The Herfers Guide to setting up a Humidor
Please note - I didn't write this. Lopaka wrote this. This post disappeared when the sticky's did, but I found it and am reposting. Robert, if you want, I'll take this down so you get the credit.
The Herfers Guide to setting up a Humidor
So you just purchased a new humidor and now you want to set up that wonderful creation so you can play god over those tasty smokes.
While your setting up your humi just remember those immortal words from Douglas Adams…”DON’T PANIC!”
First step before you do anything, you have to make sure you have all the proper items needed to set up your humi right.
1 Humi (very important)
1 Sponge, non scented
1 Small cap (a water bottle cap will do)
1 Bottle of Distilled Water (only distilled water)
3 Sandwich Bags
1 Hygrometer
1-2 Humidifiers (depending on what you use and how large your humi is)
1 Bottle/Shaker of Salt (Table salt will do fine)
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-F...fQ/humi-01.JPG
If you do this right, you should have no problems when you humidor is all set up.
Step 1.
The Salt Test
Take the salt and fill the cap. After you have the salt in the cap, then put some distilled water in the salt to where it’s damp. (NOT drowned in water). 3-4 drops of distilled water should do the trick.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-0...eY/humi-02.JPG
After you have completed this, then take the cap and your hygrometer and put them in the first sandwich bag. Get as much air as you can out and then seal it. Then put that bag inside the other bag. This is a just incase you didn’t seal the first bag tight. This will keep the environment perfect for the salt test. Put the sealed bags in a dark environment and let it sit 24 hours.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Z...Pk/humi-03.JPG
Step 2.
Set up the Humidifier
Take the sponge and drown it in Distilled Water and brush all the wood in the humidor. Soak all the walls, be liberal, soak the walls! Don't worry, the wood can take all the water. If you have a tray or dividers soak these also. Once you have completed this; re-soak the sponge and place it in the middle of the Humi on a plastic bag assuring the sponge doesn’t touch the wood. Put your divider/tray in the humi then close the lid and let sit for at least 24 hours. If you have a divider and tray, place the divider in the tray, NOT on the sponge. Leave the lid closed the entire time. The reason you do this is to allow the cedar to soak in water.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-E...sE/humi-04.JPG
If you just put the Cigars in humi without seasoning it, the wood will try to soak in the water and so will all the cigars. This means your humidification device will not be able to put out enough humidity to keep the humidifier stabilized. This can dry out your wood over time and ruin that wonderful humi you just purchased. This is why you season it.
Step 3.
Play God to Cigars
After 24 hours, check the Hygrometer, the reading you have is the accurate reading at 75% humidification if you did everything right. This will tell you what your hydrometers "true" reading is. Even those great digital hygrometers are just a tad off in accuracy. For example, one of mine read at 74% at 75% humidity. I always know what the reading is by adjusting (mentally) the reading 1%. Some are off by 3%. This is the reason for the salt test.
Remove the sponge/bag then fill the humi with smokes to at least 75% capacity. Start smoking or aging those wonderful smokes. While your doing this, remember to keep the Humi filled at 75% or more until it stabilizes.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-9...Qc/humi-05.JPG
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-K...ys/humi-06.JPG
Basically once your humidor can hold 60%-75% steadily it has finally stabilized. (depending on what you want to keep your humidity at) For some humi's stabilization can take from a few days to a few months. The humidor may spike while it stabilizes. This is completely normal, that’s why you DON’T PANIC! Each humidor is different, depending on the quality of the humidor. My first humi took 3 months to stabilize; however, my second (the one in the pictures) only took 24 hours. Hope this helps out for those that are starting in this hobby! Enjoy your smokes!
Just a quick note: There are many sites that will tell you to NOT damped the wood when you are seasoning the Humi. They say that doing this will warp the wood. Some sites will tell you to damp the wood to season it. This is really up to you. I'm sure there a others on this board that can say "yeah or nigh" on wiping down the sides of the wood with water. This is how I set up my two humi's and I've not had a problem with warping the wood. So, really, it's up to the individual. I would believe if you have a quality humi, damping the walls shouldn't harm it. You are trying to get the wood to soak in the water anyways! If you have a "cheaper" humi, maybe just putting the sponge in the humi might be your best option. However, from reading a few sites, this method takes a few days to a week to get your humi just right to store cigars. Good luck.
