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Question regarding beads

leonardleonard Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 359

I want to start using beads but am unsure which % to use.  I like my humidor around 67% humidity.  I live in So. Cal so the weather is mostly arid.  Would I use 65% or 70% beads?

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Comments

  • j0z3rj0z3r Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 9,403
  • kuzi16kuzi16 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 14,471
    personally i would go with the 65% beads because if you "over charge" them a bit, you will have a bit higher humidity.
  • CastleCrestCastleCrest Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 51
  • pilot711pilot711 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 176
    I travel a lot obviously due to work so I like the 70% because my cigars stay humidified in travel humidors better. Even when I smoke one right from the humi I have never had an issue.
  • j0z3rj0z3r Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 9,403
  • leonardleonard Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 359
    Thanks guys for all the advice.  I think I will try 65% beads and "over charge" them a hair.
  • leonardleonard Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 359
    Just wanted to give an update on my beads.  I have used 65% beads in both my humi's for about two months.  They are great.  Both my humi's stay at 66%-67% humitity.
  • LasabarLasabar Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 4,457
  • Smoke=FireSmoke=Fire Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 682
    kuzi16:
    personally i would go with the 65% beads because if you "over charge" them a bit, you will have a bit higher humidity.
    You know, I've seen this statement before on these forums, and I don't understand how that can be. The beads are designed to release or absorb moisture to 65% RH. If you make more than 70% of the beads wet, it will not release more moisture, only as much is needed to maintain the 65%. Overcharging as I see it will only reduce the amount of mositure you will be able to absorb, as once they are full they are full.
  • laker1963laker1963 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 5,046
  • madurofanmadurofan Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 6,152
    Where is our chemist? Has he dissapeared?
  • rusiriusrusirius Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 564
  • kuzi16kuzi16 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 14,471
  • Big DanBig Dan Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 69
    can sumbody explain beads and its proper uses please thank you in advance
  • rusiriusrusirius Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 564
    Big Dan:
    can sumbody explain beads and its proper uses please thank you in advance
    Beads are just another type of humidification... The only thing that's unique about beads is that they're bi-directional... They can both absorb or expel moisture... In theory if you have 65% humidity beads and the humidity gets above 65% the beads should absorb the excess to get it back down to 65%... Likewise if it drops below 65% the beads should give off moisture to get it back up... In practice as you can see from above it doesn't work exactly that way for whatever reason... Still though they work pretty damn good...
  • kuzi16kuzi16 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 14,471
    rusirius:
    In practice as you can see from above it doesn't work exactly that way for whatever reason...
    i have about one pound in my 150ct humi. this is over kill. but i also seem to be the only person here that can keep their 65% beads as 65%.
  • rusiriusrusirius Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 564
    kuzi16:
    rusirius:
    In practice as you can see from above it doesn't work exactly that way for whatever reason...
    i have about one pound in my 150ct humi. this is over kill. but i also seem to be the only person here that can keep their 65% beads as 65%.
    LOL, indeed... I wonder if the fact that others seem to get higher results does have to do with the amount of beads... I know technically the amount of beads shouldn't make any difference, but I'm wondering about the interaction between the cedar and beads... Technically cedar somewhat "bi-directional" just like the beads, but closer to 70%... With that amount of beads I wonder if it can overcome the effects of the cedar whereas those trying smaller amounts just can't???
  • Big DanBig Dan Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 69
    that seems like it would make sense the more beads you have the more it will soak up the excess water and over power any of the other factors affecting the change in humidity. also thank you for explaining the beads. i have a small humidor a 20 ct right now i dnt think beads would be worth it for this humidor but i would definiatly get them for a larger humidor like a 100ct or 300 ct. do they sell beads at most local shops? or on ccom?
  • kuzi16kuzi16 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 14,471
    when i had a 20ct i had a few beads in a shot glass in the corner. it worked out well.
  • kuzi16kuzi16 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 14,471
  • BigDan.BigDan. Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 211
    hmm sounds good idk if my humi can fit a shotglass in it even a small one ill see. and does it matter how many you put in?
  • kuzi16kuzi16 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 14,471
  • dutyjedutyje Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 2,263
    I pulled the foam out of the humidifier on the top of my small (15-20 ct) humi, and replaced the contents with beads. This has been working great. I used to just have a tube of beads in there with the cigars, and that worked well also.
  • pilot711pilot711 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 176
    dutyje:
    I pulled the foam out of the humidifier on the top of my small (15-20 ct) humi, and replaced the contents with beads. This has been working great. I used to just have a tube of beads in there with the cigars, and that worked well also.
    I did the same thing with all my cheap humidifiers that came with various humidors and it has worked great. I also have them in tubes so they are in several areas of the humi. The beads rock!
  • BigDan.BigDan. Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 211
    *runs to order beads* , do the help raise humidity at all or just lower it? i like the temp my humi is at now tho , will this change the temp or hum?
  • rmccloudrmccloud Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 160
    The beads will raise and lower the humidity based on what is needed. You can be 60%, 65%, or 70% beads depending on what you prefer the humidity to be. The beads will not affect the temp in your humidor at all. I would recommend buying more beads than the website says you need.
  • kuzi16kuzi16 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 14,471
    rmccloud:
    I would recommend buying more beads than the website says you need.
    2 times as much i find works well.
  • BigDan.BigDan. Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 211
    ooh really no way thts like perfect they take all the stress away from constantly trying to find ways to control my rh and wat not. thnx for the help guys
  • vankleekkwvankleekkw Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 404
    I just got beads yesterday, and now all of my humidors are exactly 65%. Those things work awesome, got way more than needed in case I need more room.
  • LasabarLasabar Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 4,457
    vankleekkw:
    I just got beads yesterday, and now all of my humidors are exactly 65%. Those things work awesome, got way more than needed in case I need more room.
    Always smart... Don't want to have too little and I use the 70% beads and keep them about 10% white and the humi is around 67%... Poifect!
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