1st box ever

[gjcab09]

Hi all,
I'm brand new to this cigar thing, less than a month of stogie experience, and I've got to say, it looks like I may be in it for the long haul, I've already got flippin' packages coming to the door every day from CI and the Devil's Site, and I've had something or the other burning steadily since 8 this evening and it's now after midnight, I'm sucking on a 3/4" R y J nub and avoiding typing this so I can finish it off and light up something else...but that's not why I'm posting.

Today I bought my first full box from the local guy, Arganese ML3 which I love and wasn't sure I wanted to trust the Internet sites with that kind of a purchase just yet. I got them home, but am in a bit of a quandry...it'll probably be a few days before I smoke any of them and I don't know if I should take the wrapper off of the box or not, probably a stupid question but I'm worried about my "pride and joy" and don't want to do anything to harm my sticks. I've got a brand-new humidor but I don't think it's seasoned so I don't want to just dump them into it. How do you know when the time is right to transfer them over and will they keep in the box ok until then?

Also, what's the deal about freezing, local cigar guy says no, but some on these forums say it's ok...all pretty confusing for a newbie who, between the internet and the smokeshop, suddenly seems to have cigars coming out his ears.

Thanks for any input.

R

[Egis]

First of all Welcome aboard!!!
Keep the box in the dark, and cool area! They should be OK like that for a week, maybe more! but not for too long! season your humidor, and dump em in in few days! They will survive!

[MattB]

The first thing I would address here is: do you have somewhere to store the box until your humidor is ready?

I know some boxes have a humi-pack type deal in them, I don't know is that brand does or not - if it does then don't take the wrapper off the box it will be fine till your humi is ready

As far as the freezing for beatles that's your call, if you don't have a stocked humi yet you don't need to worry about any of this, it is usually for online orders that sit in severe heat on their way to you, and you want to keep from infesting your collection (not a catch-all but the short easy answer)

Last thing is: I know the box is a big investment, but don't freak out, most of the time everything will be ok, you have a wealth of info on this site. If you are going to worry about something just have it be: where, when, why, and with who will you smoke your sticks. Most of all - enjoy your slide down the slope.

[dubels]

I have seen all this talk about heat during travel time from ordering from online sites. But the thing is B&M's have to mail order their stock in from the respective companies. The only safety is that maybe the stock you are getting from the B&M is an older stock and that any possible beetle infection it would have passed already. I really don't see that much of an issue from internet orders. Just make sure to check your cigars from time to time. People were getting beetle infections from B&M cigars long before the internet order sites were set up.

But regarding the box, just get a tupperware box and put a humidifier puck in there with the cigars. If the box does not fit in the tupperware box just take them out separately. Your humidor should be seasoned soon enough, make sure your hygrometer is calibrated. Salt test for 24 hours.

[gjcab09]

Originally Posted by dubels

make sure your hygrometer is calibrated. Salt test for 24 hours.

Salt test? Whats that?

[gjcab09]

Originally Posted by dubels

Your humidor should be seasoned soon enough, make sure your hygrometer is calibrated. Salt test for 24 hours.

When is soon enough, and how do I know it's working? I tested and calibrated the hygrocalibrawhatzis and it seemed to act as it was designed, then installed it in the humidor with distilled water humidifier...rh went from 53 to 58 left overnight, added more dw, rh still at 58, has me doubting the humidifier and the hygrometer even though the hygromeromernometer performed as I would've expected in initial testing. Does the humidity in a new humidor typically come up very slowly? How do I know that, yes, this humidor is properly seasoned?

[MattB]

Here you go, I hope these help:

This has great info. for setting up your humidor-

New Humi? STOP!!!!

All you should need to salt test:

HOW TO: Salt Test (hygrometer calibration)

Good stuff on freezing:

Freezing Cigars


If you have any other questions, just post 'em up - I'll do what I can to point you in the right direction, if I can't someone on here can

[gjcab09]

Thanks for the extra effort, MattB

[MattB]

Originally Posted by gjcab09

Thanks for the extra effort, MattB

Happy to help, thats what this place is all about

[gjcab09]

I'm assuming that the cedar lining in the new humi requires some time to "charge"? I've had 2 humidifiers inside for 2 days now and can't get the rh over 58%. That's only 5% over what the house typically reads at the ordinary mid-70° temps. Am I just being too impatient? Too much of a worry-wart? Patience is not my strong suit, and I don't wanna "grab the bull" and do something foolish...for instance...pull all the humidification out of my new humi and dump my cigars in there anyway because they seem too moist in the plastic container where I've got them currently. I've got a little Arganese cedar box that I brought home empty from the b&m that has no humidification and is working great for my Robustos and shorter sticks so I'm anxious to get my humi going for the longer 'gars.

[MattB]

Are you just using the humifiders? If so you should put either a small (shot) glass with distilled water, or a sponge that is "damp" with distilled water (if you go with the sponge, put a plate or something under it so it dosn't touch the wood). Another option if you are close to a b&M that carries them are Boveda packs - they make a seasoning pack. I would also say that you are not waiting long enough, I know how much you want to get it going (I've been there). I would put in the glass or sponge and close it, leave it for a week, do not open it except to check the humidity level and only do that every copule of days or more (check the humidity and close it quickly), every time you open it you lose the humidity that has built up.

[gjcab09]

The humidifiers that I'm referring to are the one that came with the humidor and a little tin one that I got at the b&m, both charged with distilled water. I'm probably just too darned impatient but I expected to see a significant rise in humidity inside the box relatively quickly and that's not what I'm seeing at all. Got to admit it's hard to keep from peeking .

I take it filling the bathtub with water and immersing the whole unit would not be a good idea.

Guess I'll just have to sit on my hands for awhile and let nature take its course.

[MattB]

[QUOTE=gjcab09;2660472]The humidifiers that I'm referring to are the one that came with the humidor and a little tin one that I got at the b&m, both charged with distilled water. I'm probably just too darned impatient but I expected to see a significant rise in humidity inside the box relatively quickly and that's not what I'm seeing at all. Got to admit it's hard to keep from peeking .



I'm sure you are doing this but just to make sure - you are using a sponge or glass in addition to the humifider that came with it, right?

[gjcab09]

Sorry, didn't understand your question. No, I haven't been, I thought the included humidifier would be sufficient, like I said, I'm brand new to this. I tossed the 2nd humi in there after seeing negligible results with the 1st. My lack of experience had me doubting that the new equipt. was functioning correctly. Surprise, surprise! I just checked it again and the rh had jumped to 70% so now at least I know that somethings going on in there! I think I can settle down and leave it to do its thing now.

Thanks again for the patient guidance.

Rod

[dubels]

Ok, I want to first address MattB. Why do you think I was talking in a condescending manor to you or anyone? I was just offering my opinion to the thread poster about about worrying about beetles. Apparently if the opinion differs from yours or the majority its not ok with you. I think you are being a little sensitive, but fine I am sorry I will keep my opinion to myself. <---This is a result of the negative Ring Gauge that was given to me for my original post.

GJCAB09 - By salt testing I meant salt testing the hygrometer so you can have an accurate reading. At the end of the salt test your hygrometer should read 75% RH, if you are using the analog one that came with your humidor be careful to make sure it is salt tested correctly and you measure how much its is off by. By reading the links that MattB posted you can find all the information you need. You should wait and not do the wipe down method. Just place a sponge or shot glass with distilled water in the humidor and walk away for a few days. Check your hygrometer if it is reading in the 80's take the sponge or shot glass out and see if it settles in the 70% range. The problem with just using the humidifiers is that they are not really made to raise Rh that quickly they are meant to slowly release humidity and only truly effective once the humidor is settled. Lastly freezing is fine, just do it carefully and you should not have any side effects. Double bag it and make sure you let it settle in the fridge before and after you freeze.