Problem with humidity tube

[Giak]

I purchased a 2 Ounce 70% Rh Heartfelt Humidity Tube for my desktop humidor cause I heard very nice things about those tubes. But now that it's here I have a problem....as I took it I was able to hear the dry beads inside the tube when shaked. So I dipped it in distilled water for some minutes, but I was still able to hear dry beads. So I tried to let the tube staying immerse for 2 hours, nothing. Now its about 8 hours it is dip in the water and if I shake it sounds exactly like all the beads are dry.....

nsure:

[baboruger]

These beads do not expand when they adsorb the water, so you should always hear that sound I think. Mine just go from white to a clear color. So I don't think you have anything to worry about. Although, I'm not sure you should have submersed them in water...that might have been bad...I just spray mine with some mist...

Originally Posted by Giak

I purchased a 2 Ounce 70% Rh Heartfelt Humidity Tube for my desktop humidor cause I heard very nice things about those tubes. But now that it's here I have a problem....as I took it I was able to hear the dry beads inside the tube when shaked. So I dipped it in distilled water for some minutes, but I was still able to hear dry beads. So I tried to let the tube staying immerse for 2 hours, nothing. Now its about 8 hours it is dip in the water and if I shake it sounds exactly like all the beads are dry.....

nsure:

[earnold25-cl]

correct. these aren't really supposed to be immersed in water. You can crack the beads that way and they'll turn to dust, and fall out of the tube (if its the same kind I have).

Instead, you should place them in a sealed tupperware next to a dish or distilled water. Remove them from the tupperware when about 75% of the beads turn clear.

then you can put the tube in your humi. It should be able to control the humidity in there without recharging for quite some time (so long as your humi has a good seal)

[stig-cl]

The beads don't get mushy or anything when they're wet, they stay the same. They expand a liiittle bit, but the main thing is that they become clear.

Dipping them in water can also cause them to shatter, I found that out the hard way.

[tmoney]

I just got mine in the mail today, misted them with distilled water till most of the beads were clear. Took out the old humidifier, put in the tub and the RH has remained stable.

[iloveclmore]

You can also wet them by taking one of the end caps off. At least that way you can see what they look like wet or dry.

[earnold25-cl]

Originally Posted by tmoney

I just got mine in the mail today, misted them with distilled water till most of the beads were clear. Took out the old humidifier, put in the tub and the RH has remained stable.

I mist mine and they still crack. I'm just too lazy to do it the "proper" way.

[flathead59]

Originally Posted by Giak

I purchased a 2 Ounce 70% Rh Heartfelt Humidity Tube for my desktop humidor cause I heard very nice things about those tubes. But now that it's here I have a problem....as I took it I was able to hear the dry beads inside the tube when shaked. So I dipped it in distilled water for some minutes, but I was still able to hear dry beads. So I tried to let the tube staying immerse for 2 hours, nothing. Now its about 8 hours it is dip in the water and if I shake it sounds exactly like all the beads are dry.....

nsure:

I over wet mine when I first started using them too. I fixed it by twisting an end cap off the tube and dumping the beads out onto several thicknesses of paper towel. I spread them out and let them dry out for a while, and when about 1/3 were white again I poured them back into the tube.

[Giak]

I opened it and it was over wet, some beads were broken, but around 50% of them were wet, so I closed it, spray some distilled water on the tube (no more immersions lol) and now seems that works fine. Thank you all for the support^^

[tobacmon]

Originally Posted by earnold25

correct. these aren't really supposed to be immersed in water. You can crack the beads that way and they'll turn to dust, and fall out of the tube (if its the same kind I have).

Instead, you should place them in a sealed tupperware next to a dish or distilled water. Remove them from the tupperware when about 75% of the beads turn clear.

then you can put the tube in your humi. It should be able to control the humidity in there without recharging for quite some time (so long as your humi has a good seal)

This is the way I would always proceed in charging the beads--This way the beads gradually absorb the H2O and they work the best---

[smokem-cl]

FWIW: if you do over wet the beads...Just use a hairdier to dry them out a bit. Works great!

[chinomalo]

Originally Posted by smokem

FWIW: if you do over wet the beads...Just use a hairdier to dry them out a bit. Works great!

On low setting and keep them in something that won't let the beads blow away!:arghhhh:

Definitely don't over wet them.. I would estimate, about around 1/3 wet and others dry (I live in a fairly moderate RH area).. Gives the beads the chance to regulate..

[Shelby07]

Beads need to be partially clear and partially white. Remember that they need to absorb moisture as well as provide it. Saturating them will prevent them from controlling the humidity as they will not be able to dry things if the environment gets too wet.