it's about as close to HCM or Heartfelt as a saltine cracker dipped in ketchup is to a hand-tossed pizza.

and i'm guessing the water pillows are recharged by the water in cup / sponge method?

that was unexpected! but this is why i like forums, they often hardbor the most kind and helpful people, pm incoming!

My traveler is inalready! But unfortunately the foam that is supposed to stick the sponge (like thing) messed up so I figured I'd just let it rest on the bottom. I've checked it for a leak with the dropping the lid method and got good results, I was wondering if our shipboard water would be acceptable as well as bottled water since out water is drawn infromthe ocean and purified on the ship, without flouride. Also I don't have a gage for the humidity, are there any tricks to knowing if the humidifier is about right without a Gage?

[longknocker]

Originally Posted by sparkboss

My traveler is inalready! But unfortunately the foam that is supposed to stick the sponge (like thing) messed up so I figured I'd just let it rest on the bottom. I've checked it for a leak with the dropping the lid method and got good results, I was wondering if our shipboard water would be acceptable as well as bottled water since out water is drawn infromthe ocean and purified on the ship, without flouride. Also I don't have a gage for the humidity, are there any tricks to knowing if the humidifier is about right without a Gage?

"Feel" Your Cigars. They Shouldn't Feel Dried Out Or Too "Spongy".

[T.G]

Originally Posted by sparkboss

My traveler is inalready! But unfortunately the foam that is supposed to stick the sponge (like thing) messed up so I figured I'd just let it rest on the bottom. I've checked it for a leak with the dropping the lid method and got good results, I was wondering if our shipboard water would be acceptable as well as bottled water since out water is drawn infromthe ocean and purified on the ship, without flouride. Also I don't have a gage for the humidity, are there any tricks to knowing if the humidifier is about right without a Gage?

Bottled water that doesn't read "Minerals added for taste" or "Natural spring water" (ie: Evian, etc) would be the best bet, or hit up one of the medics for a bottle of "sterile water". You don't need much, I keep a 500ct cabinet humidor, plus a couple of coolers and a few small desktops and I don't think that I even use a gallon of water per year. Just get one bottle and only use it for the humidor, it should last awhile.

In a pinch, generally speaking because I'm not familiar with the specific engineering plant on your ship... assuming no contamination from the potable storage tanks or piping, the evap and/or RO water that you make aboard the ship should be ok, so long as they haven't taken on shore water recently.

Originally Posted by T.G

Bottled water that doesn't read "Minerals added for taste" or "Natural spring water" (ie: Evian, etc) would be the best bet, or hit up one of the medics for a bottle of "sterile water". You don't need much, I keep a 500ct cabinet humidor, plus a couple of coolers and a few small desktops and I don't think that I even use a gallon of water per year. Just get one bottle and only use it for the humidor, it should last awhile.

In a pinch, generally speaking because I'm not familiar with the specific engineering plant on your ship... assuming no contamination from the potable storage tanks or piping, the evap and/or RO water that you make aboard the ship should be ok, so long as they haven't taken on shore water recently.

okay! i'll definately hit up one of the corpsman for a bottle, luckily i've befriended one! which im guessing that i should just saturate the humidifier it came with and let it sit in the box for a couple of days before taking my cigars out of the ziplock and cellaphane?

[bobarian]

Originally Posted by sparkboss

okay! i'll definately hit up one of the corpsman for a bottle, luckily i've befriended one! which im guessing that i should just saturate the humidifier it came with and let it sit in the box for a couple of days before taking my cigars out of the ziplock and cellaphane?

Here is a sticky on seasoning a humidor. http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=620

You'll find a wealth of information in the sticky's at the top of each forum.
No need to take the cigars out their individual cellophane but you can if you want. There is no advantage or disadvantage to keeping them in their cello.

[T.G]

Originally Posted by sparkboss

okay! i'll definately hit up one of the corpsman for a bottle, luckily i've befriended one! which im guessing that i should just saturate the humidifier it came with and let it sit in the box for a couple of days before taking my cigars out of the ziplock and cellaphane?

Does the humidifier look like a plastic puck or stick with some sort of foam (often green, sometimes white) inside? Something like this:


If so, yes, put some water in it, be advised that it doesn't hold much.

If the humidor is wood, then yes, sure a few days with the humidifier in there alone won't hurt. If it's a plastic traveldor, then no need to wait, just stick everything in, but go easy on the humidification, plastic traveldors often seal well enough that a humidifier is more like an invitation to mold.

As for the cellophane on the cigars, I'd leave it on. It's porous, so it breathes, while still affording protection to your cigars from damage due to moving around and such.

The other humidifier pouch that you were describing to Bob - something like this?



or is it something more like this?

[CoreyD]

I'm assuming this is a wooden box Traveldor? If so you'll have to season it like you would any wooden humidor, just not as long but I went as long with my old one before moving on to my herf-a-dor traveldor that needed no preprep but i did anyway to bring up rh

the little pack i have looks more like a wetnap, reads that its one of the few two way humidifiers / dehumidifier at around 75% rh. although i may not risk sticking it in my travidor because it looks like it might be some sort of a chemical humidifier.

[T.G]

Originally Posted by sparkboss

the little pack i have looks more like a wetnap, reads that its one of the few two way humidifiers / dehumidifier at around 75% rh. although i may not risk sticking it in my travidor because it looks like it might be some sort of a chemical humidifier.

That sounds like it might be a small version of the Boveda one at the bottom of my previous post. If so, it's a two-way membrane and it's filled with a non-toxic salt based solution. As the moisture is released, it will become thinner and less flexible, eventually becoming hard or feel "crunchy", you can re-charge it by placing it in a small tupperware container with a moistened towel for a few days and it will absorb the humidity from the air in the container and puff back up.

hmmm, i'll definately have to try that out!! i appreciate all the help you guys have provided