Humidor problems

Mtschaeffer · 08-25-2016, 12:09 PM

I need help. I just got a humidor 3 weeks and and follows the instructions and calibrated the hydrometer and everything. Hydrometer never got to 75% which it said it should after 8 hrs. So I moved it to 75% like instructed and it has sat at 70% ever since so I figured everything was alright. I bought a electric hydrometer just to see if the one with the humidor was close. Same thing, calibrated and everything and it never got to 75% only 68% so after reading I figured its off 7%. No big deal when reading it. However when I put it in the humidor over night it the electric one dropped to 50%. So now I don't know if the electric one is completely off or if it is right and the one in the box is off and I need to do something to god humidor. Does anyone have any suggestions.

pnoon · 08-25-2016, 12:23 PM

Eight hours is not long enough to properly calibrate a hygrometer. I assume the one that came with the humidor is an analog one. Those are for decorative purposes only and fairly inaccurate.

By an "electric hygrometer", am I correct in assuming you mean a digital battery powered one?
Those that have larger format humidors make use of electricity to run a humidifier and have the RH readings built in. But all smaller format humidors use a removable type of hygrometer.

This thread should help.
http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=619

Also, how big is your humidor? What is the advertised capacity?

Mtschaeffer · 08-25-2016, 12:27 PM

Yes the one with the humidor is Analog and the one I bought is digital. And the humidor says can hold 100

pnoon · 08-25-2016, 12:31 PM

Ignore the analog. Use you digital and perform the test as described in the link I provided.

Have you seasoned your humidor? When you added the hygrometer, did you add cigars at the same time? (Cigars will absorb some of the moisture and lower the RH). What method are you using for maintaining RH?

Mtschaeffer · 08-25-2016, 12:37 PM

Rectangle humidifier. And I seasoned by putting a shot glass of water for 24 hrs and that's when the analog went to 70% and sat. The instructions with the humidor said to not wipe down

pnoon · 08-25-2016, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mtschaeffer

Rectangle humidifier. And I seasoned by putting a shot glass of water for 24 hrs and that's when the analog went to 70% and sat. The instructions with the humidor said to not wipe down

Ignore the analog.

I would not wipe the humidor down. But IMO 24 hours is nowhere near enough time to properly season a humidor. A week or two is more like it.

If your rectangle humidifier has foam, ditch the foam and invest in some beads. The beads will help regulate the RH in either direction.

Mtschaeffer · 08-25-2016, 01:24 PM

Alright I really appreciate the help.

CigarSquid · 08-25-2016, 02:30 PM

Pnoon has hit everything on the head. I second what he has said.

Beads.. Do them! I didn't at first. It takes a lot of the guess work out.

Porch Dweller · 08-25-2016, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garryyjr

Pnoon has hit everything on the head. I second what he has said.

Beads.. Do them! I didn't at first. It takes a lot of the guess work out.

+1. Beads are great!

BlackDog · 08-25-2016, 03:54 PM

Beads and Boveda packs work great as a combination. My humidity is steady at 63%.

Mtschaeffer · 08-25-2016, 05:34 PM

Alright I'll be getting beads then. I appreciate it

mahtofire14 · 08-25-2016, 10:56 PM

Also you may find that 75% RH is a bit more humid than you want. This is completely up to the user, however you may find your cigars won't burn the hits as well at that humidity level. Most keep theirs in the 65-70% range. Again though, as with everything in this hobby, it's completely up to how you like it to be.

AdamJoshua · 08-26-2016, 02:22 AM

The only thing I can add is when you season the humidor don't keep opening it to check on it, leave it closed if it all humanly possible, you can open it in a couple days to check on the water in the glass.

Another way to season, hey I have two things to add, you can season it using a new clean sponge and a small plate, just soak the sponge in distilled water and put it on the plate in the humidor. More surface area allows the humidor to suck up the moister faster.

Good luck

Hh and ya beads are great, for a smaller box like that you won't even need a lot of them, so that's another benefit of them.

Mtschaeffer · 09-01-2016, 07:22 PM

Alright I appreciate everyone's help

08-25-2016, 12:09 PM	#1
Mtschaeffer Just in from the Storm Join Date: Aug 2016 First Name: Mike Location: Amherst Va Posts: 6 Trading: (1)	Humidor problems I need help. I just got a humidor 3 weeks and and follows the instructions and calibrated the hydrometer and everything. Hydrometer never got to 75% which it said it should after 8 hrs. So I moved it to 75% like instructed and it has sat at 70% ever since so I figured everything was alright. I bought a electric hydrometer just to see if the one with the humidor was close. Same thing, calibrated and everything and it never got to 75% only 68% so after reading I figured its off 7%. No big deal when reading it. However when I put it in the humidor over night it the electric one dropped to 50%. So now I don't know if the electric one is completely off or if it is right and the one in the box is off and I need to do something to god humidor. Does anyone have any suggestions.

08-25-2016, 12:23 PM	#2
pnoon YNWA Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Peter Location: San Diego Posts: 29,919 Trading: (20)	Re: Humidor problems Eight hours is not long enough to properly calibrate a hygrometer. I assume the one that came with the humidor is an analog one. Those are for decorative purposes only and fairly inaccurate. By an "electric hygrometer", am I correct in assuming you mean a digital battery powered one? Those that have larger format humidors make use of electricity to run a humidifier and have the RH readings built in. But all smaller format humidors use a removable type of hygrometer. This thread should help. http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=619 Also, how big is your humidor? What is the advertised capacity? __________________ Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are. -John Wooden

08-25-2016, 12:27 PM	#3
Mtschaeffer Just in from the Storm Join Date: Aug 2016 First Name: Mike Location: Amherst Va Posts: 6 Trading: (1)	Re: Humidor problems Yes the one with the humidor is Analog and the one I bought is digital. And the humidor says can hold 100

08-25-2016, 12:31 PM	#4
pnoon YNWA Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Peter Location: San Diego Posts: 29,919 Trading: (20)	Re: Humidor problems Ignore the analog. Use you digital and perform the test as described in the link I provided. Have you seasoned your humidor? When you added the hygrometer, did you add cigars at the same time? (Cigars will absorb some of the moisture and lower the RH). What method are you using for maintaining RH? __________________ Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are. -John Wooden

08-25-2016, 12:37 PM	#5
Mtschaeffer Just in from the Storm Join Date: Aug 2016 First Name: Mike Location: Amherst Va Posts: 6 Trading: (1)	Re: Humidor problems Rectangle humidifier. And I seasoned by putting a shot glass of water for 24 hrs and that's when the analog went to 70% and sat. The instructions with the humidor said to not wipe down

08-25-2016, 01:24 PM	#7
Mtschaeffer Just in from the Storm Join Date: Aug 2016 First Name: Mike Location: Amherst Va Posts: 6 Trading: (1)	Re: Humidor problems Alright I really appreciate the help.

08-25-2016, 02:30 PM	#8
CigarSquid AKA Garryyjr Join Date: Apr 2011 First Name: Garry Location: Medford, OR - Cigar Zombie Posts: 3,213 Trading: (39)	Re: Humidor problems Pnoon has hit everything on the head. I second what he has said. Beads.. Do them! I didn't at first. It takes a lot of the guess work out. __________________ gaRRy

08-25-2016, 03:54 PM	#10
BlackDog Gonna make you groove... Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Warren Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 2,468 Trading: (19)	Re: Humidor problems Beads and Boveda packs work great as a combination. My humidity is steady at 63%. __________________ "We live in the good of this."

08-25-2016, 05:34 PM	#11
Mtschaeffer Just in from the Storm Join Date: Aug 2016 First Name: Mike Location: Amherst Va Posts: 6 Trading: (1)	Re: Humidor problems Alright I'll be getting beads then. I appreciate it

08-25-2016, 10:56 PM	#12
mahtofire14 Chillin in the Aging Room Join Date: Oct 2012 First Name: Pete Location: St. Paul, MN Posts: 1,588 Trading: (16)	Re: Humidor problems Also you may find that 75% RH is a bit more humid than you want. This is completely up to the user, however you may find your cigars won't burn the hits as well at that humidity level. Most keep theirs in the 65-70% range. Again though, as with everything in this hobby, it's completely up to how you like it to be. __________________ Saving basements in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

08-26-2016, 02:22 AM	#13
AdamJoshua Article 4 Free Inhabitant Join Date: Jan 2013 First Name: The Other Adam Location: Satellite Beach Posts: 14,787 Trading: (40)	Re: Humidor problems The only thing I can add is when you season the humidor don't keep opening it to check on it, leave it closed if it all humanly possible, you can open it in a couple days to check on the water in the glass. Another way to season, hey I have two things to add, you can season it using a new clean sponge and a small plate, just soak the sponge in distilled water and put it on the plate in the humidor. More surface area allows the humidor to suck up the moister faster. Good luck Hh and ya beads are great, for a smaller box like that you won't even need a lot of them, so that's another benefit of them.

09-01-2016, 07:22 PM	#14
Mtschaeffer Just in from the Storm Join Date: Aug 2016 First Name: Mike Location: Amherst Va Posts: 6 Trading: (1)	Re: Humidor problems Alright I appreciate everyone's help