Beads - 65% or 70% RH?

[maduromojo-cl]

I've been reading all the good things about beads, so I'm going to season and humidifiy a 620 cu. in. humidor with them. I've always heard the 70/70 rule but it seems most of the Brothers using 65% beads. Why not 70 beads? Cigars too wet?

Thanks,
John

[Mtmouse]

I find I have less issues with the burn at 65%.

[GatorMike]

Some feel that certain smokes don't burn well at 70% rh.

[canney]

I use the 65s

[Webmeister]

I think 70% is a little too much humidity for some sticks. I've been dry-boxing certain cigars for a few days before smoking them, and it's fixed some burn issues I had been experiencing. I plan to buy a bunch of 65% beads to throw in half of my humidors/tupperdors to see how that works.

[karmaz00]

ya agree, i have mine 65-68. its great

[Jughead]

If your aging boxes 70% is were you need to be. smoking to each there own.

[Dun killin time]

Originally Posted by Jughead

If your aging boxes 70% is were you need to be. smoking to each there own.

I keep my coolerdor and a small desktop at 70% (for aging).... and a 50 count desktop at 65% (I smoke out of it) I just keep a couple of most of what I got in the 50ct.

[terrasco-cl]

Originally Posted by Dun killin time

I keep my coolerdor and a small desktop at 70% (for aging).... and a 50 count desktop at 65% (I smoke out of it) I just keep a couple of most of what I got in the 50ct.

70% for aging and 65% for smoking.

[N2Advnture-cl]

It's definitely personal preference.

After switching to 65% nearly a decade ago, I found virtually zero burn & draw problems that can be attributed to storage and not construction.

I age in the low 60's (as many Hong Kong collectors do) and smoke at 65% RH.

I hope this helps

~Mark

[maduromojo-cl]

Now I'm curious as to why in Hong Kong they age in the low 60s and many here have said 70% RH.

This is from the Oliva site (olivacigar.com):

"Proper aging requires a designated humidor which will not be used for daily use. It should have a capacity that exceeds the amount of cigars to be aged by at least 20%. Cigars should be placed in the humidor without cellophane. Allow for space for the head and foot of the cigars evenly. The humidity source should be one that can exceed 70% humidity. Aging cigars should be kept at 70%-79% humidity depending on the thickness of the wrapper. Thicker wrapper require higher levels of humidity. Once desired age is achieved a cigar should be brought to 70% before smoking.

Recommended Aging
High Primes (Thicker Wrappers) Maduro/Habano/Corojo/Habano 2000/Criollo/Sumatra/3-7 years

2-3 Primes (Medium Wrappers) Low Primes/Ecuador Connecticut/2-5 years

1st Cut (Thinner Wrappers) USA Connecticut/Cameroon/1-4 years.
"

[Black Dog]

I switched from 70% to 65% a few years ago due to draw problems with some cigars. Haven't had an issue since. I haven't been at it long enough to know about the aging issue with 60-65-70 but I do have a personal belief regarding cigars prone to beetles. I live in a 140 year old house and it's hard to regulate temperature in the summer so sometimes my humi will get above 70 degrees. I feel that both high temp and high humidity are required for beetles to hatch. Keeping my cigars at 65% or less seems to have worked so far. Someday I'll have a temp controlled humi and that won't be an issue but I believe I'll still keep my cigars at 65% or less.

[stlcards]

65's in both humidors for me.

[N2Advnture-cl]

Originally Posted by maduromojo

Now I'm curious as to why in Hong Kong they age in the low 60s and many here have said 70% RH."

I am sure if you take a poll of collectors you'll find the low 60's is the norm. May be the difference between cc's and non-cc's though.

~M

[Architeuthis]

Between 55% and 60% RH for Squid, in both humidor and storage cooler. An exception is the little humidor which has only Lancero size sticks, which I try to keep around 65% RH.