Humi & "Restoration" - Save My Stogies!

[Southfield]

(Sorry for this long post, but please read as there are some good sticks in danger!)

Okay so here's the situation...

About 2 months ago I bought a very nice Savoy Humidor...



...and love it to death. Now, there's a few questions I have and a small problem...


Question 1: When filling the humidifier I soak it in distilled water until there are no more bubbles correct? Then take it out shake it off and let it drip dry before putting it in my humidor. Right so far? (As a sidenote.. I submerged the humidifier underwater about 2-3 hours ago. Is this any problem at all?)

Question 2: From what I understand the best settings to have are 70/70 right? However, there's a special circumstance... which leads me to my problem...

*Problem*: For the past 4-5 months I've had my cigars (about 20-30 of them) in two small wood humidor boxes, the kind cigars come in fresh at the shop. My cigar shop sells them for $2 a piece, so I had to pick them up and along with them I got two "water pillows". I soaked the water pillows and put them each in the boxes. So, for the past 4-5 months my cigars have sat in these boxes seemingly perfect. Well, I didn't smoke or even look at them for about a month and come to find out the water pillows have run dry and now my cigars feel somewhat brittle. I can squeeze them without them cracking, but I *definitely* hear a crunchy, cracky sound like if I squeezed any harder they start to flake.

They're crisp but I HOPE not beyond repair! So... brothers, help me! What do you suggest I do from here?? I still have the humidifier that came with the Savoy Humidor soaking in the distilled water, so what now? Take it out, dry it and let it sit in the humidor until the aggrometer reads 70? See, I was thinking that because my cigars are crisp I'd want a little higher than 70 to compensate for the lack of care and water they've had recently. Any ideas at all here boys?

[68TriShield]

Re-moisten everything then get a digital hygrometer.Go from there...

[Southfield]

Originally Posted by 68TriShield

Re-moisten everything then get a digital hygrometer.Go from there...

I've got a Hygrometer, just not a thermometer. What do you recommend I shoot for are far as humidity goes?

And when you say "Re-moisten everything..." what exactly is everything? Throw an extra humidifier in there? I plan on putting the pillow and another humidifier I've got in there until it gets up to at least 72-73. From there though... any suggestions? Is saving my cigars a lost cause at this point?

[DETROITPHA357]

Originally Posted by 68TriShield

Re-moisten everything then get a digital hygrometer.Go from there...

I agree... ReDo RDo.

[palm55]

I would agree... Re-do the process.

But I (humbly) would add that you may want to consider 1/4 pound of beads from either Heartfelt or Cigarmony. These things will equalize your box humidity regardless of ambient RH. And this is especially important if you're ambient is undergoing a seasonal change.

[jkim05]

I don't think you should have to worry about trying to get the humidity up beyond 70 because as the cigars absorb the humidity they will be trying to get up to that level anyways. The problem you had was that those cigar boxes are not airtight, so they were not maintaining humidity. I think the best thing you could do is to slowly bring up the humidity in the cigars so you won't damage them. Put them in the humidor with the water pillows and let the humidity slowly come up. Once the humidity in the humidor stabilizes add the other humidifier. The other thing I would advise is to make sure you really shake off the humidifier well, you don't want water dripping on your cigars. Other than that I think you should be fine, although I would advise salt testing your hygrometer once you stabilize your cigars. I think the most important thing would be to get them to a reasonable humidity level.

[Southfield]

Originally Posted by palm55

I would agree... Re-do the process.

But I (humbly) would add that you may want to consider 1/4 pound of beads from either Heartfelt or Cigarmony. These things will equalize your box humidity regardless of ambient RH. And this is especially important if you're ambient is undergoing a seasonal change.

Just how important are these though? Should I leave my brittling-by-the-day stogies still to sit in the wooden boxes with the newly refilled water pillows ... or ... at least attempt to bring the hygrometer up to around 70 then transfer them into the big Savoy humidor?

[Southfield]

Originally Posted by jkim05

I don't think you should have to worry about trying to get the humidity up beyond 70 because as the cigars absorb the humidity they will be trying to get up to that level anyways. The problem you had was that those cigar boxes are not airtight, so they were not maintaining humidity. I think the best thing you could do is to slowly bring up the humidity in the cigars so you won't damage them. Put them in the humidor with the water pillows and let the humidity slowly come up. Once the humidity in the humidor stabilizes add the other humidifier. The other thing I would advise is to make sure you really shake off the humidifier well, you don't want water dripping on your cigars. Other than that I think you should be fine, although I would advise salt testing your hygrometer once you stabilize your cigars. I think the most important thing would be to get them to a reasonable humidity level.

Alright, thank you VERY much for the information. I can already see, however, that I have much to learn about a humidor. I don't even know what salt testing is Is there some type of "Newbie's Guide to a Humidor" that I can read up on?

[mosesbotbol]

Just use the humidor as it is supposed to be used and check up on at least once a week. It will all equal out and humidors work better when they are full.

As for your brittle cigars; it could be too late for them, but only your palette can tell. Just keep on top of the humidor and cigars and you're all set.

I have never used the beads, but many say they are fantastic. I have used a diamond crown element and it was flawless.

Good luck, and do not rush the seasoning process. Time and vigilance will prevail in your case.

[jkim05]

here's a link to a site that has info on humidors and salt calibration of hygrometers. http://www.stogieguys.com/2006/07/st...tion-test.html
pm me if you have any more questions, not an expert by any stretch of the imagination, but I have been told I have an uncanny ability to organize and disseminate information, so I'd be plenty willing to share all of the knowledge about cigars and humidors I've acquired recently.

[john51277]

You submerged the whole humi under water for hours?????

[Southfield]

Originally Posted by john51277

You submerged the whole humi under water for hours?????

....maybe I had a typo somewhere?? I may have a low post count but I'm not quite as profoundly retarded as you might have assumed

[jkim05]

well, maybe if it was completely waterproof...nope still doesn't make that right.
lol.

[dstaccone]

I just wanted to add to the debate that you shouldn't make your humi higher than 70 %. If I were you I would rehumidify the crackling sticks slowly so they don't swell and crack. Just my Good luck

[Boston_Dude05]

Clarifying questions. How come the cigars weren't in the Savoy but in the cigar boxes for the last several months? Why are you soaking the humidifier in distilled water now? Presumably if you bought it 2 mos ago you'd already be using it? Am I missing something?