1st humidor, not wanting to ruin cigars

[Cap'n Bligh]

Okay guys, here is my FNG question. Thanks in advance for any advice.

Received a hujmidor for birthday in December. Seasoned it according to all the material I could find. Calibrated the analog gauge. Used the crappy humidification (sponges) and humidity level was quite high. Cracked the lid on the 10 cigars I had in there several times. Finally the humidity came down. Decided to buy the Zikar hydrometer. Salt tested and calibrated (four hours). Humidity level was still reading high. Took out the sponges, humidity level stayed in mid to high 60's. Added 20 cigars. Yesterday changed to Zikar humidification beads (small) and added 25 more cigars. Humidity level, after 24 hours and approximately 55 cigars, is at 74%. What have I done wrong and how do I correct it? Or does it takes some time to regulate. Humidor is supposed to hold 75 sticks. It is pretty full now.

Thanks,
Cap'n Bligh

[chippewastud79]

Stop, start over. You need to get the humidor properly humidified before you put any sticks in it. Should be sitting right around 65% or whatever your desired humidity is going to be before you add sticks. You also need to calibrate the hygrometer for much longer than 4 hours, atleast 24 hours, some would say up to 48 to get an accurate reading.

Don't go off the stated capacity for humidors, they are never correct. Having it full at 55 is probably about right.

[bobarian]

Originally Posted by chippewastud79

Stop, start over. You need to get the humidor properly humidified before you put any sticks in it. Should be sitting right around 65% or whatever your desired humidity is going to be before you add sticks. You also need to calibrate the hygrometer for much longer than 4 hours, atleast 24 hours, some would say up to 48 to get an accurate reading.

Don't go off the stated capacity for humidors, they are never correct. Having it full at 55 is probably about right.

Also if you are using sponges you will need to use PG solution to regulate the humidity. Distilled water and sponge will only add humidity and not bring it down if it is too high. Most use humidity beads(see Heartfeltindustries.com or cigarmony.com) to regulate the desired humidity. I prefer my smokes at 65% or lower as I have less draw problems with lower Rh.

[Cap'n Bligh]

[quote=chippewastud79;2021062]Stop, start over. You need to get the humidor properly humidified before you put any sticks in it. Should be sitting right around 65% or whatever your desired humidity is going to be before you add sticks. You also need to calibrate the hygrometer for much longer than 4 hours, atleast 24 hours, some would say up to 48 to get an accurate reading.

It was staying at around 65 with no humidification device in it. What do I do with the cigars in the mean time?

Cap'n

[Cap'n Bligh]

Originally Posted by bobarian

Also if you are using sponges you will need to use PG solution to regulate the humidity. Distilled water and sponge will only add humidity and not bring it down if it is too high. Most use humidity beads(see Heartfeltindustries.com or cigarmony.com) to regulate the desired humidity. I prefer my smokes at 65% or lower as I have less draw problems with lower Rh.

Nope, dumped the sponges all together.

Thanks,
Cap'n

[Cigary]

You can use a rubbermaid thingie and put your hygrometer in there to keep your stogies fresh ( hopefully you have an extra one or you can use a pillow or you can use some foam with distilled water,,,don't let your cigars touch these devices but keep em in the rubbermaid until your humi is where it is supposed to be. Waiting the proper amount of time until you get the moisture out of your humi after seasoning.

quote=Cap'n Bligh;2021085]

Originally Posted by chippewastud79

Stop, start over. You need to get the humidor properly humidified before you put any sticks in it. Should be sitting right around 65% or whatever your desired humidity is going to be before you add sticks. You also need to calibrate the hygrometer for much longer than 4 hours, atleast 24 hours, some would say up to 48 to get an accurate reading.

It was staying at around 65 with no humidification device in it. What do I do with the cigars in the mean time?

Cap'n

[fallguy81]

congrats on your cool birthday gift, sounds cool. have any pics?

[Cap'n Bligh]

Originally Posted by fallguy81

congrats on your cool birthday gift, sounds cool. have any pics?

Not yet, when I get everything working right will post some.

[Cap'n Bligh]

Okay..now that I have established that I am an idiot (example: hydrometer and Zikar) I think that I have some success to report. Salt tested the HYGROMETER from XIKAR for the second time after removing the battery to reset it. Let it set for 34 hours and it settled at 72% @ 68 degrees for over 12 hours. Held the green button down to recalibrate to 75%. Put it back in the humidor and left for work. 9 hours later it was reading 66% at 70 degrees.

Pulled out a RP Decade, poured a healthy glass of Scotch and had a wonderful smoke. Nice even burn, things seem to be pretty good. Will check it tomorrow night to see if it has changed. Thanks for everyone's input! Hope to post pics soon.

[cricky101]

Originally Posted by Cap'n Bligh

....poured a healthy glass of Scotch and had a wonderful smoke ...

That is a very, very important step. Good luck with the new humi.

[Cap'n Bligh]

Woohoo!!!!!!!!!!! After sitting closed for 26 hours it is still reading 66% at 70 degrees. On to other things I guess.

[chippewastud79]

Originally Posted by Cap'n Bligh

Woohoo!!!!!!!!!!! After sitting closed for 26 hours it is still reading 66% at 70 degrees. On to other things I guess.

Glad you got everything worked out.

I would really suggest you take the time to come by the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Herf on January 31st, should be a great time.