Can Too Much Cedar in Humi Affect Cigars

[carterwsu]

I really wasn't sure where to put this post, but here it goes. I have a smaller desktop humidor that holds about 30-35 cigars. It contains spanish cedar walls inside. I have seasoned this thing properly, and reseasoned after about a year. For some reason however, it has the darndest time staying at around 65-70% humidity even with a jar of the 50/50 solution gel. I live in washington state, so it's a fairly humid enivornment and not sucking out all the moisture everytime I open it, also I store it in about 70 degree temperature. So I decided to wet some extra spanish cedar strips (about 1.5" wide and 4" long, very thin) and put them into the humidor not touching the cigars. They are not sopping wet, just a little damp, almost like when you just season your humidor.

My question to all of you is, do you think that this extra spanish cedar that is damp, will have adverse effects on my stogie's flavor and how a cigar is supposed to age?

[chippewastud79]

The extra cedar should have no adverse effects, unless it is too wet and causes mold.

[jaysblues]

Hi. New here and this is my first post.
My largest humidor has about 175 sticks (not counting the small ones) and also has about 6 3x6 sheets of spanish cedar. I put the cedar strips in one of my smaller humidors when I was re-treating it. I left them in the small humidor along with a small bowl of propylene solution in crystals for about 4 days. When I took them out I could tell they had absorbed moisture. I was afraid to wet them because I figured that might be too much moisture. I put them back in my large humidor. For the past week I've kept a close eye on the large humidor and my sticks seem to be in great shape. I'm getting a pretty steady reading of 72% at 72 degrees. I'm watching it very carefully because the big humidor is my aging humidor and I won't be smoking out of it until September of 2009.

I'd be real cautious about having anything too wet being too close to my sticks.

Jay

[D_A]

Originally Posted by chippewastud79

The extra cedar should have no adverse effects, unless it is too wet and causes mold.

I would agree with this. You might want to check the seal on the humi using either the flashlight test, or dollar bill test. Also, make sure your hygrometer is properly calibrated. Third, beads tend to solve most humidity problems.

[the nub]

Depends if you like the taste of Spanish cedar. It is not the same as what is used in Cuban cigar cabs. Personally, I can't stand it. I can taste it in cigars stored more than a week in a SC humi.

[chippewastud79]

Originally Posted by jaysblues

I'm getting a pretty steady reading of 72% at 72 degrees.

I'd be real cautious about having anything too wet being too close to my sticks.

For being so cautious about the humdity in your humidor 72/72 seems high on both temperature and humdity. I guess if you keep a good eye out for beetles and mold you won't have much of a problem. Particularly if you are planning on aging your stock I would keep the humidity a little closer to 65% and the temperature closer to 60.

Also, while you are waiting head over to the New Gorilla Forum and make an introduction post and take time to read all the stickies, lots of good information in there.

[jaysblues]

[quote=chippewastud79;1633541]For being so cautious about the humdity in your humidor 72/72 seems high on both temperature and humdity. I guess if you keep a good eye out for beetles and mold you won't have much of a problem. Particularly if you are planning on aging your stock I would keep the humidity a little closer to 65% and the temperature closer to 60.

I've only kept cigars in a humidifier for around 5 years so I'm a bit new at this but I've read that 70/70 is perfect. But I've read that 68% to 75% and 68 to75 degrees is appropriate and I've read 68 to 72% and various other figures in between from "experts." But they all vary around the 70/70. The only time I had a problem was when my big humidor hit 75% for a few weeks. So I'm going to go out on a limb and say the 75% was definately wrong!!

I thought it would come down but it didn't and I found a very small amount of mold on one of the humidifiers. Barely noticable but scary just the same. I took care of that over the next few days. Fortunately I got to it before my cigars were affected. The longest I've left a cigar in a humidifier is 3 years. And it was a wonderful smoke. So I don't know what to think about that info. 72/72 seems to be working but I'm certainly open to correction. Have you and or others experienced problems at 72%?

I'm a little concerned because I have around $1000 invested for my retirement smokes for next year. I can't restock this humidor. My wife would have STRONG objections.

I'll do some more research but I certainly wouldn't object to advise from the folks here.

Thanks.

Jay

[tchariya]

jaysblues: You might want to salt test or recalibrate your hygrometer. It might be off after all these years....or it might be stuck. Did you say you had a digital or analog hygro?

And welcome to the jungle!

[Smoked]

I suggest getting some beads.

[brigey]

I have been using the Spanish cedar in my coolador for about a year and have had zero problems with the humi.

[kgoings]

Get a digital hygrometer and some 60% beads from heartfelt. Your humi will prolly average around 62% with those, at least mine does.

[mdtaggart]

[QUOTE=jaysblues;1635326]

Originally Posted by chippewastud79

For being so cautious about the humdity in your humidor 72/72 seems high on both temperature and humdity. I guess if you keep a good eye out for beetles and mold you won't have much of a problem. Particularly if you are planning on aging your stock I would keep the humidity a little closer to 65% and the temperature closer to 60.

I've only kept cigars in a humidifier for around 5 years so I'm a bit new at this but I've read that 70/70 is perfect. But I've read that 68% to 75% and 68 to75 degrees is appropriate and I've read 68 to 72% and various other figures in between from "experts." But they all vary around the 70/70. The only time I had a problem was when my big humidor hit 75% for a few weeks. So I'm going to go out on a limb and say the 75% was definately wrong!!

I thought it would come down but it didn't and I found a very small amount of mold on one of the humidifiers. Barely noticable but scary just the same. I took care of that over the next few days. Fortunately I got to it before my cigars were affected. The longest I've left a cigar in a humidifier is 3 years. And it was a wonderful smoke. So I don't know what to think about that info. 72/72 seems to be working but I'm certainly open to correction. Have you and or others experienced problems at 72%?

I'm a little concerned because I have around $1000 invested for my retirement smokes for next year. I can't restock this humidor. My wife would have STRONG objections.

I'll do some more research but I certainly wouldn't object to advise from the folks here.

Thanks.

Jay

Hi Jay,
Welcome. I too would recommend checking the calibration on your hygometer. I can't imagine 72% in NM. I am a NM resident also, and the dry air here seems to pull my RH down.

[groogs]

I keep a big bag of Cedar in my coolers and Veno, and it has never been a problem, and I love the smell. I think it helps to regulate the humidity, because the cedar will absorb and release moisture.

[jaysblues]

Originally Posted by tchariya

jaysblues: You might want to salt test or recalibrate your hygrometer. It might be off after all these years....or it might be stuck. Did you say you had a digital or analog hygro?

And welcome to the jungle!

I have a digital that was allegedly calibrated at the factory. It seems like it'd be a good idea to test it. Thanks.


Smoked said, "I suggest getting some beads."

Are beads, polymer crystals?


The nub said, "Depends if you like the taste of Spanish cedar."

I actually like the taste of Spanish cedar. But I don't recall any cigar retaining the taste beyond the first puff.

I apologize for getting this thread highjacked. I'm a moderator on another forum and I hate it when this happens.

And, yes, New Mexico is tough on some humidors because of our dry air.
Jay

[BamBam]

Originally Posted by chippewastud79

The extra cedar should have no adverse effects, unless it is too wet and causes mold.

GET SOME BEADS!!!! PM SHILALA