40 years smoking, 1st time humidor question

[veteranvmb]

Hello to all>
I have been smoking cigars for forty years, but recently purchased my first humidor. Being in the military , never had much time to take care of anything frivalous. Purchased a few at a time,always in a tube, and stuck them where I could.
Having recently retired and now able to actually collect and age some cigars, I recently purchased a beautiful venetian red hunidor from cigarextras. It holds about 125 cigars. I have seasoned it, and did everthing the instructions say. The large faced outside facing hygrometer is suppossedly pre adjusted, and cant be adjusted.
Heres the question. The humidor seems to be pretty solid and air tight, using the greenback test, and the flashlight test.
I have the credo filled with 50/50. After a few days the hygrometer has settled on anywhere between 62 to 66 during the day. But as soon as I turn the air conditioner on late in the afternoon, it drops down in about fifteen minutes to around 59.
The humidor is on the opposite end of room, and not in the draft or anything.If a humido is doing a good job, should it be so reactive withing half an hour to an air conditioning unit being turned on.
Anything I can do to get it up to around seventy where it should be?
I ordered the caliber 3 hygrometer and it should be arriving tomorrow, and will make sure its calibrated correct, and will compare it to the existing hygrometer.
Open for any comments or suggestions. An extra credo, or those crystals perhaps. I only have about ten cigars in the humidor at the moment, but I have about fifty cigars on order from jr cigars, and looking to put them in humidor without fear of ruining them.

Much regards to all

[Nickerson]

59% won't ruin a cigar but it may be too dry. Most store between 60% to 70%. They say 70% is best, but I know a lot of people prefer 65%.

Air conditioners do remove humidity from the air, that's why window units drip water outside. It would either seem your opening it too much maybe or the seal isn't so great. Or it could be possible that the cold air is just messing with the Hygrometer, hard to say.

Sounds like humidity beads could really help you out.

Heartfelt Industries, Heartfelt Cigar Humidor Humidity Beads, Heartfelt Beads, Humidors, Quality Cigar Accessories

I'm about to pick some of these up myself. They are beads made of Silica gel that is scientifically engineered to hold exactly that much humidity. They offer 60%, 65% and 70%. If the humidity is lower than what they are made for, the release moisture. If the humidity is higher than what they are made for, then they can absorb the excess moisture.

They have charts on their site to find out how much you need for your humidor, since its based off size.

I need 4oz for mine, since its a 250-300 count humidor. I'll be buying a half pound which is 8oz. Also going to get a squirt bottle, 2 mesh bags, and a digital hygrometer.

If the humidity truly is being effected by your air conditioner, than these beads should really help.

Welcome to Puff, home you stick around.

[madurolover]

Was gonna answer but I think Cory covered about everything you need to know about your situation.

[Nickerson]

Originally Posted by madurolover

Was gonna answer but I think Cory covered about everything you need to know about your situation.

Reported for spam, get out now! Haha Donnie.

Prior to my first humidor which I just purchased I read up on a lot of different things about humidors and humidification solutions. So they are all pretty fresh in my memory.

Its actually a lot of fun learning about this stuff.

[Tarks]

Is it possible the humi is leaking from the hygrometer?

[veteranvmb]

Thanks for getting back so fast. I understand the principal with an a/c compressor taking humidity out of the air. But if the humidor has a good seal, why should it be affected.
Also the credo thats in there with the 50/50 solution. Isnt that suppossed to regulate the rh to 70 percent, using almost the same principal as the material you said you were going to get?
If I go that route, do I substitue the new stuff for the existing credo, or do I use them in conjunction?
I smoked my first Rocky Patel 1990 churchill today. Burned for about an hour and 3/4. I thought it was a great smoke. Its great finally having the time to smoke one cigar for close to two hours. Retirement is great. LOL
Since I am new to the varieties, I have ordered five packs of about ten different types. Macanudos, romeo y julieta, montycristo, rocky patel, parataga, acid, uppman,gurkas and a few more. Looking forward to my one cigar a day, and finding out what I really like.

Much regards Jerry

[Nickerson]

Originally Posted by Tarks

Is it possible the humi is leaking from the hygrometer?

Depends. I would assume that the seal is solid. They usually test for that. Its usually cut to fit the hygrometer perfectly. That with the fact it has glue inside of it, usually provides a rock solid seal.

Similar to the question "Does glass top humidors effect the humidity?".

[madurolover]

Originally Posted by veteranvmb

Thanks for getting back so fast. I understand the principal with an a/c compressor taking humidity out of the air. But if the humidor has a good seal, why should it be affected.
Also the credo thats in there with the 50/50 solution. Isnt that suppossed to regulate the rh to 70 percent, using almost the same principal as the material you said you were going to get?

Jerry, the beads Cory mentioned are preconditioned to a certain humidity. They will release moisture if the humidity drops too low and they will absorb humidity if it gets too high.

Originally Posted by veteranvmb

If I go that route, do I substitue the new stuff for the existing credo, or do I use them in conjunction?

You do not want to use them together. The PG solution will cause the pores of the beads to get clogged up and render them ineffective.

Originally Posted by veteranvmb

I smoked my first Rocky Patel 1990 churchill today. Burned for about an hour and 3/4. I thought it was a great smoke. Its great finally having the time to smoke one cigar for close to two hours. Retirement is great. LOL
Since I am new to the varieties, I have ordered five packs of about ten different types. Macanudos, romeo y julieta, montycristo, rocky patel, parataga, acid, uppman,gurkas and a few more. Looking forward to my one cigar a day, and finding out what I really like.

Much regards Jerry

Just make sure you keep the Acids seperated from the regular cigars unless you want them all infused.

Happy smoking friend and congrats on the retirement.

[Nickerson]

Originally Posted by veteranvmb

Thanks for getting back so fast. I understand the principal with an a/c compressor taking humidity out of the air. But if the humidor has a good seal, why should it be affected.
Also the credo thats in there with the 50/50 solution. Isnt that suppossed to regulate the rh to 70 percent, using almost the same principal as the material you said you were going to get?
If I go that route, do I substitue the new stuff for the existing credo, or do I use them in conjunction?
I smoked my first Rocky Patel 1990 churchill today. Burned for about an hour and 3/4. I thought it was a great smoke. Its great finally having the time to smoke one cigar for close to two hours. Retirement is great. LOL
Since I am new to the varieties, I have ordered five packs of about ten different types. Macanudos, romeo y julieta, montycristo, rocky patel, parataga, acid, uppman,gurkas and a few more. Looking forward to my one cigar a day, and finding out what I really like.

Much regards Jerry

Haha, sounds like a lot of fun. I could give you a list of some killer smokes to try. Its always fun trying new brands and being a judge.

Check out my Cheap Smoke Guide to find some nice inexpensive smokes, and also a list of some of the online retailers and what kind of special offers they have that make them good.

As for your problem

Yes, the Propylene Glycol 50/50 solution SHOULD release the necessary moisture if it is under the RH (relative humidity) that the solution supports, which is usually 70%.

If you get beads DO NOT use them in conjunction with another humidity solution such as 50/50 solution in floral foam. Those beads are made to function perfectly on their own.

The difference between the beads and the 50/50 is that beads can adjust what level of humidity you want by purchasing different humidity level beads, beads also release the solution faster than 50/50 solution in floral foam, and unlike 50/50 solution, it can also absorb excess humidity.

As for WHY its being effected by your AC, I'm not to sure. There's a number of possibility. I think its most likely that your hygrometer may just be reacting to the cold temperature giving an inaccurate reading. In other words, your humidity is probably fine. You don't have a humidity problem but a hygrometer problem.

Electronic ones are more stable and more accurate. I'm picking one up when I get my beads.

[Herf N Turf]

You guys were soooo close and Tarks was closest, but no one has yet cracked the code!

Other than that, the advice on beads and infuseds is sage.

It's not the humi that's leaking! It's that front-mounted hygro. Sure, the thing is factory calibrated, but the seals on those things are anything but perfect. I will bet dollars to donuts (or PAMs to dogrockets), that when he gets his caiber III and gets it dialed in, he will find that the inside of his humi doesnt move due to the AC, but that his outboard hygro DOES!

veteranvmb,

Now that I've shelled my very loved and respected BOTLs here , thank you for your service. I think your humi is just fine and that this will be marked when you get your Caliber III up and running. As my friends have said, dont use PG with beads. Just distilled water and let the beads do the regulating.

For best results, get your humi as full as you can. Keep it at least 50% full at all times. Keep "flavored" cigars completely out of it. If you must smoke those chit-sticks, get another humi for them.

[zipa]

Originally Posted by Herf N Turf

It's not the humi that's leaking! It's that front-mounted hygro.

This is my guess as well. Even if the humi would have a leak, it would take way longer for the humidity to drop that much, given that the cigars and the wood in the humidor itself are holding quite a bit of moisture. For such a rapid drop, the leak would have to be clearly visible.

[veteranvmb]

Thanks everyone for all the help and advice. I had two orders suppossed to arrive by ups today. I know see my order for jr cigars(cigars and the caliber 3) will be delayed a day or two. Ups claims there is an exception. They say the wrong zip code is on the address. Yet when I look at the jr site, my mailing address is correct and jr says they do not change it upon mailing. I guess I will have to wait till I get the package to see what is up with it, and to check on my hydrometer.
Another package I got(and please dont laugh) is a package from thompson. I couldnt turn down a deal they had. For 25 bucks, including shipping, they are sending me that small cherrywood humidor that supposed to hold from anywher 25-40 cigars depending on which thompson ad you are looking at, plus a cheap lighter and 25 cheapo cigars. This would be for my cheapo friends when they come to visit to smoke my cigars. LOL. I am retired, they should be buying me cigars.
The way I see it, the 125 count humidor I have now, will quickly fill, so the xtra one for 25 bucks, couldnt be resisted.
I looked at all the thompson cigar deals in their catalogue, and if you dissect most of them, they are charging you more then you should, espedially if you break down the prices and compare to jr cigars. In fact, from about 7 online cigar vendors, it seems jr is the least expensive, and same day shipping.
Anything wrong with jr cigars? Or can they be depended on them?
There is a jr store about 15 miles from where I live, I think one day I will visit, but I am getting lazy these days.
Much regards Jerry

[veteranvmb]

As an addendum, I received the 25 smokes from Thompson( 5 varieties)
They came nice and proper hardness. I unpacked and uncellophaned them to put in humido. I took a smell of each one. I was aghast. LOL I couldnt quite place the smell. I smelled them a few times.
My better half just came home from the market and I said "honey, smell these cigars. I know the smell real well I just cant identify it. It smells like something so familiar around the house or property" she took one whiff of the cigar and immediately identified it. They smelled exactly like the "droppings" of our horses. Like the manure pile exactly. I wonder if they will smoke that way.
Perhaps a few years of aging will temper it a bit. I am afraid to light one up. Might be good for the mosquitoes as a repellant.

Much regards Jerry

[madurolover]

Originally Posted by veteranvmb

As an addendum, I received the 25 smokes from Thompson( 5 varieties)
They came nice and proper hardness. I unpacked and uncellophaned them to put in humido. I took a smell of each one. I was aghast. LOL I couldnt quite place the smell. I smelled them a few times.
My better half just came home from the market and I said "honey, smell these cigars. I know the smell real well I just cant identify it. It smells like something so familiar around the house or property" she took one whiff of the cigar and immediately identified it. They smelled exactly like the "droppings" of our horses. Like the manure pile exactly. I wonder if they will smoke that way.
Perhaps a few years of aging will temper it a bit. I am afraid to light one up. Might be good for the mosquitoes as a repellant.

Much regards Jerry

LOL Jerry, if you do a search for "barnyard" you will find that it is actually a good thing.

JR's is a very good online shop as well as actual storefront. If you get the chance to go, do it. You will be amazed at the selection.

[piperdown]

If you have the glass hygrometer that's seen from the outside then the AC is causing the problems. Temperature effects the rH readings since relative humidity is a function of both temperature and absolute moisture content of the surrounding air.