Heartfelt beads - Larger is better?

[yzingerr]

I was reading heartfelt's website and they claim:

Important: You can use more Hearfelt Beads in your humidor than the minumum amount recommended. The additional Heartfelt Beads will give you more moisture storage and help the humidor recover quicker when it has been opened. The extra Heartfelt Beads will also help compensate for seasonal changes and a less than perfect seal on your humidor.

Is this true? I would assume so because they state it.
If it is, I plan on getting a bigger humidifier than what it calls for.
Just want someone to rub my head and tell me everything is ok before I pull the trigger.

[Demasoni]

Originally Posted by yzingerr

I was reading heartfelt's website and they claim:



Is this true? I would assume so because they state it.
If it is, I plan on getting a bigger humidifier than what it calls for.
Just want someone to rub my head and tell me everything is ok before I pull the trigger.

Yeah definitely, I have two 1oz tubes, plus a puckifier, and my humidity shoots back up to 65%rh within minutes after opening the lid and deciding what to smoke.

[Stench]

Originally Posted by yzingerr

I was reading heartfelt's website and they claim:



Is this true? I would assume so because they state it.
If it is, I plan on getting a bigger humidifier than what it calls for.
Just want someone to rub my head and tell me everything is ok before I pull the trigger.

*rubs head*

I have about half again the recommended amount in my coolidor. Stable as a rock!

[Strick]

Sure the more they sell the better for them. It's not necessary to over due it. I have less than the specified amounts and my humis hold perfect RH.

[RJpuffs]

Originally Posted by yzingerr

I was reading heartfelt's website and they claim:
...
Is this true? I would assume so because they state it.
If it is, I plan on getting a bigger humidifier than what it calls for.
Just want someone to rub my head and tell me everything is ok before I pull the trigger.

Depending on the condition of your humidor (specifically, the seal) and how often you open it to drool at the contents - outside air is getting in and your carefully humidified air is getting out. More beads means more moisture is available to restore the innards upon each opening incident, faster. Or, if you happen to live in a sweaty muggy sticky climate, more beads to absorb excess moisture and stabilize the innards, faster. Thats the key word, speed of recovery. I have a lot less beads than the suggested amount in a coolerdor, its airtight and I don't open it often (boxes for long term hibernation), that unit stays at 70% for months on end. The 500 count cedar 'dor that is used often, I have 2x the recommended beads so I don't have to add H2O every time I reach for a stick.

You can start with the suggested amount, and play it by ear. If you get tired of periodic refills, add more beads to stretch the holding capacity. Note that it is usually cheaper to buy more quantity of beads, a few pounds of beads is a good thing to have laying around, just in case

[yzingerr]

awesome replies, thanks!

[Herf N Turf]

I have beads in all my humis, one of which I open everyday at least once. In that one, I use twice the recommended amount and on each of three levels. As stated, it recovers nearly immediately upon closing. The others only get opened once or twice a week, so they have the bare minimum.

My belief is that placement is more important than volume. In my three leveled box, I have them upper right, middle center, lower left. I also keep a converted case (replaced foam with beads) full of dry beads, in the lid, since humidity rises. This helps tremendously.

[RJpuffs]

Originally Posted by Herf N Turf

...
I also keep a converted case (replaced foam with beads) full of dry beads, in the lid, since humidity rises. This helps tremendously.

Good point - another reason to keep extra beads/thingies at the top (near the lid/seal) - is that leakages are going to occur around that point (every seal, doesn't completely seal). Beads at the source of a leak will nip the leak in the proverbial bud.

[e-man]

Better is such a subjective term.

It's really a matter of: Larger lasts longer


The more water you have in reserves, the longer you can run without needing to refill. It won't regulate any better unless your humidor wasn't properly seasoned to begin with. This is true of Beads, Bovedas, Gels, PG foam, etc...

Also, if you have a larger humidor, you may want to distribute your humidifiers throughout to keep everything consistent. Otherwise, your lower levels will run lower rH than the top, as humidity rises.

There is no exact amount. It depends on your climate, how often you open your humidor, how full you keep it, how often you restock, etc. You could probably get away with 1/4 the suggested amount, and still have regulated humidity. However, you will be recharging 4 times as often.

If you rarely smoke, have a large stockpile aging, or otherwise do not open a humidor very often, then you probably want more than the minimum recommendation. It's cheap insurance in case you need to leave town unexpectedly, have a busy life, or simply aren't good at remembering to perform maintenance.

I live in a very dry climate, so I run the double the recommended amount of beads in my 250ct humidor. Half as pucks in the lid, and half as tubes in the lower level. During the cold dry winters I still drop 5-8 points and beads turn white every 1-2 weeks. In the summer, I run dead on 70% and only refill every month or so.

[yzingerr]

Thanks for the replies.

I just placed an order with heartfelt for 2x the amount suggested in my humi.

I love to open it, smell the sticks, and gaze in awe at my prized collection.

Figured it needed better recovery time in the very least.

[Garma]

Originally Posted by yzingerr

I was reading heartfelt's website and they claim:



Is this true? I would assume so because they state it.
If it is, I plan on getting a bigger humidifier than what it calls for.
Just want someone to rub my head and tell me everything is ok before I pull the trigger.

Hehehehe--- It's OK don't stress about it. Remember the saying....

"Don't stress the small stuff" BTW everything is the small stuff

[Hermit]

Isn't more always better?

[e-man]

Originally Posted by Hermit

Isn't more always better?

Not when it concerns homework, debt, or prison sentences.