Question about humidors with drawers
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mmccartneydc
Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 3,358
in Cigar 101
Hey all,
I am a complete newb (pridefully) and my father in law gave me a 200 count humidor. Needless to say it is definitely on the empty side, but my question is about the seal. I have seasoned it and the humidity is holding at 73. My question is, without a lid to hear the "whoosh", how do I know if there is a good seal? Also, should I even care if my digital hygrometer stays consistent at 73. Thanks to any info.
Dr M
Comments
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I did the flashlight test on mine: put a flashlight in your humi and completely darken the room. If you see light leaking through then you need to fix the seal. For mine I used some thin adhesive backed felt to put on the top of the drawer fronts. Worked like a charm.
As for your humi staying at 73 I would advise against itas you are in mold territory at extended time. I find also I get burn issues that high. my humi fluctuates between 65 &68 normally, though now and again it spikes at 70. Hope that helps! -
Thanks doromath, I will try that with a flashlight tonight! I read somewhere that an open seal can lead to high readings. I took the foam thing out and im holding steady at 71 now. Cigars are safe from what Ive heard!!!
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It's a good thing you have a digital hygrometer as well. When you get a chance and if you have not already I would calibrate both hygrometers by doing the salt test. It's a fairly simple thing to do and the instructions can be found on google. Personally I would never trust a analog, the digital may be a few points off which could be why it's reading high. Also most solid wood humidors will have a good seal, some just will not but it's the glass tops you really have to be careful of. Hope this helps.
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Thanks Smokindaddy, I will do the salt test today. My humi has a glass top and 3 drawers. Hopefully, it is stabalized now and will stay within optimum range
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Smokindaddy is steering you true with doing the salt test. Never trust an uncalibrated hygrometer.
Also, you mentioned taking the foam out - what are you using for humidification? What you're using, and how you're using it can cause just as much variation as the seal. -
Well currently the foam/distilled water is all I have, I need to get some beads, but has to wait a bit due to the "quite large" (atleast in my opinion) order I made to ccom on Monday. Wish I wouldve thought to throw some beads in there but now gotta wait til next month.doromath:Smokindaddy is steering you true with doing the salt test. Never trust an uncalibrated hygrometer.
Also, you mentioned taking the foam out - what are you using for humidification? What you're using, and how you're using it can cause just as much variation as the seal. -
Is your humi the Napoleon ll?
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Good choice on the beads. I run beads and two Drymistat tubes in both my humis. The Drymistats were my starting humidifiers and they didn't work bad at all. Now I use them to help keep the beads moist over time (some guys here use a small dish of distilled water near the beads for the same purpose). The tubes are good at putting out humidity, but you can't beat the beads for taking it out.
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Had no ideas, as this was a gift, however I did look it up and it appears to be the exact same. Do you know anything about these?danielzreyes:Is your humi the Napoleon ll? -
Thanks for all the help, right now I am staying at 68degrees and 71rh consistently, so hopefully I should be ok for a month or so until I can get some beads.doromath:Good choice on the beads. I run beads and two Drymistat tubes in both my humis. The Drymistats were my starting humidifiers and they didn't work bad at all. Now I use them to help keep the beads moist over time (some guys here use a small dish of distilled water near the beads for the same purpose). The tubes are good at putting out humidity, but you can't beat the beads for taking it out. -
This was one of my first humis and Im still currently using it. (Around 100-110 sticks in it)The seal on those drawers are terrible. It will fail the dollar bill test in every which way. However, it still holds the RH like a champ. I use 2 gel jars in the top drawer and I'm good to go. 65-68%mmccartneydc:
Had no ideas, as this was a gift, however I did look it up and it appears to be the exact same. Do you know anything about these?danielzreyes:Is your humi the Napoleon ll?
Get rid of the foam and definitely have a digi hygro. Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions. -
Awesome info, thanks again Daniel.danielzreyes:
This was one of my first humis and Im still currently using it. (Around 100-110 sticks in it)The seal on those drawers are terrible. It will fail the dollar bill test in every which way. However, it still holds the RH like a champ. I use 2 gel jars in the top drawer and I'm good to go. 65-68%mmccartneydc:
Had no ideas, as this was a gift, however I did look it up and it appears to be the exact same. Do you know anything about these?danielzreyes:Is your humi the Napoleon ll?
Get rid of the foam and definitely have a digi hygro. Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions.
