Rehumidifying Bovida packs? (seems to be working...)

spectrrr · 11-04-2011, 03:27 PM

Last month I had a few 65% Bovida packs that were almost entirely dried up. Took em out of the traveldor's, put in fresh ones... and then on a whim, I through them in a tupperware container with a bowl of distilled water and forgot about it. 6 weeks later (when I remembered), they seem to be full and ready to go to work!

I put one alone in a 15ct with a couple hydrometers, and the case appears to be holding steady at 65%. In other words, working perfectly.

So does anyone have any experience with this? seems like we could save a few bucks on Bovida's if we did this 2-5 times before throwing em out and buying new ones. Surely there must be a "con" I haven't found yet?

emopunker2004 · 11-04-2011, 03:28 PM

I have seen around here where people have been doing this for a while with great results

hotreds · 11-04-2011, 03:53 PM

Yes- takes time but DOES work!

T.G · 11-04-2011, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spectrrr

So does anyone have any experience with this? seems like we could save a few bucks on Bovida's if we did this 2-5 times before throwing em out and buying new ones. Surely there must be a "con" I haven't found yet?

I've been using and recharging the same 4 humidipak/boveda packs for about 5 years now, no problems or issues yet. At one point, I accidentally let one become fully dried up and even it came back to normal, it just took awhile.

spectrrr · 11-04-2011, 04:38 PM

AWESOME! Won't be buying Bovedas again for a long while then!!

I guess forgetting about them for 6 weeks was a good thing

ArgusP2 · 11-05-2011, 03:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T.G

I've been using and recharging the same 4 humidipak/boveda packs for about 5 years now, no problems or issues yet. At one point, I accidentally let one become fully dried up and even it came back to normal, it just took awhile.

Yeah, what he said!

longknocker · 11-05-2011, 04:05 AM

Works Very Well For Me; Just Remember It May Take At Least 6 Weeks For A Totally Dried Out Pack To Reabsorb And You May Have To Add Distilled H2O Several Times To The Sponge.

kelmac07 · 11-05-2011, 07:37 AM

Learn something new every day. When they "hardened", I figured they were done and I tossed 'em.

shilala · 11-05-2011, 07:49 AM

They're made of a semi-permeable osmotic membrane that's tough as nails. You should be able to rehydrate them for years, as Adam has already proven.
I'm not so sure all the ink will stay intact, not that it matters, I was just wondering. A guy could pretty easily gather up the membrane and salts to make these himself, were he so inclined.
When I developed the HCM beads I also created a salt permeated SAP that I intended to offer as a recharging device, but couldn't find a readily available PVC container that would keep the salt-creep in check. If you've ever had a saltwater fish tank, you're familiar with salt creep. Salt will climb right out of any kind of container when it's in solution, given enough time. It makes a huge mess. PVC is the only surface material that salt can't climb (that I know of). I made containers of PVC pipe fittings and screw caps, but they looked like crap. Plus the salt would crust on the surface of the SAP and required regular stirring.
The whole idea was sound, but the implementation sucked and I soon gave up on it.

shilala · 11-05-2011, 07:58 AM

One more thing...
I use a bag full of 65% Boveda packs to calibrate my hygrometers. It makes a lot more sense than the salt test (from a scientific calibration calibration range standpoint), is zero mess and super simple. I have about 6 of the big ones in a gallon bag and it's where I store all my extra hygrometers.
Another thing it'll do is "train" those cheesy, inaccurate brass analog hygrometers. Once they're in the bag for a few months I've had them go from off by ten points all the way to perfectly accurate just by retentioning the crust on the spring (or something). It's really pretty amazing, I discovered that one by complete mistake.

spectrrr · 11-05-2011, 02:41 PM

, LOTS of great info, thanks Scott!

11-05-2011, 02:51 PM

I've been doing this for a while now. I have some boxes that won't fit in the vino, so I se Boveda packs in them. When they start to dry up I just swap them out and rehydrate them. I keep telling my brother to bring back the larger packs I send him with for his desktop so I can recharge them, but he always forgets.

MajorCaptSilly · 11-05-2011, 03:28 PM

Thanks for posting this. I use the Boveda packs in the winter to help with the humidity. I think I have some dried packs that I haven't pitched yet.

MCS

DPD6030 · 11-05-2011, 06:31 PM

This is great news! Rep coming

OLS · 11-08-2011, 07:31 AM

I have a dozen or more that I got from Ravi, and they are all still gushy and moist.
I let em get dried up in my horrifically drafty cheap humidor and I thought "5hit, I
don't want to LOSE this thing. Put it in a cedar box with some water and voila!
Gushy and floppy in a few days. Yes, you accidentally discovered the greatest
feature of the Boveda pack. I have em thrown all over my various ice chests and
they are just fantastic little dealli-os.

For a little perspective, many of mine are a decade old now, and still going strong.

And ANOTHER warning, from my own story, for the general newbies who may read this,
don't get some doofus-box cheap humidor online, they leak like seives. Save up a little
scratch and get yourself a nice custom from one of our woodworkers here at the asylum.
Til then, an ice chest is better than these cheap POS items you get for 50 bucks online.
A boveda pack should not dry up like a mummy in a humidor in a month. Mine did.

bdgile · 11-11-2011, 10:12 AM

I have been doing this for a while. It does wear out over time though...

11-11-2011, 01:08 PM

I've recharged my bovedas in the past as well. Takes a while but seems to be effective.

hotreds · 11-11-2011, 01:10 PM

Seems to work much better on the bigger size than the little guys, however.

rizzle · 11-15-2011, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kelmac07

Learn something new every day. When they "hardened", I figured they were done and I tossed 'em.

You and me both, bro.

MajorCaptSilly · 11-17-2011, 09:45 AM

I found 8 that i hadn't thrown away. They've been in a sealed container with a cup of distilled water for 5 days. They are about 80% moist again with a few clumps of hard stuff in each pack.

MCS

11-04-2011, 03:27 PM	#1
spectrrr Back in the midwest! Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Frank Location: Ohio Posts: 5,596 Trading: (20)	Rehumidifying Bovida packs? (seems to be working...) Last month I had a few 65% Bovida packs that were almost entirely dried up. Took em out of the traveldor's, put in fresh ones... and then on a whim, I through them in a tupperware container with a bowl of distilled water and forgot about it. 6 weeks later (when I remembered), they seem to be full and ready to go to work! I put one alone in a 15ct with a couple hydrometers, and the case appears to be holding steady at 65%. In other words, working perfectly. So does anyone have any experience with this? seems like we could save a few bucks on Bovida's if we did this 2-5 times before throwing em out and buying new ones. Surely there must be a "con" I haven't found yet? __________________ ¨°º¤ø„¸¸„ø¤º°¨ "A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right..." -Thomas Paine

11-04-2011, 03:28 PM	#2
emopunker2004 Central Fla rollin Join Date: Jan 2011 First Name: Justin Location: Winter Springs, FL Posts: 6,171 Trading: (46)	Re: Rehumidifying Bovida packs? (seems to be working...) I have seen around here where people have been doing this for a while with great results __________________ Cigar Asylum: Where all are equal, unless you are from CA, then you are more equal.

11-04-2011, 03:53 PM	#3
hotreds Ephesians 2:8 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 5 miles past "Resume Speed" Posts: 11,662 Trading: (63)	Re: Rehumidifying Bovida packs? (seems to be working...) Yes- takes time but DOES work! __________________ God loves you so much, that he made you read this, just to let you know.

11-04-2011, 04:38 PM	#5
spectrrr Back in the midwest! Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Frank Location: Ohio Posts: 5,596 Trading: (20)	Re: Rehumidifying Bovida packs? (seems to be working...) AWESOME! Won't be buying Bovedas again for a long while then!! I guess forgetting about them for 6 weeks was a good thing __________________ ¨°º¤ø„¸¸„ø¤º°¨ "A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right..." -Thomas Paine

11-05-2011, 04:05 AM	#7
longknocker Postwhore Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Greg Location: Mobile, Alabama Posts: 11,162 Trading: (82)	Re: Rehumidifying Bovida packs? (seems to be working...) Works Very Well For Me; Just Remember It May Take At Least 6 Weeks For A Totally Dried Out Pack To Reabsorb And You May Have To Add Distilled H2O Several Times To The Sponge.

11-05-2011, 07:37 AM	#8
kelmac07 Resident Maduro Whore!! Join Date: Apr 2009 First Name: Mac Location: Newport News, VA Posts: 27,322 Trading: (218)	Re: Rehumidifying Bovida packs? (seems to be working...) Learn something new every day. When they "hardened", I figured they were done and I tossed 'em. __________________ Dom in the MLB thread "I could probably get you to wear a Yankee hat for a Maduro!"

11-05-2011, 07:49 AM	#9
shilala Dear Lord, Thank You. Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Scott Posts: 13,721 Trading: (252)	Re: Rehumidifying Bovida packs? (seems to be working...) They're made of a semi-permeable osmotic membrane that's tough as nails. You should be able to rehydrate them for years, as Adam has already proven. I'm not so sure all the ink will stay intact, not that it matters, I was just wondering. A guy could pretty easily gather up the membrane and salts to make these himself, were he so inclined. When I developed the HCM beads I also created a salt permeated SAP that I intended to offer as a recharging device, but couldn't find a readily available PVC container that would keep the salt-creep in check. If you've ever had a saltwater fish tank, you're familiar with salt creep. Salt will climb right out of any kind of container when it's in solution, given enough time. It makes a huge mess. PVC is the only surface material that salt can't climb (that I know of). I made containers of PVC pipe fittings and screw caps, but they looked like crap. Plus the salt would crust on the surface of the SAP and required regular stirring. The whole idea was sound, but the implementation sucked and I soon gave up on it. __________________

11-05-2011, 07:58 AM	#10
shilala Dear Lord, Thank You. Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Scott Posts: 13,721 Trading: (252)	Re: Rehumidifying Bovida packs? (seems to be working...) One more thing... I use a bag full of 65% Boveda packs to calibrate my hygrometers. It makes a lot more sense than the salt test (from a scientific calibration calibration range standpoint), is zero mess and super simple. I have about 6 of the big ones in a gallon bag and it's where I store all my extra hygrometers. Another thing it'll do is "train" those cheesy, inaccurate brass analog hygrometers. Once they're in the bag for a few months I've had them go from off by ten points all the way to perfectly accurate just by retentioning the crust on the spring (or something). It's really pretty amazing, I discovered that one by complete mistake. __________________

11-05-2011, 02:41 PM	#11
spectrrr Back in the midwest! Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Frank Location: Ohio Posts: 5,596 Trading: (20)	Re: Rehumidifying Bovida packs? (seems to be working...) , LOTS of great info, thanks Scott! __________________ ¨°º¤ø„¸¸„ø¤º°¨ "A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right..." -Thomas Paine

11-05-2011, 02:51 PM	#12
mariogolbee Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Rehumidifying Bovida packs? (seems to be working...) I've been doing this for a while now. I have some boxes that won't fit in the vino, so I se Boveda packs in them. When they start to dry up I just swap them out and rehydrate them. I keep telling my brother to bring back the larger packs I send him with for his desktop so I can recharge them, but he always forgets.

11-05-2011, 03:28 PM	#13
MajorCaptSilly Sklee Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Scott Location: Mishawaka, IN Posts: 2,523 Trading: (30)	Re: Rehumidifying Bovida packs? (seems to be working...) Thanks for posting this. I use the Boveda packs in the winter to help with the humidity. I think I have some dried packs that I haven't pitched yet. MCS __________________ Pillsbury, Minneapolis, Prince, Spoon Bridge and Cherry, coinkydink?

11-05-2011, 06:31 PM	#14
DPD6030 Shepard of the sheeple Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Andrew Location: The Mitten Posts: 7,166 Trading: (151)	Re: Rehumidifying Bovida packs? (seems to be working...) This is great news! Rep coming

11-08-2011, 07:31 AM	#15
OLS Suck It Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Brad Location: TN Posts: 7,912 Trading: (19)	Re: Rehumidifying Bovida packs? (seems to be working...) I have a dozen or more that I got from Ravi, and they are all still gushy and moist. I let em get dried up in my horrifically drafty cheap humidor and I thought "5hit, I don't want to LOSE this thing. Put it in a cedar box with some water and voila! Gushy and floppy in a few days. Yes, you accidentally discovered the greatest feature of the Boveda pack. I have em thrown all over my various ice chests and they are just fantastic little dealli-os. For a little perspective, many of mine are a decade old now, and still going strong. And ANOTHER warning, from my own story, for the general newbies who may read this, don't get some doofus-box cheap humidor online, they leak like seives. Save up a little scratch and get yourself a nice custom from one of our woodworkers here at the asylum. Til then, an ice chest is better than these cheap POS items you get for 50 bucks online. A boveda pack should not dry up like a mummy in a humidor in a month. Mine did. Last edited by OLS; 11-08-2011 at 07:38 AM.

11-11-2011, 10:12 AM	#16
bdgile Still Watching My Back Join Date: Sep 2011 First Name: Brian Location: Wisconsin Posts: 124 Trading: (1)	Re: Rehumidifying Bovida packs? (seems to be working...) I have been doing this for a while. It does wear out over time though...

11-11-2011, 01:08 PM	#17
Mutombo Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Rehumidifying Bovida packs? (seems to be working...) I've recharged my bovedas in the past as well. Takes a while but seems to be effective.

11-11-2011, 01:10 PM	#18
hotreds Ephesians 2:8 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 5 miles past "Resume Speed" Posts: 11,662 Trading: (63)	Re: Rehumidifying Bovida packs? (seems to be working...) Seems to work much better on the bigger size than the little guys, however. __________________ God loves you so much, that he made you read this, just to let you know.

11-17-2011, 09:45 AM	#20
MajorCaptSilly Sklee Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Scott Location: Mishawaka, IN Posts: 2,523 Trading: (30)	Re: Rehumidifying Bovida packs? (seems to be working...) I found 8 that i hadn't thrown away. They've been in a sealed container with a cup of distilled water for 5 days. They are about 80% moist again with a few clumps of hard stuff in each pack. MCS __________________ Pillsbury, Minneapolis, Prince, Spoon Bridge and Cherry, coinkydink?