Humidor question

ShawnJ

I got my first humidor today (was an early birthday present from my wife). It's a smaller one - fits maybe 25 cigars. Anyway, I filled the humidifier with distilled water and shook it out real good - just made sure the sponge is nice and damp. Then I put the hygrometer on, closed the lid and have been waiting. So far, the hygrometer is still reading zero. I know it's supposed to be 70% humidity. So, does it just take a while, or do I have the hygrometer in wrong?

rwheelwright

Is it digital or Analog? The analogs sometimes have a rubber seal around it. It should NOT read zero. It should at least read 30, 40, 50?

ShawnJ

It's analog. No rubber seal as far as I can see - though there was a piece of something (maybe rubber) over the face when I bought it. I peeled it off before putting it in the humidor. It's not really reading zero - it's not reading anything. The needle is just at the bottom and not doing anything. The hygrometer is stuck to the inside of the humidor on a sticky thing with velcro. Could it be that I'm covering the back of the hygrometer and it can't read anything?

rwheelwright

THe ones I have have holes on the side. I would dump it and get a digital. WOn't hurt. It could just be broken. I have found that even after calibrating an analog, they can be like 10 - 15% off. Even the digitals are off but usually only by a few %

kaspera79

ShawnJ:

It's analog. No rubber seal as far as I can see - though there was a piece of something (maybe rubber) over the face when I bought it. I peeled it off before putting it in the humidor. It's not really reading zero - it's not reading anything. The needle is just at the bottom and not doing anything. The hygrometer is stuck to the inside of the humidor on a sticky thing with velcro. Could it be that I'm covering the back of the hygrometer and it can't read anything?

Now with a little more info this may help.. I had an analog hygrometer that had a similar issue. On the back there may be some holes, 4 or 5. Most are to measure the humidity . One hole (center) should have a recessed plastic dial with a slot, get a small screwdriver and start it on the way toward 40 or 50. The needle or wheel may just be "stuck" Be gentle, Hope this works.

ShawnJ

Thanks for all the info guys. Kaspera - I think that may have done the trick. I used a small screw driver to get the needle up to 40 and then, by itself, it ended up going up to 55. I put the water in the humidifier probably about eight hours ago or so.

rwheelwright

kaspera79:

ShawnJ:

It's analog. No rubber seal as far as I can see - though there was a piece of something (maybe rubber) over the face when I bought it. I peeled it off before putting it in the humidor. It's not really reading zero - it's not reading anything. The needle is just at the bottom and not doing anything. The hygrometer is stuck to the inside of the humidor on a sticky thing with velcro. Could it be that I'm covering the back of the hygrometer and it can't read anything?

Now with a little more info this may help.. I had an analog hygrometer that had a similar issue. On the back there may be some holes, 4 or 5. Most are to measure the humidity . One hole (center) should have a recessed plastic dial with a slot, get a small screwdriver and start it on the way toward 40 or 50. The needle or wheel may just be "stuck" Be gentle, Hope this works.

Never had that happen before. Gotta remember that!

kaspera79

ShawnJ:

Thanks for all the info guys. Kaspera - I think that may have done the trick. I used a small screw driver to get the needle up to 40 and then, by itself, it ended up going up to 55. I put the water in the humidifier probably about eight hours ago or so.

I think it just needed a bump start.. But now it's not exact, because you don't know what the room humidity ( starting point ) was. Digital is far more precise.

ShawnJ

I may look into getting a digital one. I live in Florida so it's pretty humid here to begin with. As it is now, when do you think it will be safe to add cigars into the humidor?

rwheelwright

ShawnJ

Wow...I think I'll just buy a digital one tomorrow. lol When I bought the humidor today, the guy at the cigar store walked me though it and just said "should take about a day". Another question : how often do I put more distilled water in the humidifier and how long will the humidifier last? It's one of the cheap black plastic ones.

kaspera79

Look at that Speedy McWheelie, I was off hunting down the details and you type like 200 words per minute. Thanks for doing the lifting on that one.

rwheelwright

kaspera79:

Look at that Speedy McWheelie, I was off hunting down the details and you type like 200 words per minute. Thanks for doing the lifting on that one.

Yeah, I was supposed to be working on homework and was to busy ready this site and facebook. I have no life!

ShawnJ

Hey guys, I got a digital hygrometer this morning and put it in as soon as I got it home. For some reason...it's still reading 55%. I tried adding more water to the sponge a few hours ago, and it's still 55%. What's going on?

bass8844

depending on the humidor, seasoning can take a while. Usually overnight is good, but it can take several days. If the humidor still doesn't hold any humidity, you could have a seal problem.