Humidification Beads: FAQs

[Roger Miller"]

A choice post with a wealth of information. Very cool, thanks Viper!

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rm

[Shaman]

Received beads two days ago, very quick turn-around. My two humi's have seemed to have stabilized already. They are holding at 65% RH. Sure seems to be the way to go! This is my first post and being a newbie, I appreciate all of the cool info that is making my life easier. No more chasing the RH. Again, thanks Viper for sharing...
RF

[icehog3]

Welcome to CS Shaman!

[Viper139]

I second that, welcome to CS Shaman.

[miketafc]

Welcome here and don't stop at one post, join in.

[Papa Herf]

Just read back through the thread, and I didn't see this question. And, if this has been discussed on another thread that I missed, someone tell me! I know the more experienced guys keep their Cs at 65% and their NCs at 70%. Being relatively new, I have only a few Cs, which I keep in my 100-ct desktop humidor with my NCs. Right now, my RH is at about 69%. I am considering the beads, but which RH should I try? Should I go low to benefit the more expensive sticks? Thanks in advance.

[radar]

Originally Posted by Papa Herf

Just read back through the thread, and I didn't see this question. And, if this has been discussed on another thread that I missed, someone tell me! I know the more experienced guys keep their Cs at 65% and their NCs at 70%. Being relatively new, I have only a few Cs, which I keep in my 100-ct desktop humidor with my NCs. Right now, my RH is at about 69%. I am considering the beads, but which RH should I try? Should I go low to benefit the more expensive sticks? Thanks in advance.

A lot of folks are going to a straight 65% whether it's Cubans or Non's, they say they smoke better. I go by what I'm trying to do with the individual cigar. Cubans at 65/65 and smokable Non's at room temp and 65%, but I have a bad batch of CAO Extreme Corona's that im keeping at 70% and room temp hoping that they will improve in the months ahead if I give more humidity to the fermentation process.

[Viper139]

This topic has been discussed so many times with no definative answer. What ultimately happens is you need to do what works best for you.

I personally like my cigars at 64-66% for smoking and keep cigars that I am going to age at 70-72%. My personal opinion is they smoke too tight and have issues with staying lit properly at 70%+, I like to enjoy the smoke not fight it.

So the answer is.......it is purely a taste preference on the part of the smoker.

[Papa Herf]

Thanks much - I placed my order yesterday!!

[MiamiE]

Dave i think my beads need some water. theyre mainly all white and my RH is around 62%. how should i add d. water with the humitubes?

[Viper139]

Originally Posted by MiamiE

Dave i think my beads need some water. theyre mainly all white and my RH is around 62%. how should i add d. water with the humitubes?

There are two ways;

If you have room, place a shot glass of warm distilled water in the humi with the bead tube and let the beads absorb moisture until they start looking clear agian.

The other way is to remove the cap from the tube and pour distilled water into the tube. 1-2 teaspoons is enough or until the beads look mostly clear.

[MiamiE]

sounds like a plan. itll actually only go up to 65% right? b/c thats what their set to.

[Viper139]

Originally Posted by MiamiE

sounds like a plan. itll actually only go up to 65% right? b/c thats what their set to.

If you are going to put a shot glass in don't leave it there for too long. When the beads have soaked up their fill the rest of the humidity will make the humi go up. 2-3 hours should be plenty.

[MiamiE]

i think im going to go at with 1-2 teaspoons

[MiamiE]

put 1 teaspoon in and they ALL turned clear. my RH is up to 65% again. i guess theyll eventually turn whiter my other humitube i added 1 teaspoon and turned mainly clear with some whites.