Beads experiment #1

[veteranvmb]

I am one to be open to alternatives. I do perfectly fine with my credos, but when I recently had to order some accessories, I purchased 2 bags of 2 oz beads to test.

I took a 20 count humidor, that is now empty of cigars. It has been empty for about 2 weeks and the rh has crept up to 72. No big deal, it would have dropped if I added some cigars, or just left in this low humidity and in a day or two, It would have regulated back down to its normal 66.

I put 2 oz of beads in it, in a ceramic ramekin, and covered with panythouse. I had wettened the beads about 70 percent or so and placed in humidor.

We will see what happens. I am hoping for perfection at 70 rh, for weeks at a time.

If I achieve this, I will convert all to beads. If not, no problem. LOL I am hopeing to be one of those"bead guys" who responding to rh questions with the normal response of "switch to beads" LOL

I wait with bated breath.

Much regards Jerry

[Tarks]

What kind of beads do you have Jerry?

[veteranvmb]

Originally Posted by Tarks

What kind of beads do you have Jerry?

I am not sure. I purchased this small item as part of a much larger order from cigarextras.com

They tell me its 70 rh beads when I spoke with them.
The instructions say to saturate the beads, and then drain, but I didnt follow that, and wetted about 70 percent, as I see in most instructions for beads.

anything I am doing wrong, please let me know please.

Thanks for responding Jerry

[jadeg001]

Good luck Jerry. I just bought 2lbs of beads (a little overkill, but what the hell?). The first day my humis spiked in humidity, but they seem to have settled now. It didnt help that all of the sudden one of my digital hydro's that was 15% off all of the sudden seemed to fix itself...

[Tarks]

Well, there are many different types of beads that are available (kitty litter, Shilala, Heartfelt etc) and from my understanding some work better than others.

The most popular type seems to be the Heartfelt beads. I have 1lb of the 65% Heartfelts. I keep 1/2lb in each of my 50qt coolers and they work like a charm. You say "I am hoping for perfection at 70 rh, for weeks at a time". Well my beads only need hydrating every 3 - 4 months! And I am in my coolers several times a day.

[veteranvmb]

Originally Posted by Tarks

Well, there are many different types of beads that are available (kitty litter, Shilala, Heartfelt etc) and from my understanding some work better than others.

The most popular type seems to be the Heartfelt beads. I have 1lb of the 65% Heartfelts. I keep 1/2lb in each of my 50qt coolers and they work like a charm. You say "I am hoping for perfection at 70 rh, for weeks at a time". Well my beads only need hydrating every 3 - 4 months! And I am in my coolers several times a day.

I prefer to keep my expectations low, so I am not disappointed. LOL If I got one month of carefree rh, I would be overwhlemingly happy. Then I will try on one of my 150 counts full of cigars.
I have kept this empty, in anticipation of receiving a "special box" of cigars.

Regards Jerry

[RobustBrad]

I'll be buying some some 65% beads from Heartfelt myself. Thinking about two pounds for my Trivoli.

Cheers,
Brad

[smokin nightly]

I dont know about the beads you are using Jerry, but I have Heartfelt beads and They are 65 percent...I havent Put distilled water in my beads in at least 2 months...This is because it has been fairly humid here already so they dont dry out as fast. In the Winter when the air is dryer in the house They usually only need refilling every 3 to 4 weeks...Just get them from Heartfelt and ou wont ever have to worry about your levels...This may sound unbelievable but, they really do work like magic! you can calibrate your hygrometers to them, seriously...

[Herf N Turf]

Heartfelts are the standard by which other beads are judged. Read every single post on here and they will tell you, "almost as good as heartfelt", or "as good as..." whatever.

Im dubious when I read a recommendation to "saturate and drain". This would seem to me to rinse the regulating salts from the beads and leave nothing buy silica. That would mean an RH of over 70%. That is, if they have any on them to begin with :/

[veteranvmb]

Day two of experiment. The rh in the humidor has gone from 72rh up to 73 rh. Not happy so far.

Jerry

[jadeg001]

Originally Posted by veteranvmb

Day two of experiment. The rh in the humidor has gone from 72rh up to 73 rh. Not happy so far.

Jerry

Give it a couple more days. Mine have settled after a few days.

[Jumes]

Jerry I am still new to all this but bought 8 oz of beads and did some experimenting myself. At the time the house humidity was higher than it is now and I moistened my beads as instructed and waited. After several days it was not going down so I took them out and put in some that had not been moistened. Within two days they had taken the moisture out and it maintains around 65-68 without any problem. ( I bought 65% beads). I think they make a mistake in telling you to moisten the beads without first checking your humidors humidity levels. If you want to speed the process up a bit I would try your other bag of beads without wetting them. Also if you have your beads in a ramekin there shouldn't be any need to cover them with the panty hose. Just my 2 cents.

[veteranvmb]

Originally Posted by Jumes

JI would try your other bag of beads without wetting them. Also if you have your beads in a ramekin there shouldn't be any need to cover them with the panty hose. Just my 2 cents.

Thanks for responding. I will be patient a little while first. I keep the pantyhose on, as I tend to move my humidors as they are stacked and I dont want the beads to fall out if I tilt the humidor by mistake.
I once had a travel credo with beads in it, and it broke on top of my laptop about two months ago, and still dont have all the beads out. LOL I am making sure they will stay in place.

Jerry

[smokin nightly]

Also, sorry if I sound like a commercial...Heartfelt even gave me a free mesh bag when I bought my beads...This was awhile ago so Im not sure if they do that now...AND they got it to me in like 3 days I believe...Totally satisfied with this product! I dont even know what propelene Glycol is anymore...I mean, it doesnt get anymore simple.

[jadeg001]

Originally Posted by smokin nightly

Also, sorry if I sound like a commercial...Heartfelt even gave me a free mesh bag when I bought my beads...This was awhile ago so Im not sure if they do that now...AND they got it to me in like 3 days I believe...Totally satisfied with this product! I dont even know what propelene Glycol is anymore...I mean, it doesnt get anymore simple.

I don't think they give out free bags anymore. I just bought 2lbs, and didn't get one.