Humi Stress

Gentleman · July 2010

So I got a 75-100 count humi. I put a dish of water and the humidifier puck it came with in it to season it. I'm using a digi hygro btw. After about a week it was still reading 55-60%. I broke down and got some 70% beads. So I sprayed the bead tube with distilled water, dried it off and placed it inside the humi with a dish of water in there as well. I'm worried that my humidor didn't season all the way with my first attempt, will the beads+dish still allow it to season properly if it hasn't?

wwhwang · July 2010

The bowl of water and the beads should be able to get it up to 80 in a couple days. Once the water in the dish stops evaporating (I marked the side of the glass bowl I was using), it's ready (usually 4 to 7 days). But a week and it's 55 to 60? Sounds like you have a leak. You try the dollar bill test?

Gentleman · July 2010

Lol there seems to be a test for everything. What is the dollar bill test exactly?

wwhwang · July 2010

Open the humidor and place a dollar bill on all sides (even the back), then close it. Tug on the dollar bill (but not too hard). If it's really difficult to pull out without tearing it, you got a good seal. If it just slides out, the seal's not tight enough.

jship079 · July 2010

Gently wipe down the humi with a new unsented spong in distilled water not to much so you dont warp the spanish ceader this will saturate the wood so that the humi can balance the humidity also salt check the hygro to make sure it is calibrated properly.

Gentleman · July 2010

I just did this and it took a decently tug to pull but not too difficult. I had it sitting with beads and a dish of water for a day now and it read 66%. Is this normal?

wwhwang · July 2010

Hopefully, 66 will be enough for now, but it should be around 80 on day 2 or 3. Right now, though, I'd suggest taking a damp sponge or a paintbrush (with distilled water), and wipe down the edges and the spanish cedar lining the border of the humidor. This way, the wood will swell and give you a better seal while the dish and beads do their work.

Gentleman · July 2010

Sounds good, when should I expect this to be all said and done? I have a humi-jar and tupperware with sticks and I'm so anxious to get them in that humi. I've had this humidor for almost a month now.

wwhwang · July 2010

If the seal stays good, it should be done around the 5th day (give or take 1 day, depending on the humidity of your house). Just keep watching the bowl of water and mark it. If it gets too low, refill it with distilled water. Once it stops evaporating, it's ready. When mine stopped evaporating, my humidor was around 80. Just keep an eye on that hygrometer once you throw your sticks in. Mine only went down to 77 after throwing the sticks in, so I had to keep the humidor open and let it air (and let my humidifier de-charge)out for a few hours before I got it back to 68.

aron325 · July 2010

gentleman you have a pm

Gentleman · July 2010

replied

aron325 · July 2010

replied again

One2gofst · July 2010

Just wanted to point out something. I would only over humidify a humidor if the sticks I was putting in were dry. If you get that thing up to 80% and the sticks you put in there are properly humidified, you are going to have a humidity problem. Personally, I think the best way to go is beads at the desired humidity level. If you put in charged beads and cigars, the humidity level will stay correct, as the beads will absorb or release moisture, depending on if any humidity is absorbed by the cigars. Just my $.02

One2gofst · July 2010

Also, you mention you have a digital hygrometer. Did you calibrate it?

Fourtotheflush · July 2010

Gentleman · July 2010

One2gofst · July 2010

One2gofst · July 2010

BTW, I just noticed you are in St. Louis. We should get together for a smoke sometime.

Gentleman · July 2010

I figured it's prob off, I guess I'll +12% when i read it. My smokin buddy and I been thinking bout meetin up with people for a smoke. We're a bunch of youngins though so it'd be interesting lol.