Heartfelt beads or cat litter beads?

[Ozone89]

Heartfelt all the way for me.

I love the rectangular container my beads are in, it was worth every single dime I spent on it.

[OracleSmoke]

There you go. Another thing to keep in mind: If you go the kitty litter route and get the 8lb bag or so, unless you plan on trying to humidify a walk in closet with beads, you'll never need that much.

So you spend maybe 30 bucks on beads you'll never have to replace if cared for correctly. It's just a matter of how much you get and whether you'll use that much or not. If the % regulation stated on the package is worth that peace of mind, then you'll be fine with a pound of HF beads.

Someone you know has to have kitty litter beads, get some and try it. If you keep your RH where you want it with them, get some. Thing is, I don't know anywhere where you can still get kitty litter beads for 7 bucks for 8lbs anymore. So you're still spending the same amount of money either way.

[Jonesee]

Originally Posted by OracleSmoke

There you go. Another thing to keep in mind: If you go the kitty litter route and get the 8lb bag or so, unless you plan on trying to humidify a walk in closet with beads, you'll never need that much.

So you spend maybe 30 bucks on beads you'll never have to replace if cared for correctly. It's just a matter of how much you get and whether you'll use that much or not. If the % regulation stated on the package is worth that peace of mind, then you'll be fine with a pound of HF beads.

Someone you know has to have kitty litter beads, get some and try it. If you keep your RH where you want it with them, get some. Thing is, I don't know anywhere where you can still get kitty litter beads for 7 bucks for 8lbs anymore. So you're still spending the same amount of money either way.

Actually Oracle, it still is pretty close to that price. Just check the pet shops and discount stores. As far as longevity. I am using the same kitty litter beads now for all these years. the only time i swapped them out was when I spilled a humidor. The original beads are still working like new.

When I was researching silica beads I learned another use for them is to drive the moisutre out of them by putting them in the oven. After that I use the dehydrated ones for my gun safe. I live in Florida, and keep a large fire proof gunsafe in the garage by the door leading to the house. I have never had any rust issues with my guns and I have a whole lot more invested in guns than I ever will in cigars. I originally got the idea by collecting all the little packets from electronics and using them. After some research I found they are all basically the same. Shape and texture and size and things like that differ. But they all work pretty much the same unless you are in a lab.

Guys they work for me, but every time there is a post like this I get nervous all over again. If there has been a failure I am truly interested. I would like to know what happened and if they ever caused any damage. When researching using them for the gun safe I learned they should never be touching any of the guns. That isn't an issue for me because mine has shelves in it I keep them on.

[GlockG23]

I don't know what anyone else feels about this
but even if they were the exact same thing.
I would spend my money with Heartfelt beads(or another cigar related company) other
then supporting a Cat litter company and a wal-mart.
(wal-mart, I really despise wal-mart. But that's another thread)

[Jonesee]

Originally Posted by GlockG23

I don't know what anyone else feels about this
but even if they were the exact same thing.
I would spend my money with Heartfelt beads(or another cigar related company) other
then supporting a Cat litter company and a wal-mart.
(wal-mart, I really despise wal-mart. But that's another thread)

Interesting comment. An economist would tell you that is irrational in a micro-economic sense. To pay more for something than you have to. But, to each his own.

Do you also buy all your cigars from strictly a B&M. They are all exactly the same, only price is the difference...


We are far off-topic here. The question the OP had was about the effectiveness of the kitty litter beads vs. heartfelt. And, I am curious too. Has anyone had a failure, or is it just personal preference???

[GlockG23]

Originally Posted by Jonesee

Interesting comment. An economist would tell you that is irrational in a micro-economic sense. To pay more for something than you have to. But, to each his own.

Do you also buy all your cigars from strictly a B&M. They are all exactly the same, only price is the difference...


We are far off-topic here. The question the OP had was about the effectiveness of the kitty litter beads vs. heartfelt. And, I am curious too. Has anyone had a failure, or is it just personal preference???

I thought "or another cigar related company" covered that, but your are right Jonesee, I am off topic.
I apologize slyder

[slyder]

Originally Posted by Hermit

Mebbie it works, but Heartfelt beads aren't that expensive.
How much are your cigars worth?
Discount parachutes anybody?

My buddy used a discount parachute once................once!

I guess the $30 is money well spent really. Its not like ill have to replace them everymonth. Thats a big pain with the Le Veil....its cartridges dont last very long. After 5 or 6 refills they just wont take water any more. What Ive spent in cartridges I coulda bought a pound of beads.

[slyder]

That comment about electronics and guns brings me back to my originaly point......arent the kitty litter beads meant to REMOVE moisture? Cant see a reason to GIVE OFF moisture in a litter box. Cats do enuff of that on their own!

[Jonesee]

Like any chemical reaction, they search for equlibrium. If they are dry, they absorb, If they are wet they release moisture. As best as I can tell that equilibrium for the ones I use is somewhere in the 67% and 70% range.

[the nub]

Originally Posted by slyder

My buddy used a discount parachute once................once!

I guess the $30 is money well spent really. Its not like ill have to replace them everymonth. Thats a big pain with the Le Veil....its cartridges dont last very long. After 5 or 6 refills they just wont take water any more. What Ive spent in cartridges I coulda bought a pound of beads.

are you refilling with 50/50 solution or distilled water?

[slyder]

Originally Posted by the nub

are you refilling with 50/50 solution or distilled water?

I only use distilled water in my Le Veil. Thats what it calls for.

[chippewastud79]

Here is an extremely boring test that Shilala did on all types of humidification beads.

Basic premise, kitty litter is 1/3 as effective per surface area and doesn't regulate.

[Jonesee]

I read his study and I agree, As I said earlier, any noticeable difference in the products is at the laboratory level. In fact, 1/1000th of a second is 10 times faster than 1/100th of a second. In the real world, the difference in the two time periods is non existent in virtually all circumstances. We are dealing with cigar hunidity not measuring chemical reactions on a molecular level. As a group we can't even agree on the proper RH and struggle finding hygrometers that are within 1%-3% of accuracy.

In everyday practice I haven't seen a difference in the 2 products.

I am still looking for anyone that has used the kitty litter silica and had a failure or found it inadequate in any way. Anyone out there have a problem?

Chip, have you had a failure using it?

[OracleSmoke]

Not to be too much of an instigator, but Shilala SELLS beads doesn't he? I know if I were going to sell something of this nature, I'd do a study that favors my product too. It wouldn't make sense to say kitty litter is the same thing, now buy my beads.

I usually try not to take sides with this kinda stuff 'cause it can have an effect on some good people and their living. Silica gel's main purpose in industry is as a dessicant, not to humidify. On any manufacturer's site you'll notice the stated purpose is generally moisture control in the form of absorption. As stated in an earlier post though, it reaches equilibrium around 67-70 percent. You control the level by how much of the beads are saturated and how much you keep dry. Keep more beads dry and you get slightly lower RH, keep more saturated and you get slightly higher RH. The rest is error of the hygrometer.

I gotta take a side here though and say that I've been using Exquisicat Pearl Fresh for a year or so now both in containers and in 4 separate active devices by replacing the gardener's foam they come with with kitty litter beads. I've never had to replace the beads, they've worked flawlessly now for a year with no reason to replace them in the near future.

I saw someone mention PG solution, and you do NOT wanna put anything on the beads other than distilled water. Anything else and you screw up the effectiveness of the beads. Distilled water will keep them as clean as you need them forever, barring you don't throw smokes in your humi that already have mold on them.

Kitty litter has worked just fine for over a year with the same beads. No mold, no loss in effectiveness. In fact, when putting them in a Hydra or Oasis you'll notice you can put more water in the resevior than with foam, prolly due to the extra air space between the beads. In a well sealed humi in the dead of winter with the forced air heat at 70 I add water about every 3 weeks or longer, depending on how much I open the doors.

In the 150 qt cooler I have a half cup of litter that rarely needs charging since I don't open the door often.

I use litter because it's economical and from what i've found on the web, there's no manufacturer making silica gel to control humidity within 2% difference for different beads.

As far as pricing goes, where can you find kitty litter silica pearls for 7 bucks for 8lbs? The exquisicat plastic jug is no more from Petsmart or any other B&M pet shop by me. Can't even get it online at Petsmart anymore. The only thing I've seen under that brand name is a 8lb bag for 20 bucks plus shipping.

Lemme know where we can get it for 7 bucks or so for the jug tho... I know some people at work that are on the fence about this and were just gonna do a group buy on a couple bags. Buying 8lbs of HF beads @30 bucks a pound makes it 240.00 bucks... kinda a deal killer compared to 7 bucks or even 20 for that matter.

One year, no problems.

[slyder]

and now the 5 posts saying how it wont work!!