Kitty Litter for RH???

[BamBam]

Okay so I need to get some beads to help my Hydra in my 5.5 cu.ft. cabinet humidor. But I'm having a hard time pulling the trigger and spending $40-$50 to get them. I like my RH around %65. I have heard a little bit about using Kitty Litter. Please share your knowledge with me.

-Can the litter do the same job as these expensive beads?
-What do I need to do to the Kitty Litter to maintain RH of 65%?
-What is the best Kitty Litter?
-Are there down sides to Kitty Litter?

[jjefrey]

Search is you friend


http://www.clubstogie.com/vb/showthr...ghlight=litter



.

[mikeyj23]

Originally Posted by jjefrey

Search is you friend


http://www.clubstogie.com/vb/showthr...ghlight=litter



.

This has been discussed at length.

[shilala]

I just did a month of tests comparing Kitty Litter to beads to chemicals, to salt solutions, to polymer gel, and the list goes on.
My tests showed that Kitty Litter works, albeit very poorly.
It scored at 2.0 MRh as compared to "beads" at around 6.6 MRh and HCM beads at 10.0 MRh.
Tfar (till) has been testing Kitty Litter for a couple months and has made some interesting findings.
What he and I are at odds about is "Is Kitty Litter a value?"
I feel that it's not, by even a far stretch.
The amount of Kitty Litter necessary to do the job of beads is incredible.
It's slow. Actually, it's beyond slow.
The bottom line is that it's a lousy performer.
If you're keeping dog rockets, It may be okay. If you live in a home with a constant temp and humidity of near 65%, it may be okay. If you never open your humidor or cooler or humi, it may be okay.
Kitty Litter is not worthless. A small amount is useful in a humidor as a "resevoir". It holds up toi 80% of it's weight in water. So if you have very dry conditions, it can really help to augment beads.
The hands down best way to control humidity that I've found is a hydra and HCM bead combination. Next would be a hydra combined with HCS beads or any of the "set and forget" beads.
If you buy good quality beads and you never pour water directly on them they will work very well, and they will last a lifetime. That's value.
Kitty Litter is cheap. That's all it has going for it.

[bobarian]

5.5cu ft cabinet=Well over a thousand dollars in smokes. Are you willing to risk your entire collection for $50?

[tandblov]

Originally Posted by bobarian

5.5cu ft cabinet=Well over a thousand dollars in smokes. Are you willing to risk your entire collection for $50?

It's the same stuff.

[Spect]

Originally Posted by tandblov

It's the same stuff.

It's the same general idea maybe, but KL and beads aren't the same thing. Key point: surface area.

[BamBam]

Originally Posted by shilala

I just did a month of tests comparing Kitty Litter to beads to chemicals, to salt solutions, to polymer gel, and the list goes on.
My tests showed that Kitty Litter works, albeit very poorly.
It scored at 2.0 MRh as compared to "beads" at around 6.6 MRh and HCM beads at 10.0 MRh.
Tfar (till) has been testing Kitty Litter for a couple months and has made some interesting findings.
What he and I are at odds about is "Is Kitty Litter a value?"
I feel that it's not, by even a far stretch.
The amount of Kitty Litter necessary to do the job of beads is incredible.
It's slow. Actually, it's beyond slow.
The bottom line is that it's a lousy performer.
If you're keeping dog rockets, It may be okay. If you live in a home with a constant temp and humidity of near 65%, it may be okay. If you never open your humidor or cooler or humi, it may be okay.
Kitty Litter is not worthless. A small amount is useful in a humidor as a "resevoir". It holds up toi 80% of it's weight in water. So if you have very dry conditions, it can really help to augment beads.
The hands down best way to control humidity that I've found is a hydra and HCM bead combination. Next would be a hydra combined with HCS beads or any of the "set and forget" beads.
If you buy good quality beads and you never pour water directly on them they will work very well, and they will last a lifetime. That's value.
Kitty Litter is cheap. That's all it has going for it.

I bit the bullet today and bought 1 pound of 65% RH Beads form Cigarmony. I will use these in tandem with my Hydra. I also got some foam weather stripping and sealed up the humi a little better.

Can someone tell me how to set up my beads and how to use them in the humi in tandem with the Hydra.

Should I set my Hydra at 65% RH also.

[mostholycerebus]

Bargain Humidors has a pound of beads for $17. I wouldn't risk my hundreds of dollars on cigars just to save under $20.

With the beads you just add water and put them in the cooler.

[Sturat]

I wouldn't do it just to try and save a few bucks.

[cf2112]

This has been debated to death with two very opposite opinions. I have found no significant difference between the two after years of use, other swear they don't hold humidity as well and both of us are right. One thing they do better than beads is REDUCE humidity in the humid spring and summer months I have here in Missouri.

There are many ways to humidify your smokes from a wet paper towel in a ziplock bag to the systems offered in the finest cabinet humidors. I experimented with most if not all and have found my preference and so will you.

I use Hydra's & CO's with Super Absorbant Polymers (SAP) in the water cartridge and K/L and Beads in my 150qt coolers, my two small cabinets & desktops have humidifiers that I removed the foam and added SAP's and the Aristocrat has the Set n Forget with SAP's in the canisters to reduce the chance of water spilling. All hold humidity between 63-68% and all I ever do is add water if drops and add K/L if it raises.

Use what works best for you which may require some trial & error, Cigars are very hard to harm short term so keep an eye on them if you see super high/low humidity for a day or so it won't hurt them.

[yazzie]

Man, it always amazes me that folks will spend outrageous amounts of money (including me) on building their collections but when it comes to maintaining the proper environment, some will cut corners and try and save a few bucks on what may be construed as an inferior solution.

For those using Kitty Litter, I hope you are having good results. I don't mind paying a few extra bucks knowing I'll get solid 65% RH with Beads and having a very easy environment to maintain in my Cooler

[cf2112]

For me I would need 8lbs of beads this would run $160-$240 instead I buy 8lbs of KL for $12 saving me $150 or more which will buy a nice box of cigars. To me this is a no brainer, KL is easily charged (especially with a Hydra or Oasis) and works just as well for maintianing humidity but again the best thing about KL is it's ability to reduce humidity.

If you could save $150 wouldn't you?

[chippewastud79]

Originally Posted by BamBam

Can someone tell me how to set up my beads and how to use them in the humi in tandem with the Hydra.

Should I set my Hydra at 65% RH also.

You will not regret the purchase of the beads, the money is worth the peace of mind and ease of use.

In my case, I spread the beads out throughout the humidor, I have large portions on the shelves and in the drawers I have smaller bags or home-made pucks. All you need to do is give them a little spritz with a spray bottle of distilled water when they turn white, you should turn about 70% of them clear.
Clicky for pictures.

I will also tell you that the hygrometer on the Hydra is notoriously off, be sure you test it against your calibrated digital hygrometer. Then proceed to adjust the Hydra accordingly, mine was approximately 7% off. Also, be sure to make certain your Hydra is not blowing directly onto the wood, creating a damp spot and breeding ground for mold. As you can see in the picks I also have the extra fans on the Hydra and two OUST fans to help with airflow.

Any more questions, let me know.

Hope this helps.

[chippewastud79]

Originally Posted by cf2112

For me I would need 8lbs of beads this would run $160-$240 instead I buy 8lbs of KL for $12 saving me $150 or more which will buy a nice box of cigars.

Good God man. What are you humidifying that you need 8 lbs of rhBeads? Thats enough to humdify 69120 sq. inches. Or 5760 sq. ft.