Exquisicat cat litter vs. Heartfelt pearls

[tfar]

Originally Posted by Drazzil

Okay. Let me first state that when I started this experiment I totally messed up. I totally submerged the beads in distilled water and because I thought the humi looked dry I wiped it down with a sponge and distilled water.

Its a good thing most of my cigars are in cellothane, because for the first three days the humidity went up to around 70% before skyrocketing to 78% and then going between 70 and 75%. After the first few days the humidity settled into around 70% and I added a few sticks that I had kept in cellothane but really needed to air out as they had dried. The humidity dipped to 67% and has held steady for the last four days.

More results as they develop.

So how is it going? Or did things not develop at all?

I am conducting a similar experiment in my own vino right now. See here
http://www.clubstogie.com/vb/showthread.php?t=140198


I would love to do the direct closed tupperware container test like someone suggested but I don't have any KL beads.

Till

[str8edg]

I have to ask this question... I have read this thread BUT I have not read all other linked references yet, they are all open on my screen however and I will be reading them soon. So if this question is answered elsewhere I am sorry... but if I don't ask it now I will forget!!

I understand that some people like KL and some like beads and some say they are the same thing... but what I do seem to read here is that most of you use both beads and KL to remove humidity from the air... I have the opposite problem, my humidity is around 10% (my guess) so I need to add it. I know beads will do this (beads are on the way, right now I use Boveda packs ) but will KL work the same?

In my mind I think it will... they will absorb the water and then as the air dries out they will release it. But I just wanted to ask to make sure. I will be setting up a cooler in Sept and like you guys said KL is less expensive.

[Poriggity]

David, this is an interesting experiment. Something in my brain, however, won't let me use kitty litter in my humi, although it could essentially be the same thing as beads

Scott (the guy you met at the humidor last saturday)

[sirxlaughs]

Originally Posted by Major Captain Silly

If it works the same, why pay more?

MCS

That's why I buy my beads from here.

[nozero]

Just wanted to post a

to all who invested there time in providing this information.

[shilala]

Kitty litter beads are about 30% adsorbtion/desorbtion effective as small pore grade silica gel. That means they give off/take up wate vapor far slower than RHbeads.
If you don't open your coolidor they'll work fine.
For all intents and purposes they are useless as a humidity control agent in an often opened humidor or a poorly sealed storage container.
They do hold a lot more water than do RHbeads, so if folks use it as a resvoir rather than a humidty buffering agent, it can be useful.
It takes a lot of reading and messing around to understand how to use the to your best advantage.
That's why prepared RHbeads are such an incredible value.
They work. No studying necessary. Put them in and go. If the RH gets low, add a little water.

The bottom line is that KLbeads are not comparable to RHbeads value-wise or efficiency-wise. They can be made to work to some degree provided there is ample space in the humidor. It takes nine times he surface area of kitty litter to do the same job as RHbeads.
I did the tests. They are posted here...
http://www.clubstogie.com/vb/showthread.php?t=140198

Don't think for a minute that I wasn't bummed out. I had high hopes for kitty litter.
It just simply does not compare to RHbeads.
Worse yet, they even lose on a dollar for dollar basis when they are measured by their effectiveness. So they aren't even a value at a dollar a pound.

[Drazzil]

Just as an update; I've been using these in my cooler with little problem at all, they meet my humidification needs just fine.

[icehog3]

Originally Posted by Drazzil

Just as an update; I've been using these in my cooler with little problem at all, they meet my humidification needs just fine.

I have been using the Heartfelt beads, and have had no problems either.

Originally Posted by icehog3

I have been using the Heartfelt beads, and have had no problems either.

And, Tom, I've got to say that I appreciate your knowing when to stick with a sure thing. For me, I can't see taking a chance with (conservatively) $5000 worth of cigars to save $100 on humidification by using something that isn't the real deal. I guess if I had a much smaller collection, was on a tight budget, maybe just getting started, or any number of other viable reasons, I might consider alternatives. However, having spent what I've spent over the last 4 years, I just can't get comfortable with the thought of kitty litter over Heartfelt.

This is not a knock on those who are using KL, it's just my personal bias towards my own stash. As stated above, there are any number of reasons that one might give alternatives a try. I just can't make that move for the small price difference involved.

[icehog3]

Originally Posted by SvilleKid

And, Tom, I've got to say that I appreciate your knowing when to stick with a sure thing. For me, I can't see taking a chance with (conservatively) $5000 worth of cigars to save $100 on humidification by using something that isn't the real deal. I guess if I had a much smaller collection, was on a tight budget, maybe just getting started, or any number of other viable reasons, I might consider alternatives. However, having spent what I've spent over the last 4 years, I just can't get comfortable with the thought of kitty litter over Heartfelt.

This is not a knock on those who are using KL, it's just my personal bias towards my own stash. As stated above, there are any number of reasons that one might give alternatives a try. I just can't make that move for the small price difference involved.

Excellent point, Cliff....If it ain't broken, I ain't fixing it...especially when it involves my cigars.

[taltos]

I will stick with Heartfelt beads and Scott's beads. One of my cats is not too bright and I don't want to confuse him about where to whizz.