Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)

Originally Posted by chippewastud79

Probably not. Do you have a link or picture?

Try an online vendor with a good reputation, you may find better deals that may even include some cigars.

I don't have a picture. It has a glass top, and a hygrometer you can view from the outside, spanish cedar. It looks nice, but obviously looks are not the primary factor. Can you recommend some sites I should look at, or some features that I should make sure a humidor has? Thank you,

[bobarian]

We have stickies on just about any subject someone starting in this hobbie could imagine. http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=621
I would also advise against a glasstop humidor when starting out. They look nice but are prone to leaking and can be difficult to set up.

Originally Posted by bobarian

We have stickies on just about any subject someone starting in this hobbie could imagine. http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=621
I would also advise against a glasstop humidor when starting out. They look nice but are prone to leaking and can be difficult to set up.

Thank you, very helpful!

How low is too low as far as humidity goes? Cuz I have 20 decent cigars in my humidor and its running at about 61% Will they be ok? Or should I consider another option? I always hear the 70/70 rule so, I'm pretty far from that!

[Trent0341]

Originally Posted by Minus_Blindfold

How low is too low as far as humidity goes? Cuz I have 20 decent cigars in my humidor and its running at about 61% Will they be ok? Or should I consider another option? I always hear the 70/70 rule so, I'm pretty far from that!

Some people actually store them around 60%. I keep mine at 65% and others will tell you the "70/70" rule". Bottom line is keep them at what works best for you. Personally I'd like to keep them above 60% but thats not for everyone.

Edited to add: If you read the page just prior to this one you'll see a similar question and much the same response.

[icehog3]

As Dan said, it comes down to personal preference. I store mine around 62% and they smoke wonderfully.

[nayslayer]

ditto, 65 to 60

[irratebass]

I have a question about Xikar cutters, What is the difference between Xi-X3 cutters besides the price? I am thinking about getting my 1st bigboy cutter and I really like the Xi3 Multicolor one, but I am going by looks alone and not by performance, so what are the differences?

[Blak Smyth]

Originally Posted by irratebass

I have a question about Xikar cutters, What is the difference between Xi-X3 cutters besides the price? I am thinking about getting my 1st bigboy cutter and I really like the Xi3 Multicolor one, but I am going by looks alone and not by performance, so what are the differences?

I believe I read it was the components used. The newer models have better steel, spring, etc...

[irratebass]

Originally Posted by Blak Smyth

I believe I read it was the components used. The newer models have better steel, spring, etc...

That makes the best sense...thanks bro

[Bill86]

IIRC

Xi1 is aluminum, Xi2 is fiberglass, Xi3 is Titanium.

[smitty81]

When is my humidor ready to hold cigars?

Its been seasoning for about 4 days or so and the RH is at 65 according to the hygrometer.

Can I throw my beads in and cigars and call it good?

[cort]

Originally Posted by smitty81

When is my humidor ready to hold cigars?

Its been seasoning for about 4 days or so and the RH is at 65 according to the hygrometer.

Can I throw my beads in and cigars and call it good?

I would

[theonlybear4CORT]

I agree with my hubby cort, load that sucker up.

[Pseudosacred]

The temperature in my humi hovers around 67 - 72 degrees. Those little fluctuations won't affect my sticks badly, right? The humidity stays at a constant 68

[pnoon]

Originally Posted by Pseudosacred

The temperature in my humi hovers around 67 - 72 degrees. Those little fluctuations won't affect my sticks badly, right? The humidity stays at a constant 68

If your temp stays between 67 and 72 degrees, you are very fortunate. Can't get much more ideal temps than that.

[Pseudosacred]

Alright, that's good to hear. So, what is too extreme of a temperature for cigars?

Also, thanks for your quick response!

[kydsid]

Originally Posted by Pseudosacred

Alright, that's good to hear. So, what is too extreme of a temperature for cigars?

Also, thanks for your quick response!

There is no real too extreme in temperature for cigars. You'll find a sticky here about freezing cigars, you'll find many posts including a stickied thread on how to do so safely here. Even 100+ degree heat isn't bad in and of itself.

Wild fluctuations are another issue. Take a cigar from a house at 80 deg outside to -40 and you will probably have an issue.

The biggest concern with temperature usually revolves around the hatching of the tobacco beetle. This pest is common and invasive in all the worlds tobacco crops. All producers use pest management to reduce its prescence in a finished product. But there is no way to be 100% rid of this pest. The tobacco beetle egg, which is usually what is present in a finished cigar, as the beetle lays its eggs on the leaf, hatches between 75 and 90 degrees.

Most evidence suggests that temperatures below 75 degrees will supress the hatching. Freezing for a sufficient time will kill most live eggs, again no pest control strategy is 100% effective, and this is why there is interest in doing so with cigars. A tobacco beetle outbreak in a box of cigars can render the entire box or more into useless dust given enough time.

So in essence the real concern with temperature is about storage not in usage or temporary conditions. Cigars all in all are tough things.

[Fredo456]

I haven't browsed through all this thread yet, so this may have been covered.

The only cigars available locally are those in plastic tubes (Cristales, Romeo y Julieta and Bances, from what I could gather from a phone call). They aren't kept in a humidor, so can they still be any good?

What should I look for when I go to the store?

Thanks.

[Remo]

Originally Posted by Fredo456

I haven't browsed through all this thread yet, so this may have been covered.

The only cigars available locally are those in plastic tubes (Cristales, Romeo y Julieta and Bances, from what I could gather from a phone call). They aren't kept in a humidor, so can they still be any good?

What should I look for when I go to the store?

Thanks.

If they are not in a humidor, do not buy Tubos are fine but they need to be humidified, try and locate a shop that has some sort of walk-in humidor or cabinet humidor.