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Humidor problems

newtocigarsnewtocigars Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 37
in General Discussion
Ok so I posted earlier that I was having issues with my humi. I looked in it today and low and behold it was at 57%. My cigars are all dry and make a crackle sound when rolled between my fingers. Turns out my room is 65% humidity and 20C. SO I have them  sitting in my closet. I am going to try to reseason the humi. I rubbed the inside down again. I also put more distilled water in. One thing that might be off too is the hygromter. I calibrated it twice, then today ran the salt test again and it was at 79%. Are there other things I can do to make sure it is dead on? I mean this is getting frustrating. Its a hobby your supposed to enjoy and this is making it so it is very unenjoyable. The seals on  the humi are solid, and it is in a closet.
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  • brc81brc81 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 249
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  • xmacroxmacro Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 3,402
    Use a dollar bill (as was suggested above) - you should be able to almost pull the humidor across a table before the bill comes out. Then there's the whoosh test - drop the lid from 6 inches; if it clacks, it's not secure, since the air pressure should stop the lid from smacking against the box. Then there's the flashlight test - turn off all the lights and put a flashlight in the humidor; if you see light coming out, there's a leak in your humidor. - - - - - Also, how long have you been at this? Humidors can fluctuate wildly during the first few days when you're seasoning them. - - - - Oh, and rubbing the inside down is kinda a 'rush job', which may or may not have adverse effects. If your room is at 65%, that's perfect - just stick a filled humidifier in your humidor, put a dish of distilled water in it, and leave it for a day or 2. Since your smokes are humidified naturally in your room, you really don't need to rush the process. - - - - - Finally, get a digital hygrometer - you can get them for about $15 off amazon.com, and you won't have to worry about calibration for 6mo (I used to have an analog - damn thing needed calibrating every month). When you use the salt test, make sure you wait the FULL 6-24hrs - the hygrometer can fluctuate 2-3% during the first few hours and it takes a while after that for the salt to properly humidify the space it's in.
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  • BigginBiggin Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 52
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  • rwheelwrightrwheelwright Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 3,294
    Get distilled water and wipe it down. DO not drench it because the wood could crack. Just wet it enough for the wood to change color. Let it sit for 4 hours. Do it again and let it sit for 24 hours. Then check the rh. Make sure it is at a proper level before putting your smokes in. If you put them in with the rh too high you can get cigar beetles and or mold on the cigars. If it is too low, well I'm sure you know what happens then.
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  • xmacroxmacro Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 3,402
    Wiping down a humidor is encouraged by some people, and discouraged by others; but all agree that it speeds up the seasoning process. Do a google search for "Seasoning humidor" and you'll find at least 10 different sites about it. They all agree that you'll need to charge your humidifier and place a bowl of distilled water in the humidor - - - but some sites suggest you wipe the inside down with a new sponge moistened with distilled water, while other sites specifically tell you not to wipe the inside down at all. - - - - I've heard wiping it down causes the spanish cedar to rise slightly, but I dunno if its true or not, or what kind of effect it may have (assuming its true).
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  • newtocigarsnewtocigars Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 37
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  • rwheelwrightrwheelwright Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 3,294
    Yes
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  • kaelariakaelaria Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 572
    Here's how I do it: http://cigarobsession.com/2009/03/11/all-about-the-humidor/
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  • kuzi16kuzi16 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 14,471
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  • HugemooseHugemoose Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 458
    How exactly do you discharge the beads? Just wondering considering I have bead on the way.
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  • kuzi16kuzi16 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 14,471
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  • rwheelwrightrwheelwright Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 3,294
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  • bbc020bbc020 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 1,422
    rwheelwright:
    All my humidors are at 95% capacity or more. I need to smoke more!
    Or, you could send smokes my way...my humis are all around 85% full.
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  • rwheelwrightrwheelwright Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 3,294
    bbc020:
    rwheelwright:
    All my humidors are at 95% capacity or more. I need to smoke more!
    Or, you could send smokes my way...my humis are all around 85% full.
    Or.......... You could come out to Jersey and we can smoke them together!
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  • bbc020bbc020 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 1,422
    rwheelwright:
    bbc020:
    rwheelwright:
    All my humidors are at 95% capacity or more. I need to smoke more!
    Or, you could send smokes my way...my humis are all around 85% full.
    Or.......... You could come out to Jersey and we can smoke them together!
    Hrmm....jersey. I gotta head east in june, but won't be that far north....I'm shooting for Vabeeochay instead. Thanks for the invite though.
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  • rwheelwrightrwheelwright Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 3,294
    bbc020:
    rwheelwright:
    bbc020:
    rwheelwright:
    All my humidors are at 95% capacity or more. I need to smoke more!
    Or, you could send smokes my way...my humis are all around 85% full.
    Or.......... You could come out to Jersey and we can smoke them together!
    Hrmm....jersey. I gotta head east in june, but won't be that far north....I'm shooting for Vabeeochay instead. Thanks for the invite though.
    Where the hell is Vabeeochay? Maybe I should google it but I am too tired. Didn't get enough sleep last night.
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  • bbc020bbc020 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 1,422
    rwheelwright:
    bbc020:
    rwheelwright:
    bbc020:
    rwheelwright:
    All my humidors are at 95% capacity or more. I need to smoke more!
    Or, you could send smokes my way...my humis are all around 85% full.
    Or.......... You could come out to Jersey and we can smoke them together!
    Hrmm....jersey. I gotta head east in june, but won't be that far north....I'm shooting for Vabeeochay instead. Thanks for the invite though.
    Where the hell is Vabeeochay? Maybe I should google it but I am too tired. Didn't get enough sleep last night.
    Vabeeochay = virginia beach
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  • madurofanmadurofan Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 6,152
    bbc020:
    rwheelwright:
    bbc020:
    rwheelwright:
    bbc020:
    rwheelwright:
    All my humidors are at 95% capacity or more. I need to smoke more!
    Or, you could send smokes my way...my humis are all around 85% full.
    Or.......... You could come out to Jersey and we can smoke them together!
    Hrmm....jersey. I gotta head east in june, but won't be that far north....I'm shooting for Vabeeochay instead. Thanks for the invite though.
    Where the hell is Vabeeochay? Maybe I should google it but I am too tired. Didn't get enough sleep last night.
    Vabeeochay = virginia beach
    Come on get it right, its just The Beach. The main road through it is The Blvd.(Virginia Beach Blvd)
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