2 beads questions

[mhsrunner]

First let me say thanks to everyone on this forum who has helped walk me through setting up my first humidor. Your patience and advice are much appreciated. Hopefully I'm done needing to ask questions on this topic, but I have 2 last ones.
Firstly, I have a tube of beads (I have a 20 count and its an ounce tube, so more than enough) that I want to go ahead and have settled in before I put in the cigars. I've read different ways to wet the 75% of beads that need to be watered down, from dipping them in distilled water to spraying them. I don't have a sprayer. Do i need to go get one or is there another way to wet the beads that is equally effective?
Also, I want to let the beads sit without cigars to allow humidity to go from the 70% that it is now down to the desired 65%. I understand that the humidity will fluctuate for a few days when I put cigars in, but when its just beads in a closed humidor should the humidity remain constant, or should I expect flucuations even then? Again, thanks to everyone who has offered my advice on this forum. I really appreciate it.

[j6ppc]

Originally Posted by mhsrunner

I've read different ways to wet the 75% of beads that need to be watered down, from dipping them in distilled water to spraying them. I don't have a sprayer. Do i need to go get one or is there another way to wet the beads that is equally effective?
put a clean damp sponge in the humi with the beads. Put the sponge on a saucer or the like. The water in the sponge will evaporate and charge the beads and season the humi at the same time. Once that has been stable @ 65% for a couple of days go ahead and add your cigars.
Also, I want to let the beads sit without cigars to allow humidity to go from the 70% that it is now down to the desired 65%. I understand that the humidity will fluctuate for a few days when I put cigars in, but when its just beads in a closed humidor should the humidity remain constant, or should I expect flucuations even then?
It should remain stable but depending on ambient RH, how your humi seals and what you put in it the beads, your beads will either require periodic recharging or need to be dried out from time to time. I just added a few boxes to my ice chest the other day and the rh went up to 69% as the cigars I put in were received a little on the wet side. My ambient RH in the place I store the cigars tends to be around 63% so I very rarely have to recharge the beads.

Again, thanks to everyone who has offered my advice on this forum. I really appreciate it.

My responses in blue.

[mhsrunner]

Thanks for the reply. Do others have different ways of charging the beads? Also, do I need to put the tube in a dish or something to keep stray beads from getting into my cigars?

[drawfour]

Originally Posted by mhsrunner

Thanks for the reply. Do others have different ways of charging the beads? Also, do I need to put the tube in a dish or something to keep stray beads from getting into my cigars?

You shouldn't need to worry about beads falling out of the tubes -- the mesh should be fine enough that they don't slip through.

I don't have a tube -- I have a Western rectangular humidifier that I removed the foam and replaced with beads. I originally had the beads loose in it, using a wire mesh to keep them from falling out, but I switched to holding them in with a media bag (fish department at a pet store will have them), since they tended to spill when I opened it.

So all I do now is open the top, grab a teaspoon and pour a few spoonfuls into the beads until about 75-80% are clear. Then I pour off the excess (there's always some that doesn't get absorbed), put the top back on the humidifier, and then shake it a little to make sure anything left over is gone. Then I use a towel to dry off any extra droplets and put it back in my humi.

Hope this helps.

[Da Klugs]

Might want to reverse the %'s on the charging. Sounds as if you are looking to "reduce humidity". Every time you open it 70% air moves in.

[mhsrunner]

Originally Posted by Da Klugs

Might want to reverse the %'s on the charging. Sounds as if you are looking to "reduce humidity". Every time you open it 70% air moves in.

I'm not completely sure what you mean. I mean the distilled water is keeping my humidor at 70%. My house's humidity is under 70%.

[OtterAKL4987]

I think you should look at wetting more like 60% of the beads instead of 75. If its been holding steady at 70%, just drop the beads in for a day or so and if it holds at 65%, drop the gars in.

[Da Klugs]

Originally Posted by mhsrunner

I'm not completely sure what you mean. I mean the distilled water is keeping my humidor at 70%. My house's humidity is under 70%.

Each bead wants to be in whatever it is designed for RH wise... let's say 65% for this example. In a higher than 65% environment they absorb humidity. In a lower than 65% one they give up humididty.

By wetting most of the beads and putting them in a 70% environment.... most are already full so can't really help lower the RH.

Might want to try just putting beads with no charge in there. Maybe 2 sets switch em out as they become saturated and dry the odd ones out.

[Lanthor]

I have got the same tube you have for for my small 30ct. I tried using a spray bottle, but it took forever for the water to settle into the beads, holes in the tube are pretty tight. I have a little syringe like thing, similiar to and eye dropper, that I use now.

Just measure out some water and pour it right into the top of the open tube, works great. Don't know were you got your beads, but heartfelt lists on thier site ~how much water you need per ounce, but you will be able to eye it after a while.

[DCMD]

Originally Posted by Da Klugs

Each bead wants to be in whatever it is designed for RH wise... let's say 65% for this example. In a higher than 65% environment they absorb humidity. In a lower than 65% one they give up humididty.

By wetting most of the beads and putting them in a 70% environment.... most are already full so can't really help lower the RH.

Might want to try just putting beads with no charge in there. Maybe 2 sets switch em out as they become saturated and dry the odd ones out.

This is exactly what I am trying to do around the great lakes region of eastern ontario. The humdity can climb into the high 70s which makes for a nasty smoking experience. I was thinking about rotating two sets of beads to help the humidity of the humidor stay low.

My question is was is the best way to dry out the beads?

[wharfrathoss]

dry em w/a hair dryer

[madurolover]

Originally Posted by wharfrathoss

dry em w/a hair dryer

Or on a cookie sheet in the oven.

[DCMD]

Originally Posted by wharfrathoss

dry em w/a hair dryer

Thanks. This place has such good info.

Too bad I live with a bunch of guys. I think I'll go with the oven idea.

[madurolover]

You don't need a high heat.
The time I had to do it I had it set at 250 and only left them in there till they turned white.

Was scared to try the blow-dryer because them little suckers bounce everywhere when they hit the floor.