Adding Water Directly to Beads

E.J. · 11-17-2010, 07:08 PM

Apparently this may be an issue? A response for another thread mentioned this.... I had always assumed that is what you did(Heartfelt) to charge the beads.... I have a habit of dumping a capful of DW into my tubes, shaking them up and putting them back in the humidor....

I assumed that since they suggested that you add water with a syringe, adding water directly to the beads was A-OK. (that is not to say that I have not heard about the spray bottle method)

Anyway, my beads appear to be doing their job fine....but they are fairly young and in a perfect world, I'd prefer to do things "right."

Being that I have another 2lbs coming, as I am going to have to start a coolerdor or vinodor here.....too many cigars to buy, not enough time to smoke them all....

Bill86 · 11-17-2010, 07:15 PM

I have 2 lbs in a coolidor right now, I just spray bottle them. 65 RH beads holding a rock solid 64 RH. They are heartfelt and they work great.

I think the heartfelt tubes suck personally.

Brutus2600 · 11-17-2010, 07:15 PM

Heartfelt beads are supposed to be recharged by directly adding water.

Shilala beads are not supposed to be recharged by directly adding water.

dwoodward · 11-17-2010, 07:15 PM

Adding water to heartfelt beads is fine. Adding to shilala beads is not fine.

The difference is in the type. You will be fine with your beads.

Supposedly the shilala beads steam and bubble or something when you pour water on them.

bobarian · 11-17-2010, 07:16 PM

No issue. I use a spray bottle and spray directly through the mesh bags to moisten my beads. When I dont feel like digging around for the bag that is on the bottom, I just spray water on the glass door and let the moisture be absorbed by the beads.

dwoodward · 11-17-2010, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobarian

No issue. I use a spray bottle and spray directly through the mesh bags to moisten my beads. When I dont feel like digging around for the bag that is on the bottom, I just spray water on the glass door and let the moisture be absorbed by the beads.

My god your lazy.

Brutus2600 · 11-17-2010, 07:19 PM

Hrmm, I was sort of correct, but here's an excerpt directly from Heartfelt:

"You can put a container of distilled water, like a bowl, next to the beads and let them absorb the distilled water in this way. When they have absorbed all they can remove the bowl. This method is effective but takes a while for the beads to absorb the water.

The method I use and prefer is using a spray bottle. I purchased an inexpensive spray bottle at the grocery store and filled it with distilled water. When the beads need water I just spray them until they have absorbed enough distilled water. This method will work well if you have the beads in a bag or dish.

" If my beads are going white, should I add distilled water until they are all clear? "

The optimal is to have about 60% to 70% of the beads clear. Don't try to get them all clear because if you do they cannot absorb any sudden rise in humidity in your humi."

E.J. · 11-17-2010, 07:21 PM

Thanks for the quick replies everyone.... This place is such a wealth of info...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill86

I think the heartfelt tubes suck personally.

They have been great for my little humidors....?

The plan for the 2lbs is four 1/2lb bags.....

The consensus is the mesh bags are easy, painless and as effective as any other method?

76GTFan · 11-17-2010, 07:29 PM

If I make even 20 percent clear I am looking at a spike in RH. Anyone have this problem? I have been having problems with HF beads in a Vinotemp. I can't keep the RH below 70. I am in Ga and winter is dry. Why is the Vino making the RH rise? I know because I put everything back in a cooler and it stabilizes. I have checked for leaks as well. What am I doing wrong? I have owned beads for years and this is the first time I am stumped.

Bill86 · 11-17-2010, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E.J.

Thanks for the quick replies everyone.... This place is such a wealth of info...

They have been great for my little humidors....?

The plan for the 2lbs is four 1/2lb bags.....

The consensus is the mesh bags are easy, painless and as effective as any other method?

I use 2 lbs in tupperware containers each with 1 pound of beads. They work great in a 120 quart cooler. I didn't bother buying the mesh bags. YMMV

bobarian · 11-17-2010, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E.J.

Thanks for the quick replies everyone.... This place is such a wealth of info...

They have been great for my little humidors....?

The plan for the 2lbs is four 1/2lb bags.....

The consensus is the mesh bags are easy, painless and as effective as any other method?

Ankle high stockings also work as bags.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 76GTFan

If I make even 20 percent clear I am looking at a spike in RH. Anyone have this problem? I have been having problems with HF beads in a Vinotemp. I can't keep the RH below 70. I am in Ga and winter is dry. Why is the Vino making the RH rise? I know because I put everything back in a cooler and it stabilizes. I have checked for leaks as well. What am I doing wrong? I have owned beads for years and this is the first time I am stumped.

The problem is the change in seasons. You will see similar posts next spring and also this past spring.

1) Unplug your Vinotemp, you dont need temp control until next summer.

2) Fill up any empty space in your Vino with empty boxes, the boxes will retain moisture and help stabilize the Rh.

3) If you have a half empty box, put your calibrated hygrometer inside a box. It is the Rh of your cigars that is important not the Rh of the air in the Vino.

4) How are your cigars smoking? How do the wrappers feel? If your cigars are not tunneling or giving you some other kind of weird burn then you are ok.

5) Dont sweat things too much. Sometimes it may take 3-4 months for a wine cooler to stabilize. Every time it cycles you will notice a drop in Rh, but you seek long term stability and must trust in the beads.

76GTFan · 11-17-2010, 10:15 PM

The cigars seem fine. Granted we are talking about less than a week. My problem is high RH not low. That is what baffles me.
Unplugged indoors should mean stabilization. Right?

BigCat · 11-17-2010, 10:25 PM

I do what you've described - I dump a cap full of water directly on the beads. I've been doing it for years and have never had a problem. They work just fine and seem to remain intact. I'm talking about the heartfelt beads.

bobarian · 11-17-2010, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 76GTFan

The cigars seem fine. Granted we are talking about less than a week. My problem is high RH not low. That is what baffles me.
Unplugged indoors should mean stabilization. Right?

Check the humidity inside one of your boxes. Then just give it a few weeks. I seldom look at my hygrometers anymore. I check the beads once a month or so. If the Rh is too high, it will take several weeks for the beads to absorb the excess moisture.

elderboy02 · 11-17-2010, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobarian

No issue. I use a spray bottle and spray directly through the mesh bags to moisten my beads....

SvilleKid · 11-18-2010, 04:15 AM

Been spraying my heartfelt beads for almost 5 years. No negative effect that I can tell.

cricky101 · 11-18-2010, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SvilleKid

Been spraying my heartfelt beads for almost 5 years. No negative effect that I can tell.

Same for me, with the spray method. I've had the same beads (although added more) but gone from a desktop to cooler to eventually a vino now and worked great in each.

sikk50 · 11-18-2010, 10:17 AM

I could be wrong here, but I was under the impression that pouring water directly onto the beads as described by OP will cause the beads to break because the ones on the top are going to take the majority of the water and over hydrate

Da Klugs · 11-18-2010, 10:37 AM

Been dumping water into my bead sacks for years.

I think its kind of like the "be gentle with me" admonition. Rarely last past the first filling.

Mugen910 · 11-18-2010, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Da Klugs

Been dumping water into my bead sacks for years.

I think its kind of like the "be gentle with me" admonition. Rarely last past the fist filling.

11-17-2010, 07:08 PM	#1
E.J. I'm nuts for the place Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 3,218 Trading: (21)	Adding Water Directly to Beads Apparently this may be an issue? A response for another thread mentioned this.... I had always assumed that is what you did(Heartfelt) to charge the beads.... I have a habit of dumping a capful of DW into my tubes, shaking them up and putting them back in the humidor.... I assumed that since they suggested that you add water with a syringe, adding water directly to the beads was A-OK. (that is not to say that I have not heard about the spray bottle method) Anyway, my beads appear to be doing their job fine....but they are fairly young and in a perfect world, I'd prefer to do things "right." Being that I have another 2lbs coming, as I am going to have to start a coolerdor or vinodor here.....too many cigars to buy, not enough time to smoke them all....

11-17-2010, 07:15 PM	#2
Bill86 Snob Join Date: Jul 2010 First Name: Bill Posts: 6,704 Trading: (67)	Re: Adding Water Directly to Beads I have 2 lbs in a coolidor right now, I just spray bottle them. 65 RH beads holding a rock solid 64 RH. They are heartfelt and they work great. I think the heartfelt tubes suck personally.

11-17-2010, 07:15 PM	#3
Brutus2600 Your resident lancerHO Join Date: Apr 2010 First Name: Brian Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 2,063 Trading: (46)	Re: Adding Water Directly to Beads Heartfelt beads are supposed to be recharged by directly adding water. Shilala beads are not supposed to be recharged by directly adding water.

11-17-2010, 07:15 PM	#4
dwoodward Gentlemen, you may smoke! Join Date: Jul 2010 First Name: Derrick Location: South Dakota Posts: 1,868 Trading: (26)	Re: Adding Water Directly to Beads Adding water to heartfelt beads is fine. Adding to shilala beads is not fine. The difference is in the type. You will be fine with your beads. Supposedly the shilala beads steam and bubble or something when you pour water on them.

11-17-2010, 07:16 PM	#5
bobarian Cranky Habanophile Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Wine Country Posts: 8,869 Trading: (51)	Re: Adding Water Directly to Beads No issue. I use a spray bottle and spray directly through the mesh bags to moisten my beads. When I dont feel like digging around for the bag that is on the bottom, I just spray water on the glass door and let the moisture be absorbed by the beads.

11-17-2010, 07:19 PM	#7
Brutus2600 Your resident lancerHO Join Date: Apr 2010 First Name: Brian Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 2,063 Trading: (46)	Re: Adding Water Directly to Beads Hrmm, I was sort of correct, but here's an excerpt directly from Heartfelt: "You can put a container of distilled water, like a bowl, next to the beads and let them absorb the distilled water in this way. When they have absorbed all they can remove the bowl. This method is effective but takes a while for the beads to absorb the water. The method I use and prefer is using a spray bottle. I purchased an inexpensive spray bottle at the grocery store and filled it with distilled water. When the beads need water I just spray them until they have absorbed enough distilled water. This method will work well if you have the beads in a bag or dish. " If my beads are going white, should I add distilled water until they are all clear? " The optimal is to have about 60% to 70% of the beads clear. Don't try to get them all clear because if you do they cannot absorb any sudden rise in humidity in your humi."

11-17-2010, 07:29 PM	#9
76GTFan Full Blown Section 8 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Atlanta Posts: 503 Trading: (9)	Re: Adding Water Directly to Beads If I make even 20 percent clear I am looking at a spike in RH. Anyone have this problem? I have been having problems with HF beads in a Vinotemp. I can't keep the RH below 70. I am in Ga and winter is dry. Why is the Vino making the RH rise? I know because I put everything back in a cooler and it stabilizes. I have checked for leaks as well. What am I doing wrong? I have owned beads for years and this is the first time I am stumped.

11-17-2010, 10:15 PM	#12
76GTFan Full Blown Section 8 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Atlanta Posts: 503 Trading: (9)	Re: Adding Water Directly to Beads The cigars seem fine. Granted we are talking about less than a week. My problem is high RH not low. That is what baffles me. Unplugged indoors should mean stabilization. Right?

11-17-2010, 10:25 PM	#13
BigCat My back is now unwatched. Join Date: Apr 2009 First Name: Colin Location: Metro Detroit Posts: 723 Trading: (5)	Re: Adding Water Directly to Beads I do what you've described - I dump a cap full of water directly on the beads. I've been doing it for years and have never had a problem. They work just fine and seem to remain intact. I'm talking about the heartfelt beads. __________________ "Now, I don't approve of dissipation, and I don't indulge in it either; but I haven't a particle of confidence in a man who has no redeeming petty vices." Mark Twain

11-18-2010, 04:15 AM	#16
SvilleKid Yes I am a Pirate Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 33°46′08″N 86°28′16″W / 33.76895°N 86.471037°W Posts: 2,776 Trading: (52)	Re: Adding Water Directly to Beads Been spraying my heartfelt beads for almost 5 years. No negative effect that I can tell. __________________ Ceilin' fan it stirs the air, Cigar smoke does swirl. The fragrance on the pillow case, and he thinks about the girl. Thanks, JB, 1975.

11-18-2010, 10:17 AM	#18
sikk50 Just Bored Really... Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Andrew Location: The Jefferson State Posts: 2,084 Trading: (13)	Re: Adding Water Directly to Beads I could be wrong here, but I was under the impression that pouring water directly onto the beads as described by OP will cause the beads to break because the ones on the top are going to take the majority of the water and over hydrate __________________ "Not a Headache in a Hogshead"

11-18-2010, 10:37 AM	#19
Da Klugs Juan of 11 Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Dave Location: Right here Posts: 4,222 Trading: (8)	Re: Adding Water Directly to Beads Been dumping water into my bead sacks for years. I think its kind of like the "be gentle with me" admonition. Rarely last past the first filling. __________________ Communities Not Commodities. Punctuation challenged, but trying. Proud winner of phase 1 of the Weight loss contest Last edited by Da Klugs; 11-18-2010 at 10:43 AM.