Pocket Humidor Help!!!

[Cigar Lover 101]

I own and use quite extensively for over four years a pocket humidor made by some company called "Havana Humidor" that is telescopic, three ring, etc..

I've just recently came back from a trip and notice that the sponge has lots of tiny black dots on it.

I have used it in the past for business trips and never had a problem.

I'd take a picture of it, but my camera is pretty crappy. Just picture a small sponge with tiny black dots.

Should I replace the sponge? I've never had to before and wonder if I even can. Do I have to cut a regular sponge down to fit the specific size?

Should I just go out and buy a new one?

I'm just worried these black dots might be something else.

Any advice would really help.

BTW, when recharging the sponge with distilled water I always wipe away the excess water, and I even use an eye dropper to add the distilled water to the sponge so I don't add too much.

[NCRadioMan]

Sounds like mold. Get some floral foam and cut to fit. How long do you typically use the unit?


FYI: If you can still find these they have the Havana cutter attached on the back.

[Smoked]

It sounds like mold.

[taltos]

I agree with those spots probably being mold. Instead of floral foam, I might consider using a piece of a new sponge that has been treated with Microban which might resist the formation of mold.

[skibumdc]

It's absolutely Mold.
Can you make a small ball out of panty hose and put some Beads in it?

That's way better than foam.

[RonC]

get rid of the foam. Use a Humidipak.

[SUOrangeGuy]

I had the same pocket humidor and replaced the sponge with a tiny amount of beads in a piece of new stocking. Fits inside the frame that holds the sponge.

[Cigar Lover 101]

Thanks for all your input.

Yeah, it was mold.

I'm kinda worried about putting new cigars back in. It's got a weird smell. I think I will gently wipe the entire humidor interior with isopropyl alcohol as suggested by one website I came across.

I did manage to take out the sponge. I also went to La Casa Del Habano yesterday to get some new cedar strips to replace my old ones.

I know this might sound funny but I'm having a hard time finding a place to get a sponge. Most are not the right kind. Another problem is most sponges I've ran into are yellow in color, which sucks because if it ever gets mold again, it will be hard to tell since mold sometimes shows up as yellow. I've also found some sponges in blue.

Humidipak's are great, but are not practical for my needs.

I think I will go with the beads idea. Does anyone have suggestions as to roughly how many beads to add? I've never used beads before but I have read up on the subject in the past, actually on CS, and I hear Viper beads by Heartfelt Industries are a good brand.

Again, I have never bought beads before. Does anyone have suggestions as to which ones I should buy? 60 RH, 65 RH or 70 RH? I mostly smoke Cuban Bolivar's and Hoyo's and I like my cigars to be a bit softer with an easy slightly loose draw. Hope that info helps.

Anyway, sorry for such a long post but I actually like my Havana Pocket Humidor, even if the humidity indicator isn't always accurate, as I have bought a single cigar once at a local B & M that was very dry. Left it in there for a few hours and it brought the back to life. So any way to save it is my ultimate goal.

Thanks.