HUMI-CARE humidification crystals

[eventer289]

I ordered two of these little packs of humidification crystals http://www.cigarsinternational.com/p...&cat=10&page=2 from cigars international. I just got them today and they aren't in a dry crystal form like the picture shows. They are like small little jello cubes (but smaller than they should be if they were full of water). I thought they were supposed to come dry. They also are a darker shade of blue, almost blue/green, than is pictured. Is this normal?

[xxwaldoxx]

I bought a stick similiar to that jar in the past. Looked just as you described.

I got a free jar of that stuff with my latest purchase from CI. It should be here tomarrow. Ill be sure to post what mine looks like so you can compare the two.

[Neuromancer]

I've bought these also...they do not come as a dry gel no matter where you buy them or what color they are...they are gelled propelyne glycol and you can add DISTILLED water to them or a solution of 50% PG and 50% distilled water which you can buy in bottles...most of this type of item comes clear, like dry-mistat sticks, and some of the other brand names of PG jars, Madeline, for one...these just happen to be colored with what I understand to be blue food coloring...you can add distilled water or PG solution to them...when the crystals have shrunk down to about 2/3 of full, I usually add PG soluttion to them to a point about midway up the jar...they gelled crystals will absorb the fluid and you'll be off and running again...

[SeanGAR]

I think the polymer is potassium or sodium polyacrylate. They are also known as super absorbing gel and are cheaply available at commodity prices ... the cost of the gel in that humidifier is maybe a cent .. the gel is avilable in crafts stores and online by the pound (forget where I bought mine).

If you buy the super absorbing crystals themselves, you should hydrate them with 50-50. Afterwards, you need only to add water as the propylene glycol will not evaporate.

With this humidification device, as water evaporates, the mole fraction of water decreases and the humidity drops. As long as you don't let it go too far you should be ok. When I used to use these, I added water when the volume decreased 20% or so. The pre-hydrated gel you bought already has PG in it ... so you should only use water to rehydrate. However, if you use 50-50, the mole fraction of water will drop and so will the humidity. So if you want less than 70% humidity, you should experiment and add some 50-50.

[Neuromancer]

I stand corrected...

[Dandee]

I used a 50/50 solution and the humdity slowly dropped to 65% (it took a few months.) Its now where I want it, and I've switched to distilled water.

[mhillsing23]

I was gifted a jar of Humi-Care. When I received the jar that crystals filled about 1/5th of the jar. I added some water to them but they didn't seem to grow too much. Should I try and keep the jar more than half full? Any opinions/experience welcome.

[Cigar Jockey]

I don't need to add 50/50 to Drymistat stick, do I?

[Plop007]

bump.

What do you guys think about this item (Humi-care humidification Crystals)???

I'm thinking about buying one for my humidor (on its way).

Any suggestions or do you reccommend something better?


(I see a thread similiar to this in the Assessory area already now) O well.

[Dgar]

Originally Posted by Plop007

What do you guys think about this item (Humi-care humidification Crystals)???

Any suggestions or do you reccommend something better?

I prefer beads with a set RH, there are a few vedors that sell them, you can usually find 65 or 70% beads, your preference, they work well and distilled water is all you use, no PG solution... are they better than ther RH Gels/crystals? I like the beads.

[ssutton219]

I have used it before and works well.


Bead in my opinion are better and easier but both do thier job.





Shawn