Is it my humi ready??

[Rookee]

My new humi arrived friday morning, i put a shot glass of water and filled the humidifier right away. Its been sitting there for two days, digital hygro has been reading 75% ever since. Can i put the few cigars that i have in there yet? And does it matter that i don't have too many cigars to put in it?
Hopefully soon i can put some nice sticks in there, right now its gonna look bare with like 15 sticks in a 150 ct humi.

[JCK]

take the shot glass out and use just the humidity device. see where that holds. if it holds steady and doesn't suck your humidifying device dry, then load it up.

[zeavran1]

2 days seems to be too quick. I would let it sit for at least a full week. Patience is the key.

[Magicseven]

Originally Posted by zeavran1

2 days seems to be too quick. I would let it sit for at least a full week. Patience is the key.

I agree I am not expert, but I would let it season longer.

[Yoda!]

Where are you keeping your cigars now? I would get them into your humi ASAP, and keep a watch on you digital...

[ekengland07]

Originally Posted by Rookee

My new humi arrived friday morning...

Congrats on the new humi.

[RJpuffs]

Originally Posted by Rookee

My new humi arrived friday morning, i put a shot glass of water and filled the humidifier right away...
...digital hygro has been reading 75% ever since.

Is that the spongy humidifier? Did you use a PG solution or just distilled water? 75% RH is a touch high. Be patient, conditioning a 'dor takes time. Allow the cedar to stabilize itself, ensure your humidifier is correctly charged (be it PG or beads) and able to restore the RH quickly if you open/close the lid (after a week). Expending the time and effort now will provide a lifelong pleasure of a well-behaved humidor.

[R10]

Agree with those above who suggest more time. Patience is the key. Hope my post isn't too late in the game.

Also agree with RJ that 75 is too high - also question water vs distilled.

Leave it season for the rest of this week - know it's hard. Then take out shot glass and observe hygro reading for 2 days - making sure it's stable - should be about 70 before cigars in. If too high leave the lid open for a bit - then close and re-test.

Have you tested your digital hygro? They do need testing.

I made the mistake of impatience on my first humi - then noticed problems a month+ later - had to take everything out and reseason the humi - no fun - but all well after giving it the time it really needed.

Have you considered beads? They do work - much easier and more stable than foam (my opinion only).

Good Luck and Enjoy!

[R10]

Another thought - did you wipe down the inside of the humi with damp cloth? If so may be why the reading was high after 2 days.

[Rookee]

Ok guys i couldn't wait any longer, so i put my cigars in there (i know i should have waited a little longer, but you all have done this also). Anyways i put them in last evening and it seems fine the hygro is reading at a steady 66%. I took the shot glass out and just left the humidifier in there with distilled water. Gonna try some beads when i can. Thanks again for all your input.

[RJpuffs]

Originally Posted by Rookee

Ok guys i couldn't wait any longer, so i put my cigars in there (i know i should have waited a little longer, but you all have done this also). Anyways i put them in last evening and it seems fine the hygro is reading at a steady 66%. I took the shot glass out and just left the humidifier in there with distilled water. Gonna try some beads when i can. Thanks again for all your input.

FYI - the spongiformathingies should be charged with PG solution (50/50 with distilled water). PG is hygroscopic, when mixed with H20 at 50/50 it maintains 70% RH. Just using water will result in the RH climbing and climbing and climbing ... 75%+ brings the risk of mold and exploding cigars. Beads are easier to work with, all you have to do is add distilled water periodically. And beads come in 60%, 65% and 70% so you have choices of RH to maintain.

[scottw]

When is your humidor ready?

[pontiacbird]

The humi may take a few months to fully settle. I highly suggest the beads, as suggested elsewhere.


When you think about it, the spanish cedar is kiln dried before you start using it. So the relative humidity in there is much lower than where we desire it to be right of the bat, obviously. Also, the first part of the wood to absorb moisture is the surface, then the moisture permeates throughout the wood, right? Although your humi may be ready to store smokes (surface is at good rH%), the moisture will no doubt take more time to get to a consistent level throughout all of the spanish cedar.

In addition, you may get some variations once you put the sticks in, and this could be due to two things, 1) the humi isn't fully seasoned yet, and 2) the relative rH% of the sticks you have may be different from the humidor. They may suck up moisture, driving rH% in the humi lower, or the opposite.

Whatever it is, it'll be fine as long as it has a solid seal, and it's got a consistent rH level where we want it.


I am jealous though. Initially, I used the small analog hygrometer that came with my humi. I salt tested it and everything. I wound up storing my smokes at +75% for quite a long time. When I first lit up one or two smokes, it bugged me that they just went out sometimes, inexplicably. Once I had my digital, I realized that I was in the no-no zone for humidity. Then, I smartened up and got myself some beads after that.

[RobustBrad]

This was mentioned already but I will reiterate the point.

After you've gone through your initial break in stage (wet down the ceder, let the shot class sit in there for a few days) you'll still get a drop off in humidity.

My solution for that has always been to never start a fresh humidor with less than 3/4 of it full with cigars (best case scenario anyway). From there your humidity % should level off. Minor tweaking may be required in the future.

Hope that helps.

Brad

[Herf N Turf]

One thing you fellas seem to be discounting is the possiblity that he got his humi from an envoronment, which was either humidified, or naturally, ambiently moist. One of my humis came to me at 70% exactly, right off the truck. All I had to do was wipe it down to dust it and throw cigars inside. This is the main reason I advocate checking humidity PRIOR to doing any other damn thing.