ccom humidor deal - iQ humidifier... mold/what to upgrade to?

boostdemon

So i picked up the cigar.com humidor which was a killer deal, came with the small 'puck' humidifier. I filled it with distilled water and a month or so later i've got 2-3 small clusters of mold on the screen. Probably my fault for not using store-bought distilled water and i havent found any mold on the rest of the contents. So its out of the box for now. Is there a way to fix it? or should i look to upgrade to a better one and get a hydrometer too? I've read back through all the older posts and see that the gel beads are quite popular.. but this box is tiny and stuffing a jar in there might not work. any suggestions for a meter too? Thanks, -D

MAJORdorMo

The jar is between 2-3 inches tall. Would that fit in your humidor?

j0z3r

You can buy a tube of beads that is the size of a cigar. As long as you don't soak it, it won't hurt the cigars to set it right in with them. As for a digital hygrometer, I've used Hydroset and Xikar. The cool thing about the hydroset is that it's adjustable and the cool thing about the Xikar is that you press a button and it auto-adjusts when you calibrate it.

One2gofst

You definately want a hygrometer. As you said you should also use distilled water. Also, did you use PG mixed with the water? If not, the combo of no PG/tap water along with not knowing your RH% is what led to your mold.

Hays

boostdemon

mustluvcigars

I have had great luck with Xikar humidifiers and the Xikar PG, charge it with the Xikar PG(no mixing and dont use the regular 50/50), refill with distilled water, and it mounts and fits as a regular puck would. Their hygros are great, but if you wanted to save some bucks Wal Mart sells a good one around 4 bucks.

Hays

As mustluvcigars said, WalMart has a great one. The one that I know of and use is the Springfield Thermometer/Hygrometer for $7.99 - it is white, and can be found in the section with indoor/outdoor thermometers..

jsnake

I have the same problem. I have a small 20 Count humi and I just went in there and my puck is growing crap on it. Cigars are all in cello so they should be fine right? They all look good. This thing is only like 6 or 8 weeks old and I have only used store bought distilled water. What gives? I really don't have the money to buy a replacement puck and beads won't fit in there. My other humi is packed and the cigars won't fit. Any suggestions?

stephen_hannibal

mustluvcigars

jsnake:

I have the same problem. I have a small 20 Count humi and I just went in there and my puck is growing crap on it. Cigars are all in cello so they should be fine right? They all look good. This thing is only like 6 or 8 weeks old and I have only used store bought distilled water. What gives? I really don't have the money to buy a replacement puck and beads won't fit in there. My other humi is packed and the cigars won't fit. Any suggestions?

The water pillows from your ccom shipment should do just fine in a small humidor, I would just wipe each cigar with with a clean damp cloth, trash the puck, rely on the pillows till you can get a new puck or beads, like I said i recommend the Xikar humidifiers.

j0z3r

jsnake

So is there a way to fix my puck since I can't afford to buy anything to replace it? My wife was telling me to use a light bleach solution but I think that might ruin the stuff inside it. Or is it that once it grows mold it is crap? I took it out and my humidity is steady since I am not opening it. I do know that won't last and I am not about to smoke 20 cigars in one day.

j0z3r

Don't use bleach. I'd recommend a 5 to 1 mixture of white vinegar and warm water (distilled if you like) and soak the puck in it for a while and then let it air dry. The vinegar will kill any mold and will dry without leaving an odor.

jsnake

j0z3r:

Don't use bleach. I'd recommend a 5 to 1 mixture of white vinegar and warm water (distilled if you like) and soak the puck in it for a while and then let it air dry. The vinegar will kill any mold and will dry without leaving an odor.

Ok, I might give this a try. I have only used distilled water in it so I wasn't expecting this.

mustluvcigars

jsnake

As soon as I can afford it I am going to invest in some beads but that might be months away. How would you go about setting beads in a small 20ct humidor? There is no room in it to set a dish or anything else unless I mount it where the puck was.

nsezell

I usually take the foam out of the casing and replace it with beads in a panty hose foot bundle. That way it hangs, but doesn't fall out if it hangs upside down.

jsnake

nsezell:

I usually take the foam out of the casing and replace it with beads in a panty hose foot bundle. That way it hangs, but doesn't fall out if it hangs upside down.

I might give that a try. Thanks for the suggestions.

boostdemon

well i broke down and ran off to the local shop today and picked up a new humidification device. Its a plastic tube the size of a corona that is full of the gel/crystal stuff. You simply fill to the line on the tube with water and let it absorb. Just need to go pick up a hydrometer to keep it in check but i think this will work well. (fingers crossed)

madurofan

phobicsquirrel

madurofan

phobicsquirrel

tree rat aye!! them are fighting words.... good, when you going to be back to your 100 posts a day?