Hate to beat a dead horse, but ... salt test question

[stogsmokr]

I’ve done a little research and I am finding some conflicting information about how much water to use in the salt test. I bring this up because I get different readings if I (i) just dampen the salt with a few drops of water and (ii) add enough water so the solution is mostly water on top and salt crystals on the bottom.

Does anyone have a definitive answer?

Finally, I’ve read a couple of threads that say you should use kosher salt. Is that important?

Here is what I found on the Club Stogie Forum:

– “Be sure the salt is thoroughly wetted, but not dissolved.”

– “You know you got the salt right when you can tip the cap upside down and neither salt nor water falls or drips down,”

– “I would just add that the salt solution only has to be saturated, which can look like mostly water with undissolved salt on the bottom, it doesn't have to look pasty.”

– “[make sure] that there was water floating on top of the salt paste. If you stirred it up, it would disappear for a while, then form back.”

– “The key on the ziplock is making sure the salt is not soaked ( because the ambient air could be higher than 75% depending upon the time of year and a/c in the house and you don't want the salt to be saturated so the reading goes too high.)”

…and on a Google search:

http://www.cigarsinternational.com/h...okies=disabled
“Dampen the salt with water. Do not put so much in that the salt gets ‘sloppy’.”

http://www.cigardiary.com/index.php?...=view&FAQ_id=7
“Make the salt damp with water (don't soak the salt completely)”

http://www.coscosci.com/barometric/hygrometers.htm
“Place a teaspoon or so of salt in the shallow container and add a few drops of water - just enough to get it wet.”

http://www.neptunecigar.com/faq/cigars.asp?a=4&q=32
“Place a teaspoon of salt in a bottle cap or small cup and dampen it with a few drops of water (without dissolving it)”

http://www.akroncigarclub.com/Docume...libration.html
“Slowly add the distilled water to the salt, mixing with the small stirrer, just until the salt becomes a very thick slurry. DO NOT add too much water, because this will throw off the results of the test.”

No wonder the chimp is confused. Having never run a salt test on my 3 electronic htdrometers, I can't guess the right answer. I generally place all three of mine in the same humi, and if they all three read the same after an hour, I kinda figure they are all three correct. Thank goodness I don't have to run a salt test, cause I can see where I would also be confused.

On the bright side, nice to have a newbie aboard that knows how to use a search function. Have to give him a little [SIZE=4]BUMP[/SIZE] for the effort in research and information presentation.

[stogsmokr]

Originally Posted by SvilleKid

Have to give him a little [SIZE=4]BUMP[/SIZE] for the effort...

I don't know what a [SIZE=4]BUMP[/SIZE] is, but thank you.

[illuminatus]

A bump is what you just got two of. In answer to your question.. Well, I've never used a salt test. BUT, I have heartfelt's 65% beads, and my hygro reads 65% dead on, and the cigars smoke well, so I'm happy. My honest answer would be that you should go buy some of heartfelt's beads, and not have to worry anymore, as they're always accurate.

[stogsmokr]

Even better. Now I get it.

Per the recommendation of several posts, I purchased the beads and they are in my humidor. I still wasn't getting enough humidity because there was a small gap in the front of the humidor. I think I have that problem fixed, but I want to be sure.

I guess I can use the beads to test the hygrometer...

[al two]

done it a couple times with my digital. it was way off, then one day it got whacked and went to dead on. oh well whatever. but anyway, i just did one for a buddy of mine with a crappy analog. i just put it in a gatorade cap and just kinda add both to get a good mixture. should be pasty, and when you stir it with a stick you should be able to see a little water slosh around.

i don't know how you can screw it up, like if you do something wrong it'll give you an off reading. i guess just try it. it doesn't take a lot of effort or time, and there's nothing really to ruin.

good luck. and the beads are definately the way to go.

[holdd]

save the hassle and the heartache and buy a digital unless you bought one of the expensive analog ones they arent very accurate. otherwise the one Ive done is with a wet cloth, u take and wet a cloth in distilled water wring it out wrap it around the hygrometer let it set for 6 hrs or so when u unwrap it it should read 95%

[SeanGAR]

All you need is a saturated salt solution. This means salt plus water and excess salt that is not dissolved. Me, I make distilled water hot in the micowave, pour in a crapload of salt, and let it cool. I don't make it a paste .... it doesn't have to be a paste .. all you need is saturated salt. You look for undissolved salt ... undissolved salt after several hours for equilibrium = saturated salt.

Some of the quotes are wrong (you don't want the salt to be saturated so the reading goes too high, for example). You can't add too much water as long as there is undissolved salt at equilibrium ... since that means the solution is saturated.

I use saturated salt solutions to controll humidity for work and have humidity meters at work that run 3 grand a piece, I've published papers on humidity effects on food quality, so I know what I'm talking about.

[SeanGAR]

And as a general guideline, a saturated salt solution at room temperature is approximately 26% (weight per volume, 26grams of salt per 100 ml). Dissolving salt into hot water, which has a higher % solubility for salt, until no more dissolves then cooling is the fastest way to ensure your solution is saturated.

[Viper139]

Originally Posted by al two

...done it a couple times with my digital. it was way off, then one day it got whacked and went to dead on. oh well whatever...

I'll have to add this to my website for methods to calibrate your hygrometer.

"Hold the hygrometer 3 feet off the ground and drop on hard surface"