Do you wipe down when seasoning?

[floydpink]

I am trying to get an idea how most season their humis. I have a full size on order and wiped down my last 2 small ones with no problems. I left the sponge in overnight and was putting cigars in a couple days after getting it

I spent a little more on this one and am not short on space, so might try the other way of leaving the seasoning kit in for 10 days with the lid closed.

Does it speed it up a bit if you put a couple humidifiers in soaked in distilled water and keep the lid closed?

My impatience is my downfall.

[NCRadioMan]

About wiping down the humidor. You will have many that say do not do it. I have done it with no problems.

To quicken the seasoning process, heat a shot glass of distilled water in the microwave and put in the humidor. Repeat in 12 hours at least two more times. Let the rh settle down to 70% naturally(could be 3-4 days), then load up.

[floydpink]

Thanks! I have not yet heard one account of a humi warping from wiping down I am guessing a light wiping and keeping the seaoning packet in with a shotglass should do the job

[montecristo#2]

Are you referring to the boveda seasoning packets?

I have used the Boveda Seasoning packets to season all three of my humidors. The first two (100 counts) I wiped down using a slighly damp lint-free cloth before hand. I basically used just enough distilled water to make it shine slightly. My large 500 count humidor I did not wipe down first, I guess I just got lazy.

In my experience, when using the packets to season my 100 ct. humidors, it only took 3-4 day to stablize at 70% (using only two packets instead of three). For my 500 ct humidor, it took 7-8 days, but I was only using half the number of packets they suggested. I also did not wipe that one down first, so I don't know if that increased the season time or not. Although the packets say 84% RH, mine never got that high nor would I want it to.

If you decide to use the packets, I would advise against adding extra distilled water as well. I think the humidity can get too high this way. A former CS member did this and his RH was reading 85% during the seasoning process, I think this is a little too high for my tastes. If you think about it, as soon as the RH goes above 84%, the packets will start to absorb moisture, which is really not the point of seasoning.

[doctorcue]

I have used the Boveda packets with all 3 of my humis. I don't want to take the chance of the cedar warping or splintering. Also, I like the bovedas because it is really easy. Throw the packets in and wait 3-7 days for it to come up. No water to spill or heat.

[muziq]

Originally Posted by floydpink

Thanks! I have not yet heard one account of a humi warping from wiping down I am guessing a light wiping and keeping the seaoning packet in with a shotglass should do the job

Wipe down lightly as you note, but the trick is to take a couple days and do it slowly; you want that sp cedar to absorb moisture thoroughly and evenly, so that when you get sticks in there and are opening the thing to pull sticks out, it won't go through violent RH changes. Just takes time, that's all.

[floydpink]

I am indeed using the boveda packets

[montecristo#2]

I would just let them do their thing and you should be fine. I would not add extra distilled water.

How many packets are you going to use and what is the size of the humidor?

If it has a glass top you can just check frequently to see how it is coming. My 500 count humidor does not have a glass top, so I tried to check it once a day or so as quickly as possible.

[floydpink]

120 count count glass top, and using however many packets come for the 7 buck option

[montecristo#2]

Originally Posted by floydpink

120 count count glass top, and using however many packets come for the 7 buck option

Probably two packets for that price since they cost about $3.50 a piece (normally).

If you follow the instructions, you would need three packets: one packet per 50 count plus one additional packet.

I went back and checked and I actually used three packets to season my 100 counts (I made a mistake in my previous post), but you should be perfectly fine with two. I actually used the same three packets to season both humidors. For my 500 count, I used six packets (three of them were six months old) and they worked just fine (should have used 11 ).

Basically throw them in, once the humidity has stabilized at 70-72% for at least a day, you are good to go.

[LiteHedded]

I've wiped mine all down with distilled water
no problem

[nismo350z]

My first humidor i wiped down, i was told later on that i should'nt of done that by one of my B&M's because it gives a good chance of destroying the wood and told me to do what i did with my most recent humi. i did this a week ago to my new 100 count humi i just put a glass of distilled water and charged the humidification device, no wiping and it was able to stablize at 70RH and i took the glass out added some smokes and im right at my desired level 65-68 so that was what i did. so far for about 3 days i've had absolutley no fluctiation from 67,68 except when i open it so i'm very happy with it where my first humi has some fluctiation problems it seems. (the first humi has a good seal it just fluctiates for some reason but i think i've got it under controll Finally now) sorry for the rant Good luck and post pics of the new humi when you get it!

[floydpink]

that sure is a lot of experienced gorillas saying it's ok to wipe down with distilled water

[RPB67]

Originally Posted by floydpink

that sure is a lot of experienced gorillas saying it's ok to wipe down with distilled water

I wouldnt wipe down. It can warp the wood and promote mold in the future.

If you need to season and spike up the humidity, put a shot glass of distilled water in the humi and that will bring it up for you.

I advise against wiping the humi down with distlled water.

[madurolover]

Originally Posted by RPB67

I wouldnt wipe down. It can warp the wood and promote mold in the future.

If you need to season and spike up the humidity, put a shot glass of distilled water in the humi and that will bring it up for you.

I advise against wiping the humi down with distlled water.

Will it absolutely lead to warping/mold? NO
Could it possibly lead to warping/mold? YES
Why take the chance just to speed things up by a few days?