Setting Up Humidor

phishyphishy

Just got the feast sampler with the cigar.com humidor, round humidifier, and humidifier solution. I just want to make sure I set it up right the first time. So the process as I understand is as follows: wipe down inside of humidor with damp cloth and place a small bowl of distilled water inside for 12 hours, soak humidifier in distilled water for 30min, place humidifier in humidor and enjoy. Does this sound right? Also, is there a recommended location for the humidifier to be placed, (towards back, front, center, etc.)? And should I use the humidifier solution in the humidor or save it for the travel herf-a-dor?

bigharpoon

Pretty good. I'd say 12 hours would be a minimum and a little longer would let the moisture soak into the wood better, creating a more stable environment and less likely to rob moisture out of your cigars (which wood will do if it's dry). The puck (foam?) doesn't need to soak for 30 minutes, just pour some water into it or let it soak for a minute and then face it down on a paper towel for 30 minutes so all the excess solution drips out. You don't want that thing dripping on your cigars! Hopefully you have a hygrometer to read the RH inside your humidor- you can search "salt test" on this forum to learn how to calibrate it, it's easy. Good luck and welcome to the forum.

Hays

phishyphishy

Good stuff. Thank you.

nsezell

I would wait before I invested in beads. I used the humicare packs that came with my orders for almost a year before I bought a xikar jar humidifier from my B&M. Took about 1.5 years to make the switch to beads, which i did when I got a bigger humi. As long as you have a good hygro and are getting good readings there is really no benefit to beads.

gmill880

As Hays said above, Wal-Mart has a very very good hygrometer for about 7 dollars, I have 3 of them and they work just as well as the expensive ones. Personally I would not mess with the beads, especially if your new to maintaining a humidor. I would go with the Boveda Packs , visit their web - site and read about them. Come in several rh levels and are maintenance free an you can't mess up what your doing with them. Choose the rh level you wish to maintain and drop them in and forget them until its time to change them out, then just throw them away and drop in new ones, no beads rolling around or water or anything, they are the best IMHO. If you are interested in the Boveda Packs PM me and I'll let you know where you can get them a little cheaper than the Boveda Web Site .

nsezell

Boveda does work well, but you have to buy more every month or so when they die. The xikar jars are refillable and only 5 bucks at my B&M. No mess, just fill to the line once every 3 -6 months.

gmill880

Duder2

kaworuchan

Duder2

kaworuchan:

OK, I have a question concerning a different humidor. I am contemplating purchasing the Cigar.com counter top humidor not long after Christmas comes along. And this will be my very first humidor purchase. Is the technique for setting it up similar? (I know, it is rather large for a first humidor purchase. It's something I'm contemplating. The inexpensive cigar.com humidor is way too tiny for me, though, and I don't think I will have any problems keeping a decent stock in this one.)

I've heard it said here before and am finding it to be very true, it's really better to go big in the first place. I am way out of space and have only been collecting for a few months. My next humi will have to be 300ct or bigger to do any justice. Till then I think I'm gonna do a coolidor budget style for now.

Hawk55

Can't find the seven dollar Wal-Mart hygrometer...What section at Wal-mart and what is it called?

gmill880

Hays