New Humidor problem maybe?!?

[vacano]

Hello guys,
I recently bought a new humidor online i am attaching pictures. From my point of view I think it is pretty nice, and very well crafted.

I seasoned it as written in lots of places, i stored my cigars and use XIKAR 250 crystals to maintain the proper humidity. I must say that the analog hygrometer is driving me crazy I shows all the time the same thing, but i have put 2 digital hygrometers one is Xikar the other is some cheapy bought from ebay but unfortunately all of them show different readings...which one should i trust ? Is this humidifier to much for the humidor ? I do not have 250 cigars, I am expecting my online order of about 30 cigars more and I am very afraid not to spoil them all, I read all these terrible things about mold, worms etc ...How can I know if my cigars are in good condition ?

The dimensions of the humidor are:

External Overall dimensions (INCH): 13.6" x 9.5" x 6.8"
External Overall dimensions (CM): 35" x 25" x 17"
Internal Overall dimensions (INCH): 12.4" x 8.3" x 5.1"
Internal Overall dimensions (CM): 31.5" x 21" x 13"


I attach some pictures of my baby and the crystals which all of you know of course.



[IMG][/IMG]









Thanks a lot in advance guys.

[longburn]

A new humidor will bounce a lot until it finally settles down. Also opening a humidor will cause temporary changes in it. The cigars can tolerate more than you think. It doesn't have to be a perfect 70/70 and so long as it doesn't get above 72 or under 65 or so humidity and the temp stays between 65-72F they should be fine.

Most analog hygrometers need to be adjusted before they can be accurate. Take a bottle cap of salt and add just enough water (a few drops) to make the salt moist. Put it in a ziplock baggy along with the hygrometer....make sure they don't touch each other. Leave it in the closed baggy for about 10-12 hours then look at the reading. It should be reading 70%.If it isn't there is usually an adjustment screw on the back which will allow you to adjust the needle. IMMEDIATELY after taking the hygrometer out of the bag adjust the screw so the gauge reads 70%. You just have to keep in mind that an analog is a little slower reading than a digital is so takes a bit more time (20 minutes or so)

As far as the two digitals being different....how much different were they? Did you put them both in at the same time and both in the same place in the box? If you placed them inside the box at different times it could be because of humidity in the air. If the weather is rainy there will be a different reading because of the humidity in the air. Or if they were in different parts of the box could also be the reason such as one on one side of the divider and one on the other.

But,mainly....go by the feel and appearance of the cigars. You know what a good cigar feels like (firm but slightly giving) if they feel a bit dry or spongy or mushy you can tell if your starting to get too much or not enough humidity.

In my humidor I use a standard floral sponge type unit with a solution I get from CIgar International called "cigar juice which is a propylene Glycol and water solution. I also use a 2 oz jar of the propylene Glycol hydrating crystals and together those two do pretty well and keep it a constant 70%. I have a display type 250 count humidor. But I think the main thing is not to over worry.If your opening the top every little bit this will greatly effect humidity. And it takes a couple of weeks for a new humidor to settle in and get comfortable.

[vacano]

Thanks for the extensive answer. the 2 digital hygrometers were at the same place, put at the same time after taking them out of the dampen cloth. I put them on the upper level of the humi since on the lower lever there is the analog one which it seems that everyone says they are no good.

Both digitals show the same temp but humidity differs. one shows 69 the other 75 percent. which one do i trust ?

Judging a cigar by its appearance is not for me yet, I mean I am not so experienced yet. I think that the cigars are in a worse condition than the moment I received them from FS, but maybe I overreact

How am I supposed to calibrate the analog hygrometer since it is already installed in the whole ?

How long can cigars stay outside a humidor in a normal box ? Will they be completely lost afterward ?

Is the humidifier I am using enough ? or is it too much for the size of my humidor ? maybe I should put a smaller one ?

TIA.

[Jack Straw]

Leave them in the humidor, don't put them in another box.

Take out the two digital hygrometers, and salt test them. Then you will know exactly how far off they are. I'd guess you're better off than you think, it will just need time to stabilize.

If you are worried about the smokes, squeeze the foot (the open end of the cigar) lightly, it should feel springy, but not spongy, and should not make dry crackling sounds.

[longburn]

.........What Andrew said....


In my exsperience I haven't had any problems with a digital but there can always be one that is off. But as he said,using the salt test will tell you if there is a problem with one of them.

The analog should simply pop out of the hole it's in then check the back,there should be a set screw.Give it the salt test to see where it stands. And,it's true,they are notorious for being off,especially the cheap ones they give with the boxes. But usually they can be adjusted and mine is dead on with my digital once I had adjusted it.

Yeah,you can worry these things to death. Like the Japanese say about bonsai,if you respect it then it will grow,if you love it then it will grow,but if you embrace it then it will die.

[vacano]

I think I did it last night, was okay on the robustos I have got. Anyway I will conduct this test tonight and I will post the results.

I have my last one of the CAO Brazilia! it is one of my favorite cigars so far. Last night I saw some small bright spots but really small on the dark wrapper is this normal ? I can post a picture tonight since maybe I am not expressing myself very well in English.

[vacano]

Originally Posted by longburn

Yeah,you can worry these things to death. Like the Japanese say about bonsai,if you respect it then it will grow,if you love it then it will grow,but if you embrace it then it will die.

Nicely put My wife say I am nuts I check the humi every time I pass by it This must be love

[Jack Straw]

If you are talking about small light colored spots on the wrapper, that is pretty common and nothing to worry about.

For the salt test, make sure you do it at least overnight, preferrably for 24-48 hours to be sure.

[longburn]

Originally Posted by vacano

Nicely put My wife say I am nuts I check the humi every time I pass by it This must be love

Hahaha, I understand and still do the same thing.I can't walk by my humidor without glanceing in at my hygrometer.Which is why I got a display type with a glass front. And that's ok,so long as your not opening it all the time.

The light spots on your cigar wrapper are fine and are natural.Remember this isn't a man made product and they are subjected to the rains,suns,and climate of nature. Those are called sun or rain spots and can sometimes occur on a wrapper leaf as it comes in contact with sun or rain while growing. On really good cigars the manufacturer is careful to select leaves without such blemishes but they don't hurt the cigar at all. It could be one that got through the inspection process or this manufacturer accepts a small spot or two but it doens't hurt the flavor or the cigar at all.It's purely a cosmetic looks type of thing.

[vacano]

Hahah yep I first I bought one of those 20 cigar desktop humidors without a glass lid but when I got hooked which happened really quick I bought the one in the pictures with the glass lid so I do not have to open it very often.

So you guys think the XIKAR Crystal Humidifier 250 CT is okay to use even though that there aren't so many cigars inside my box ?

[longburn]

I think it's a great humidor and will serve you well. The only thing is to (about once every other month) or so to rotate your cigars since there is only the one divideing panel so that the ones on the bottom can get back on top.
But the amount of cigars in it is fine and it should last you a lifetime. I have never owned that particular humidor but i've seen them a lot in most of the on line cigar houses and they come very highly recommended.

[vacano]

Got that The more I know the more I know I don't know

So all I have to do is the ones at the bottom must spend a month on top, just that ? no rolling, just rotating.

When I received the humidor I was very well surprised it looks solid and well made, the guy from Germany said it was made in Germany. In my country there isn't a lot of choice and there are massive speculations with prices...

I wish we had the same places to smoke cigars like in the US and other countries.

[longburn]

For now you don't have to rotate them at all.This is only once you have built up a couple of layers of cigars.

I have never heard of anyone rolling a cigar,only rotateing them occasionally. If i'm not mistaken the humidor you have was built by the same company that made mine. If you click on all of my posts or go to humidor pictures you can see a picture of it.

But you and they are doing just fine.Relax and try not to worry about them so much.Take an occasional glance inside.If you don't smoke everyday then every few days take one out and feel it,if it feels the same as when you got them they are doing fine.

And salt test your hygrometers. The salt should be like damp beach sand.Not soaked but not dry spots either.And this is a spot on way to know if your hygrometers need adjusting or not,...just make sure to leave them in the ziplock bag for a few hours....at least six but 8 to 10 is better.

[d_day]

With the Xikar hygrometer, follow the manufacturer's instructions for calibrating the unit. Once you've done that, then that is the one you trust.

[Jack Straw]

I think that humidifier is a good size for the humidor, I have not used crystal myself but apparently it is best to use PG solution with it.