Heartfelt Tubes – A Question

[typan]

For the bead tubes that Heartfelt sells, does anyone have any recommendations on how to add water to them? I got an eye-dropper and some distilled water & was thinking of taking off the cap and just adding drops of water.

Not sure how much to add, though (I have some 4 Oz and 2 Oz tubes) nor how to tell if I have enough as I can’t see through the tubes. I will go with trial & error for now, but if anyone has another method/tips I am all ears.

Thanks,
Tim

[IHT]

if you've got a humidor that's at the correct RH, just toss it in there until you're ready to use it.

i keep my climmax and heartfelt tubes in my standard humidor in the singles drawers...

but, if you feel you must add distilled water to them, that is a way to do it, but do not add much. maybe spread out 10 small drops from the eyedropper.

i'd just set it in the humidor as close to your humidification device as possible for a day.

[MikeZ]

A couple of tablespoons is all you need for the smaller tubes. I usually just slowly pour water into the end of the tube - but it does cause the beads to fracture into dust. I've heard that using a small spray bottle is the best way to gently add water to the beads. Or, you can indirectly add water by placing a small container with water next to the tubes. The dried out beads will absorb the water from the container - although it's pretty slow.

[Danimal]

Use a spray bottle.

[Hammerhead]

Typan, I keep a medium sized Ziplok bag containing a damp sponge nearby, and when the tubes look like they need a little charging, I drop 'em in there for a day or so and they're good to go. This way, there are no concerns over craked beads or whether I have pure enough distilled water, because the evaporate is always pure as the beads 'inhale' the moisture.

By the way, I make a point of having an extra set to rotate out, so that I always have one set of tubes conditioning my humidor, and another backup set being humidified and ready to go.

[Lamar]

The Ziplock is a GREAT idea.

[opus]

Originally Posted by Danimal

Use a spray bottle.

This seems to work well for me.

[Mindflux]

I did mine by pouring a tsp in one end, capping it, flipping it over and doing the same in the other end.

I didn't notice any fracturing going on.. but I certainly don't WANT it to happen either.

[Nely]

Originally Posted by Mindflux

I did mine by pouring a tsp in one end, capping it, flipping it over and doing the same in the other end.

I didn't notice any fracturing going on.. but I certainly don't WANT it to happen either.

I believe Dave from Heartfelt Industries recommends the tablespoon method to slowly add water. How much? You'll know when all the beads turn clear, thats the sign that they absorbed the water.

[par]

Follow-up: Will a cracked bead function less well than a whole bead?

[opus]

Originally Posted by par

Follow-up: Will a cracked bead function less well than a whole bead?

According to viper, they will still function perfectly. The pieces might fall through the cracks in the tube though.

[MikeZ]

Originally Posted by par

Follow-up: Will a cracked bead function less well than a whole bead?

Cracked beads work exactly the same. It's just that can get messy if you use the tubes as the tiny particles and dust from the beads will fall through the tube material and into the bottom of your humi.

[MikeZ]

Beaten to the punch!

[Hammerhead]

Originally Posted by MikeZ

It's just that can get messy if you use the tubes as the tiny particles and dust from the beads will fall through the tube material and into the bottom of your humi.

Yup. That's why I went to the Ziplok method. I was finding little fragments and shards of beads on my cigars, and at the bottom of the humidor. Using the bag/sponge method assures that the beads will absorb only as much as they need, and only as fast as they can handle it, because there's no direct physical contact.

[Lamar]

Originally Posted by Hammerhead

Yup. That's why I went to the Ziplok method. I was finding little fragments and shards of beads on my cigars, and at the bottom of the humidor. Using the bag/sponge method assures that the beads will absorb only as much as they need, and only as fast as they can handle it, because there's no direct physical contact.

How long does it take to charge your beads this way?