Using salt to control humidity?

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08-18-2005, 04:54 PM
VernBob

Using salt to control humidity?

I've admired the way salt controls the test environment for my hygrometers. And it occurs to me... Why not use a bowl of properly moistened salt to control my coolerdor? I will go to heartfelt and purchase some beads but I just wondered if any of you had some knowledge on this point. Thanks in advance. :smiley14:
08-18-2005, 10:02 PM
nhcigarfan

Salt can fully dissolve in the water, be carried into the air in the humidor and then settle on your cigars and the cedar lining. Beside leaving a salty residue, salt can damages the cell structure of the leaves. (I have no idea what effect the cell damage would have but I know the salt taste may not be what your after).
08-19-2005, 03:22 AM
Roham

Quote:

Originally Posted by nhcigarfan

Salt can fully dissolve in the water, be carried into the air in the humidor and then settle on your cigars and the cedar lining. Beside leaving a salty residue, salt can damages the cell structure of the leaves. (I have no idea what effect the cell damage would have but I know the salt taste may not be what your after).

Uhm, I don't think salt evaporates with water actually.

Here is just the first google link I found pertaining to it http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives...5541.Es.r.html
08-19-2005, 03:26 AM
Roham

Quote:

Originally Posted by VernBob

I've admired the way salt controls the test environment for my hygrometers. And it occurs to me... Why not use a bowl of properly moistened salt to control my coolerdor? I will go to heartfelt and purchase some beads but I just wondered if any of you had some knowledge on this point. Thanks in advance. :smiley14:

I would be scared of transfering a taste over also, but it is an interesting question! Salt may not evaporate but I think it may still smell, and that would infuse with the cigars... *shrug* What do I know though :smiley36:
08-19-2005, 08:12 AM
nhcigarfan

If it doesn't evaporate, it sure does carry. I live on the beach in New Hampshire and I have to clean salt off the windows all the time.
08-19-2005, 08:24 AM
Jonsey5484

I would be scared to put salt into my humidor. You know that smell when you go down to the beach? That really salty smell? Do you want your cigars smelling/tasting like that? I would stay away from the salt and go with the beads.
08-19-2005, 08:34 AM
stjohnroe

I agree with Jonesy, anyway the accepted metghods work, so why try this and potentially ruin your cigars.

Unless you like smoking rotten seaweed that is?
08-19-2005, 08:41 AM
PuffTheMagicDragon

Your getting salt on your windows from the spray of water coming from the ocean. My saltwater fish tank is the same. I get salt from the spray of the water on the top of my tank. As the water evaporates, it does leave the salt behind. The salt can creep though and possible come in contact with you smokes that way.

But you wouldn't even be disolving the salt if you were using it to control you rh, correct? More like making a think salt paste?
08-19-2005, 09:07 AM
Kenyth

Salt evens out at 75% RH. It doesn't evaporate, but it can be carried in tiny droplets of water. Water can be carried in the air in liquid form if the droplet is sufficiently small.
08-19-2005, 09:43 AM
VernBob

All very good points. Smoking seaweed? I've not done anything like that since the 60's. I'll stick with quality cigars and RH beads, thanks :smiley36:
08-19-2005, 04:09 PM
nhcigarfan

Quote:

Originally Posted by PuffTheMagicDragon

Your getting salt on your windows from the spray of water coming from the ocean. My saltwater fish tank is the same. I get salt from the spray of the water on the top of my tank. As the water evaporates, it does leave the salt behind. The salt can creep though and possible come in contact with you smokes that way.

But you wouldn't even be disolving the salt if you were using it to control you rh, correct? More like making a think salt paste?

I'm a lawyer not a scientist, so this sounds good to me.