Heartfelt bead tubes

[orca99usa]

I bought three 65% Heartfelt bead tubes from a fellow Puffer. When I first got them I added a little moisture, stuck them in the humidor and they kept it perfectly at 65% humidity for 2-3 weeks. Then my issues started. When I re-moistened the beads (I removed the cap at one end and slowly poured in distilled water) the beads dried out in a couple of days and the humidity was around 55%. Every time I try to wet them down again the same thing happens. There is obviously something I'm not getting with the technique.

[mrsmitty]

Originally Posted by orca99usa

I bought three 65% Heartfelt bead tubes from a fellow Puffer. When I first got them I added a little moisture, stuck them in the humidor and they kept it perfectly at 65% humidity for 2-3 weeks. Then my issues started. When I re-moistened the beads (I removed the cap at one end and slowly poured in distilled water) the beads dried out in a couple of days and the humidity was around 55%. Every time I try to wet them down again the same thing happens. There is obviously something I'm not getting with the technique.

I usually put a class of distilled water in the humi and let it absorb that way. Or you can lightly mist them with a spray bottle of distilled water, but water ever you do, don't submerge them in water.

I'm wondering if you put to much water in the beads and they cracked?

[madurolover]

Originally Posted by mrsmitty

I usually put a class of distilled water in the humi and let it absorb that way. Or you can lightly mist them with a spray bottle of distilled water, but water ever you do, don't submerge them in water.

I'm wondering if you put to much water in the beads and they cracked?

Even if they are cracked they are still completely functional. I don't know what the issue could be here. I wonder if something else was previously used on them, like PG? Using PG or anything other than DW will clog the pores of the beads.

[blueeyedbum]

I spray my bead tubes with a spray bottle using distilled water.

I hold the tube vertically. Put the tip of the spray bottle against the tube a slight distance down from the cap and squirt into the tube moving the spray bottle down the tube. If you put the tube to your ear you will year the dry beads crackle as the absorb the water. I spray them until the don't crackle then they are full.

The top 1/4 of the tube is not sprayed so there still are some dry beads in the tube. They never should be all full.

[RJpuffs]

Originally Posted by orca99usa

I bought three 65% Heartfelt bead tubes from a fellow Puffer. When I first got them I added a little moisture, stuck them in the humidor .....

Was the humidor "seasoned" before you put the beads in? If not, and if 'dor is cedar lined, said cedar would suck all the moisture off the bead tubes.

If seasoned, is the seal good? As weather gets dryer (up north at least), 'dors become a pain to keep stabilized if the seal is not good. Did you try using any other humidifieringthingie 'afore trying the beads, and did that work better? Questions, questions.

[e-man]

turning whit and sitting at 55% indicates that you don't have enough humidification.

Not sure if you had a properly seasoned humidor before putting the tubes in. Maybe you live in a dry climate that leaches the moisture from your humidor once the cold set in. Regardless, more humidification means less re-filling. If your beads need more water every couple days, then you don't have enough, or your humidor isn't sealed.

[orca99usa]

Was the humidor "seasoned" before you put the beads in? If not, and if 'dor is cedar lined, said cedar would suck all the moisture off the bead tubes.

If seasoned, is the seal good? As weather gets dryer (up north at least), 'dors become a pain to keep stabilized if the seal is not good. Did you try using any other humidifieringthingie 'afore trying the beads, and did that work better? Questions, questions.

The humidor was seasoned long ago. It has been in use for more than a year. The beads did fine the first time I moistened them, but ever since they go dry every couple of days. As far as I can tell there is no issue with the seal.

We have dry weather in spades. The average relative humidity here is usually 5-15%.

I spray my bead tubes with a spray bottle using distilled water.

I hold the tube vertically. Put the tip of the spray bottle against the tube a slight distance down from the cap and squirt into the tube moving the spray bottle down the tube. If you put the tube to your ear you will year the dry beads crackle as the absorb the water. I spray them until the don't crackle then they are full.

This sounds like a good idea. After thinking about it I believe that the way I am moisturizing the beads might be the problem. Since I am pouring the water through the tubes, it is possible that it is running back out before all the beads have time to absorb it. I don't worry about leaving any of them dry, because in this climate overhumidifying would require running a garden hose into my humidor. Thanks for the suggestion.

[Herf N Turf]

Originally Posted by blueeyedbum

I spray my bead tubes with a spray bottle using distilled water.

I hold the tube vertically. Put the tip of the spray bottle against the tube a slight distance down from the cap and squirt into the tube moving the spray bottle down the tube. If you put the tube to your ear you will year the dry beads crackle as the absorb the water. I spray them until the don't crackle then they are full.

The top 1/4 of the tube is not sprayed so there still are some dry beads in the tube. They never should be all full.

That's not the crackle of filling, that's the beads screaming for help! It's the beads that are cracking from being humidified too fast and the regulating salts being rinsed off.

You should never hold the spray medium so close as to touch the tube. I personally prefer "passive" charging, by putting the beads into a container with distilled water and allowing them to absorb it. If you must spray, do it at a distance. Especially never run water directly onto them!

Sounds to be as though you have a leaky humidor. At night, put the brightest flashlight you can find inside the humidor and turn out all the lights. See any light escaping? Also, cut a 2x6" piece of paper and slide it around the closed seal. If it doesn't offer substantial resistence, youre leaking in that spot. Some people use paper money for this, but IMO it's too thick.

[GrtndpwrflOZ]

If you are adding cigars to your humi it will be harder for your beads to keep humidity.
If the Humidity around you has chnged that will have cause and effect.
and if I am not mistaken, If the barrametric (sp) pressure has changed that will effect your readings also, if you open and close your humi alot....I think.

Now that made things simpler didn'it?
I hope you find the issues and remedy them.

Good Luck

[smokin nightly]

I ALWAYS take the end of the tube off and pour a small amount of water directly in the tube...Sure, there is a cracking sound, this does not matter. I have one of my mesh bags in a small tray and I pour a small amount of water in the tray and the beads suck up the water and crack but it doesnt effect the way they work...They work perfectly all the time...

[GrtndpwrflOZ]

Why?
I know alot of people who have their beads in dishes. they pour distilled right into the dish.
Many people I believe do this.
Are you stating that they are doing it wrong? and if so, where can they find this information about never pour distilled water directly onto the beads.

Perhaps I misunderstood those people.



[QUOTE=Herf N Turf;2727610]
You should never hold the spray medium so close as to touch the tube. I personally prefer "passive" charging, by putting the beads into a container with distilled water and allowing them to absorb it. If you must spray, do it at a distance. Especially never run water directly onto them![\QUOTE]

[Herf N Turf]

Even better, ask David Asp (Viper on here), owner of HF. He will tell you the same thing.

Failing that, I'll take a shot.

The way the beads work is salts are applied to the silica beads. These salts are only held (my understanding) by friction. As a result, the regulating salts are easily washed away. Beads on their own run between 40-55% RH, therefore the amount of salts added, regulates the beads to the desired RH %. This is also somewhat dependent on volume. This equation can be used to determine quantity to volume: Q = (Ceq D)V(Nt)/( MH F)

Buffering capacity is determined by measuring the amount of moisture that is gained or lost by silica gel as the RH changes in the surrounding air, described by its M value. M is equal to the amount of water (in grams) that is gained or lost by 1 kilogram of silica gel for each 1% change in RH. So, the higher the M value of the beads used, the more volume it will buffer. They typically range from 2-9.

Dont rinse, or dowse beads. For those who use dishes, or other impermeable container, the salts are collected on the container surface and are still present, if somewhat less effective.

Hope this helps.

[blueeyedbum]

Originally Posted by blueeyedbum

I spray my bead tubes with a spray bottle using distilled water.

I hold the tube vertically. Put the tip of the spray bottle against the tube a slight distance down from the cap and squirt into the tube moving the spray bottle down the tube. If you put the tube to your ear you will year the dry beads crackle as the absorb the water. I spray them until the don't crackle then they are full.

The top 1/4 of the tube is not sprayed so there still are some dry beads in the tube. They never should be all full.

If this information is incorrect, I apologize, but on the
Heartfelt website they sell a small squeeze bottle and tell you to hold it up against the tubes when hydrating the beads.

I use a spray bottle similar to this (it has a fine mist sprayer and is typically used for cleaning eye glasses).

I have never had any problem, but would like to hear what Viper has to say.

[madurolover]

As far as I know the only reason you should not pour water directly on the beads is that it will cause them to crack. The good thing is that they are still effective if they do crack. I know several people who open the tubes and pour a little DW directly onto the beads with no unwanted effects.

I have mine in mesh bags and pantyhose and I put the spray bottle within a half inch of them when spraying. Mine have been rock solid for about 4 years now.

[Herf N Turf]

Originally Posted by blueeyedbum

If this information is incorrect, I apologize, but on the
Heartfelt website they sell a small squeeze bottle and tell you to hold it up against the tubes when hydrating the beads.

I use a spray bottle similar to this (it has a fine mist sprayer and is typically used for cleaning eye glasses).

I have never had any problem, but would like to hear what Viper has to say.

Not necessarily.

Providing youre not using enough water to have it run back out of the container, you're still retaining the salts inside the tube.

Remember, never let all the beads run clear. Only about 70% of them. The rest should remain white. Otherwise, they can only release moisture. In other words, all push and no pull.