Dividers while seasoning?

[erab]

What's the general consensus on setting up the cedar dividers that most humidors come with during the seasoning process?

I just bought a Vicksburg, and figured that I would set up one of the big dividers in the bottom while seasoning.... I figure, it's cedar -- it needs to be seasoned just like the cedar liner.

However, for experiment's sake, I placed another one of my radioshack sensors in the divided off portion in the bottom of the humi. My other sensor went in the portion of the humi that contained my bowl of distilled water. After two and a half days, the larger section (with the water) reads at 74%. The smaller section reads at 63%, and is only a few points or so higher than my initial reading (while a third hygrometer in the top tray reads at the halfway point, about 68%)

Is there a problem with these two "sections" coming to equilibrium that slowly? Should I just be seasoning without the divider and then adding it when I add sticks?

FYI, the temperature fluctuates between 68 and 72 throughout the day, and all three hygros have been salt tested.

[Viper139]

I would recommend that you place all of the dividers in the humi. If you don't when they ultimately do go in they will just influence your rh then. Get it done at one time.

[uwhoo]

I think in the long run the % will come together. Also try putting all the gauges in the same spot to see if they have the same reading. I don't think they will...

You can rub distilled water on the dividers before you put them in. You do not want to do this to a humidor in case you warp it but don't worry about the dividers. A dry piece of ceder can soak up a lot of water that's for sure. I hope my input helps a bit.

Do you have any type of circulation fan to help move air inside the cabinet, and help equalize rh thru-out?

[drawfour]

I'd recommend, if you have them, to get a bunch of small tupperware containers (like the kind meant to save a small amount of food in the refrigerator -- maybe an inch high or something), put a little bit of the distilled water in them, and place one in each tray. Worked great for me.

My process was pretty simple -- take a damp (DAMP, not wet, squeeze it until no more water will come out) cloth and wipe all around the cedar. Drawers, lining, everything. The cedar will quickly absorb the little bit of water, and there won't be enough there to warp the cedar. Then take these small containers of water (remember, only distilled water for the bowls and the cloth) and place them in the humidor, one in each tray, for 24 hours or so. Then remove them and replace with beads or The Puck, about 50% soaked with water. Then just watch the RH over the next few days. Took mine about 4 days to stabilize, but I waited a few extra days just to be safe.

[RGD]

Originally Posted by SvilleKid

Do you have any type of circulation fan to help move air inside the cabinet, and help equalize rh thru-out?

This answer is the key to your question. If you are only using one source for humidity then you need circulation. Don't know the size of your humidor but do a search for "Oust" fans and the modificaton of them.

In addition - Viper Beads (second post) would greatly help. Dividing the beads and putting them is different areas of your humidor will help equalize everything.


Ron

[txdyna65]

I agree with the air circulation Sville and Ron mentioned. In my tower when I seasoned it and afterwards, I only had humidification at the bottom. RH at the bottom stayed steady at 70, while at the top it was 60. I went with overkill and put containers of beads on every level and oust fans on every level. been running 66% all over for a couple of months now.

[erab]

Hmmm, I was hoping the Vicky would be small enough so as to not have to resort to a circulation device.

I have some beads on the way, but I figured I'd give the humi the 'ol cupa distilled water treatment for a week or so beforehand.

It's a relatively small box (19x11x12), I was astonished to see such variance in the readings.

FYI, I salt tested each hygrometer on it's own, and then again all together (in the same tupperware with NaCL solution). They all passed with flying colors and were no more than a percentage point away from each other.

[grego]

You can start things out more evenly if you dab a little water on the wood dividers. This way they will be fully humidified and will not suck moisture in the seasoning process.

[rumballs]

In the long run, the dividers won't matter - the one humidifier will be fine.
In the short run, if you just want the whole thing to reach a consistent RH quickly, I would say put the dividers in the humi, so that they are exposed and get seasoned, but put them in such a way as to not segment the humi the way they normally would. That way all cedar surfaces will get moist air flow more quickly, and you'll reach equilibrium soon.

[stogie_kanobie_one]

Originally Posted by erab

Hmmm, I was hoping the Vicky would be small enough so as to not have to resort to a circulation device.

I have some beads on the way, but I figured I'd give the humi the 'ol cupa distilled water treatment for a week or so beforehand.

It's a relatively small box (19x11x12), I was astonished to see such variance in the readings.

FYI, I salt tested each hygrometer on it's own, and then again all together (in the same tupperware with NaCL solution). They all passed with flying colors and were no more than a percentage point away from each other.

I shared your sentiment. The real solution long term is as RGD mentioned, Spread the love around inside there. I keep two tubes of beads in the top tray and the stock humifier filled with beads in the bottom. In this configuration I no longer even use a fan .

[erab]

Originally Posted by stogie_kanobie_one

...and the stock humifier filled with beads in the bottom. In this configuration I no longer even use a fan .

Do you use any of the large dividers in the bottom?

My plan was to keep full boxes in the bottom compartment of the Vicky, but I think I can get away with quarantining off a 4"-5" section on one side so that I can stack up large quantities of unboxed (bundles of inexpensive smokes? quarantined ISOMs when I begin sliding down the dark side? ..who knows, it's nice to have the option) sticks.

Now, with the different readings and segregated environments, I'm worried about keeping any sticks in that small divided-off compartment. I don't think I can keep a tube of beads over there, what with having sticks stacked jam-packed into that compartment.

My original plan was very similar to kanobie's configuration, two tubes of beads in the top trays and a larger portion in the open bottom space.