salt test...how the hell do I do it?

[[OT] Loki]

I've spent the last 5 minutes searching for the salt test and I havn't been able to find a post telling me how to do it. Can someone help me out?

[Marathon]

Originally Posted by [OT] Loki

I've spent the last 5 minutes searching for the salt test and I havn't been able to find a post telling me how to do it. Can someone help me out?

Put some salt in the cap of a two liter pop bottle. Add several drops of water to form a paste - when you can turn the cap upside down and neither salt nor water comes out, you have the right mixture. Put the cap and your hygro in two ziploc bags with some air (don't try to squeeze all the air out of the bags). Let it sit for at least 8 hours (more is better - why not wait for 12, or maybe 16?). The hygro should read 75% (read through the bag - don't open it to read it). If it is off, remember by how much - this is how much to add or subtract from the reading.

[[OT] Loki]

Marathon,
Thank you. Where in southwest PA are you?

[[OT] Loki]

also, how much salt should I use?

[CthulhuDawn]

Get a small plastic bag big enough to fit your hygrometer in and a small container such as a bottle cap. Put a little bit of salt in the cap - just enough. Maybe fill it up 1/3 of the way or a little more. Put a few drops of water on the salt to dampen it. You don't want the salt sopping wet with excess. Just moisten it. Seal your hygrometer in the bag airtight for 6-8 hours. After this period of time the humidity in the bag will have reached 75%. From here you can tell how much your hygrometer is off.

Some will say that there is no problem with testing digital hygrometers like this, but I wouldn't.

[[OT] Loki]

Originally Posted by CthulhuDawn

Get a small plastic bag big enough to fit your hygrometer in and a small container such as a bottle cap. Put a little bit of salt in the cap - just enough. Maybe fill it up 1/3 of the way or a little more. Put a few drops of water on the salt to dampen it. You don't want the salt sopping wet with excess. Just moisten it. Seal your hygrometer in the bag airtight for 6-8 hours. After this period of time the humidity in the bag will have reached 75%. From here you can tell how much your hygrometer is off.

Some will say that there is no problem with testing digital hygrometers like this, but I wouldn't.

I think I may have used a little too much salt, I used a tea spoon of salt, but atleast I'll have a better baseline on my analog. I got it free and I'm heading to radio shack monday to get a new one

[Marathon]

Originally Posted by [OT] Loki

Marathon,
Thank you. Where in southwest PA are you?

Uniontown.

[[OT] Loki]

Originally Posted by Marathon

Uniontown.

I'll either be in pittsburgh or cranberry when I move back

[[OT] Loki]

OK I have the hygro and salt in a ziplock bag and then in tupperware....Guess I'm getting up at 5 or so to see what it reads.

[DownUnder LLG]

Try THIS LINK

It gives you some basic instructions for testing Hygrometers. Good luck.

[chip]

I test all my hygro's, and they are all digital. Use 2 pill bottle caps of salt, put everything in a small tupperware container, then seal that in another tupperware container. Leave it alone for 24-36 hrs....easy peazy.

[[OT] Loki]

after two hours it's at 95%....wtf

[[OT] Loki]

as of 8:38 am (7 hours) it's reading 97%

[Blaylock]

Originally Posted by [OT] Loki

after two hours it's at 95%....wtf

Bottom line is the salt test works...

Get your cigars in a good humidor, put in your humidity media (50/50 solution or beads), and down the road...get yourself a digital.

I went through the same scenario a while back...tried many different hygrometers (analog and digital). I spent a lot of time, money, and frustration looking the the "perfect" one...didn't find it.

The digital should get you close to 75% when salt testing and you just need to calculate the difference.

Get some :s and enjoy some good cigars this weekend!

Blake

[[OT] Loki]

11 hours in and it's still at 97-99%. I can't see how this is possible, there is no way that my humi was at 25% rh when it was showing 75% on the hygrom.