Coolerdor question: humidity is low??

[kscotty]

OK, this doesn't make apparent sense to me, but some other more worldly LLGs can educate me. I just constructed my first coolerdor...a 60 quart marine cooler that sits nicely on end and accepted 5 spanish cedar shelves I cut for it. In addition I have some cedar scraps along the back and some on the sides.

Now, I brought the humi up to 70% by wiping the shelves w/distilled water and then left a bowl of dw in the humi along with my pound of 70% climaxx beads for about 4 days. When I was just above 70%, I removed the bowl of dw and proceeded to add a couple of boxes of cigars every other day. I now have 8 boxes in there, in addition to some empty cedar boxes intended for singles, etc, and I am finding that the RH is sitting at 65%. I am a little shocked by this since I always thought the big issue with coolerdors is TOO MUCH humidity. I'm not overly concerned since I often kept cigars at 65% in my smaller humi and I always found them to smoke and age fine. I'm just confused about why I might be having a low RH issue as opposed to a high RH issue. At this point I'm glad I didn't buy the 65% beads I was considering.

Any thoughts from the jungle?? To top it off, I now reside in Phoenix which is to 'humidity' the same as Angelica Huston is to a thong bikini (shudder!)

Appreciate your input folks!

[shelvingunit]

Sounds like you have a nice setup.

I have a smaller cooler (48 qt) with some 65% beads and it usually drops to around 62-63%, a little too low for me. I started to keep a shot glass with some distilled water in the cooler (thanks for the tip IHT) and the RH stays between 65-67%

Keep some distilled water in there and you should be good to go.

[mr.c]

The answer to your question is that the spanish cedar is still dry and is removing humidity from the air. This is all normal, and will correct itself as the wood retains more moisture.

joe

[txmatt]

First thing first, I don't know why this bugs me but it does. Since the beads absorb water VAPOR you do not need to use distilled water. Water is distilled by vaporizing and catching the vapors; the impurities are left behind. /

Now that I have that off my chest

I believe your cigar boxes sucked a lot of humidity out of the air, you didn't rub them down first did you? Other than the boxes sucking up the moisture I am stumped.

Oh, I find that sponges work better to "refill" the beads than shotglasses for several reasons namely more surface area to evaporate from, and no concern about spilling. Just get sponges that are listed as antimicrobial (such as 3M Ocello) rinse out the sponge before use and allow it to dry throroughly between uses. I usually get a new sponge for this use every 6 months.

-Matt-

[jimmy]

in my opinion you will be well satisfied with 65%. i have one too, kept in my basement. been running for a while now and it never gets above 63-64%, and i think it keeps them perfect. i use it for longer term storage and only open it once in a great while.

i think as more time passes you'll be pleased with the humidity, and not worry about it being low.
good luck
jimmy

[kscotty]

Originally Posted by txmatt

Oh, I find that sponges work better to "refill" the beads than shotglasses for several reasons namely more surface area to evaporate from, and no concern about spilling. Just get sponges that are listed as antimicrobial (such as 3M Ocello) rinse out the sponge before use and allow it to dry throroughly between uses. I usually get a new sponge for this use every 6 months.

-Matt-

Thanks for that insight...I am going to try that. I think now that I have a coolerdor, I am finally SPONGEWORTHY (Seinfeld fans will relate!)

[slowhand]

Originally Posted by kscotty

I am finally SPONGEWORTHY (Seinfeld fans will relate!)

And, you are going to do something with those sideburns, right?

[galaga]

Originally Posted by txmatt

Since the beads absorb water VAPOR you do not need to use distilled water. Water is distilled by vaporizing and catching the vapors; the impurities are left behind.
Now that I have that off my chest

-Matt-

I know there would be a very small amount of organics compared to distilled water, but tap water would have mainly chlorine and a few other volatile organics in it that the beads might pick up.

[LeafHog]

Originally Posted by galaga

I know there would be a very small amount of organics compared to distilled water, but tap water would have mainly chlorine and a few other volatile organics in it that the beads might pick up.

Not to mention that distilled water is about $1/gallon, which should last about 100 years, and its easy to keep the jug next to your cooler!